The first Christopher Parkening International Guitar Competition, named after the L.A.-born classical guitarist, is scheduled to be held at Pepperdine University in Malibu from May 30 to June 2, 2006.
The top prize will include a cash award of $25,000, the largest for any such competition in the world.
"It has long been my vision for there to be a world-class guitar competition equal to the great piano and violin competitions," Parkening, who is on the Pepperdine faculty, said in a statement.
