Dear accordion community,

I am glad that the spring of 2025 invites accordion music lovers, talented young people, teachers and true enthusiasts of this wonderful instrument to the International Competition in Vilnius, which takes place every two years, during which the National Accordion Competition VILNIUS 2025 takes place as well.

Since 1986, when the Lithuanian Accordionists’ Association was founded, we have been working together to nurture courageous and self-confident young people who are capable of revealing and realizing their uniqueness, creating a spiritually rich world, and sharing the joy of musical knowledge in a creative community. The encouraging or challenging words of professional teachers, supportive and nurturing mentors, dedicated to their students and to accordion music, and the extraordinary diligence and dedication of their teachers open the art of music to new talents who celebrate our country and create a cultured and conscious society.

The International Accordion Competition in Vilnius, organized by the Department of Accordion of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and the Lithuanian Accordionists’ Association has long been a significant event in the world of music and has been appreciated not only in Lithuania, but also abroad for a long time. It is an event that is particularly welcomed by the international accordion community.

This year, the XVI International Accordion Competition VILNIUS 2025 is dedicated to the tenth anniversary of the founding of independent Accordion Department of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the accordion at the former State Conservatory. Celebrating these important dates makes us even more aware of the sense of freedom that allows us to create, to work, to realize and we are well aware of the price and value of this. Therefore, sending a message of support, we stand in solidarity with Ukraine by covering part of the costs of the competition and waiving the participation fee.
Seeing how the Lithuanian accordion school is changing, consistently growing and improving, we have a great opportunity to get acquainted with the situation of accordion art in Lithuania during the competition.

We boldly invite the winners and graduates of the National Accordion Competition Vilnius 2025, which is conducted as a selection for the International event, to participate in the International Accordion Competition. We will be able to test the level of the country’s accordion performance in a very serious international context, in different genres, compositions and age categories from serious classical to light entertainment. There are 12 categories in total. We will hear soloists, ensembles and orchestras of all kinds performing works from a variety of genres.

We are delighted that this year the geography of the performers is colorful with more than 300 performers taking part in the competition, and that professors from the world’s most renowned universities and top-level professionals are eager to participate in our event, which is why the international Jury is always of a very high standard. This year’s 16th International Accordion Competition Vilnius 2025 will bring together the best teachers from Lithuania, Ukraine, Denmark, Finland, France, Spain, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Bulgaria, Serbia and Germany.

The most progressive specialists from leading universities on the juries, the extremely objective evaluation system and the special atmosphere of Vilnius give the competition the status of an exceptional event, which has been shaped by the sincere feedback of the young performers and teachers who have taken part.
Wishing you courage and inspiration, I invite you to support each other, be patient and forgiving. May the International Accordion Competition VILNIUS 2025 become a new page in the life of music, which I believe we will each and every one of us together fill with new experiences, knowledge and creative activities. Let it be a time of growth, learning, new experiences and unity.

Each one of you has the opportunity to make it special, be it through musical achievements, various activities or lasting friendships.
I wish you all to be curious and not to be afraid of challenges, which are always there. After all, there is always that indescribable sense of satisfaction that comes from overcoming them, which encourages you to go a few steps further. May the art of music raise everyone to the heights of culture.

On behalf of the Organizing Committee

Artistic Director of the Competition
President of the Lithuanian Accordionists Association
Head of the Accordion Department of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre
Prof. Raimondas Sviackevičius

Congratulations to the organisers and participants of the International Accordion Competition VILNIUS 2025, and to the esteemed members of the jury.

This ambitious competition, which has been running for almost three decades, has grown into a forum for young performers of great international interest, fostering professional accordion music, encouraging professional maturity, and providing opportunities to try their hand at the highest league of accordion performance art.

Organized for the 16th time by the LAMT’s Accordion Department, which is celebrating the tenth anniversary of the founding of an independent department, the competition is a significant event in the world of music and attracts a great deal of interest from all over the world. I am delighted that the programs attract large audiences and broaden their understanding of the accordion repertoire. The International Accordion Competition VILNIUS 2025 reinforces the image of the accordion as an academic musical instrument with a wide range of expressive possibilities.

I wish the organizers of the competition to successfully continue to promote the traditions of professional accordion performance art, the musical talents – great success, the audience meaningful artistic