I. Event
International accordion competition VILNIUS 2023 will be held from 23-25 March 2023 in Vilnius, Lithuania. This year 15th edition of the competition is dedicated to important 90 years anniversary of the Lithuanian academy of music and theater and 700th anniversary of the founding of Vilnius City, capital of Lithuania.
II. Goals
Uphold and develop the traditions of juniors and youth academic accordion playing fostering their need for cultural communication. Give a chance for young musicians to reveal their talents and gain the experience in international competitions. Identify the most talented performers and encourage for their concert activities. Motivate a communication between accordion teachers in our country and abroad, disseminate their pedagogical experience.
III. Competition form
Competition will be held in-person (live). Results of all categories will be announced at competition place immediately after categories as well as at the competition website www.konkursas.laas.lt
IV. Competitors
International Competition is open to accordionists of all nationalities who comply with the rules as well as the winners of national accordion competition in Lithuania.
Attention! Due to Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine, participants from Russia or other country which openly support that aggression cannot participate in the event. In particular cases, for russian citizens having clear anti war position and living abroad, organizers will need to clarify their participation with Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Competition is offered to accordionists in any of the categories listed below:
Solo categories
Cat. “A”
Soloists up to the age of 10 (born in 2013-03-25 and onwards)
The competitors in Cat. “A” must present a program lasting max. 8 min consisting of three pieces of different mood.
Cat. “B”
Soloists up to the age of 13 (born in 2010-03-25 and onwards)
The competitors in Cat. “B” must present a program lasting max. 12 min consisting of three or more pieces of different style.
Cat. “C”
Soloists up to the age of 16 (born in 2007-03-25 and onwards)
The competitors in Cat. “C” must present a program lasting max. 20 min consisting of freely chosen piece(s) of different style.
Cat. “D”
Soloists up to the age of 19 (born in 2004-03-25 and onwards)
The competitors in Cat. “D” must present a program lasting max. 30 min consisting of major original work, polyphonic three (or more) voices piece and freely chosen piece(s) of different style.
Cat. “E”
Concert soloists (no age limit) – Two auditions.
1 audition. The competitors in Cat. “E” must present a program in the first audition lasting max. 25 min consisting of the compulsory piece (see the list below), polyphonic three (or more) voices piece and a freely chosen piece(s) of different style.
2 audition. A program in the final audition lasting max. 30 min consisting of original work (preferably bigger or cyclic form), a piece composed before 1800 and freely chosen piece(s) of different style.
Chamber music categories
Cat. “F1”
Accordion ensembles and chamber ensembles including at least one accordion up to the age of 11 (born in 2012-03-25 and onwards)
The competitors in Cat. “F” must present a program lasting max. 10 min consisting of freely chosen piece(s) of different style.
Cat. “F2”
Accordion ensembles and chamber ensembles including at least one accordion up to the age of 15 (born in 2008-03-25 and onwards)
The competitors in Cat. “F” must present a program lasting max. 15 min consisting of freely chosen piece(s) of different style.
Cat. “G”
Accordion ensembles and chamber ensembles including at least one accordion up to the age of 19 (born in 2004-03-25 and onwards)
The competitors in Cat. “G” must present a program lasting max. 20 min consisting of freely chosen piece(s) of different style.
Cat. “H”
Accordion ensembles and chamber ensembles including at least one accordion (no age limit)
The competitors in Cat. “H” must present a program lasting max. 25 min consisting of freely chosen piece(s) of different style.
Cat. “I”
Accordion orchestras
The competitors in Cat. “I” must present a program lasting max. 25 min consisting of freely chosen piece(s) of different style.
Cat. “J” – Light Music Category – soloists up to the age of 17 (born in 2006-03-25 and onwards)
The competitors in Cat. “J” must present a program lasting max. 15 min consisting of freely chosen piece(s) of light music including all countries and all styles (not only French Variete) and also jazz.
Cat. “K” – Light Music Category – Concert soloists (no age limit)
The competitors in Cat. “K” must present a program lasting max. 20 min consisting of freely chosen piece(s) of light music including all countries and all styles (not only French Variete) and also jazz.
The participants may compete in a higher category if their qualifications meet the requirements of this category.
V. Time and place
Accordion Competition Vilnius 2023 will take place from 23-25 March 2023 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Detailed venue information for categories will be published at the competition website.
VI. Competition application & Entry instructions
The completed online application form, together with all enclosures must be filled on website www.konkursas.laas.lt not later than 1st of March, 2023.
The following enclosures must be added to the completed application form:
- a copy of an official competitor’s identity card or passport indicating nationality, date and place of birth.
- attached File of proof of payment of the Entry fee.
- photograph with the applicant’s name and category written in file name. ( Example – Name_Surname_Cat.D. jpg )
Only complete entries received by the deadline will be accepted. No corrections can be made after the entry has been received.
Any questions regarding the entry process (application form, repertoire requirements, timing, payment difficulties etc.) should be directed by e-mail dalyviai@laas.lt well before submission.
VII. Entry Fees
Entry fees for competitors:
Soloists of all categories 50 €
Each ensemble member 25 €
Accordion orchestras 90 €
Entry fee is paid to:
Lietuvos akordeonistų asociacija
Vilniaus 39, LT-01119 Vilnius, LITHUANIA
Company code: 191972351
Bank name: Luminor Bank AB, Swift code: AGBL LT 2X
Bank account number IBAN: LT26 4010 0495 0096 6196
Payment reference is needed:
Competition entry fee; competitor’s name, category.
Applications that do not provide this proof of payment will not be considered valid. Entry fee is non-refundable. The application will only be considered valid after the confirmation of the competitor’s acceptance by the organizers of the competition.
VIII. Organizers
International accordion competition Vilnius 2023 is held by the Lithuanian Accordionist’s Association www.laas.lt together with Lithuanian academy of music and theater www.lmta.lt .
Artistic director of the competition Prof. Raimondas Sviackevičius
IX. Judging
Competitors are judged in all categories on overall musicianship, including technical proficiency and stylistic understanding of all music performed. The international jury will include professional members of prestigious music personalities. The decisions of the jury will be final and are not subject to appeal.
X. Prize awarding
The winners of the International accordion competition Vilnius 2023 will be awarded cash prizes, concerts and other special prizes.
Three participants with the highest scores will be considered First, Second and Third Classified. The Prizes will be the following:
“Cat. A”
1 st Class. – 100 €, trophy statue and diploma
2 nd Class. – trophy statue and diploma
3 rd Class. – trophy statue and diploma
“Cat. B”
1 st Class. – 100 €, trophy statue and diploma
2 nd Class. – trophy statue and diploma
3 rd Class. – trophy statue and diploma
“Cat. C”
1 st Class. – 150 €, trophy statue and diploma
2 nd Class. – 100 €, trophy statue and diploma
3 rd Class. – 70 €, trophy statue and diploma
“Cat. D”
1 st Class. – 200 €, trophy statue and diploma
2 nd Class. – 150 €, trophy statue and diploma
3 rd Class. – 100 €, trophy statue and diploma
“Cat. E” – Concert soloists
1 st Class. – 1000 €, trophy statue and diploma
2 nd Class. – 700 €, trophy statue and diploma
3 rd Class. – 500 €, trophy statue and diploma
*In case two participants will get same place (Ex aequo) money prize will go to one with higher points.
In case two participants will get same place (Ex aequo) if jury with organizers decide money prize could be divided.
Winners of categories “F, G, H, I, J, K” could be awarded special prizes
For the exceptional performance the competitors can be awarded special prizes.
XI. Compulsory pieces
Cat. “E” | Concert soloists (no age limit)
Choose one of these pieces:
Luciano Berio. Sequenza XIII “Chanson” (Universal Edition, Austria)
Jurgen Ganzer. Passacaglie (Musikveralag Ralf Jung)
Zuriñe F. Gerenabarrena. Izpi (Tritó Edicions, Spain)
Sofia Gubaidulina. De Profundis (Intermusik, Germany)
Sofia Gubaidulina. Et exspecto (Intermusik, Germany)
Sampo Haapamäki. Power (Finland)
Maki Ishii. Tango Prism (G. Ricordi & Co.)
Mauricio Kagel. Episoden, Figuren (Edition Peters)
Georg Katzer – En avant – ou? (Schott Musik, Germany)
Paavo Korpijaakko Sonata n.2 “Dead on Time” (Jetelina, Germany)
György Ligeti – Musica ricercata (I,II,III,IV,V) (Schott Musik, Germany)
Bent Lorentzen – Tears (Wilhelm Hansen, Denmark)
Magnus Lindberg – Jeux d´Anches (Wilhelm Hansen, Denmark)
Bruno Mantovani. 8’20” Chrono (Éditions Henry Lemoine, France)
Petri Makkonen – The Flight Beyond The Time.(Finnish Acc. Institute)
Staffan Mossenmark. Skogsväsen (Wood Spirit) (Verlag STIM)
Arne Nordheim – Flashing (Wilhelm Hansen, Denmark)
Uroš Rojko. Balgkann (Edition Wunn, Germany)
Ole Schmidt – Toccata No. 1, Op. 24 (Samfundet, Denmark)
Ole Schmidt. Toccata No. 2, Op. 28 (Samfundet, Denmark)
Jonas Tamulionis – Metamorfozės (Intermusik, Germany)
Jesús Torres. Itzal (Tritó Edicions, Spain)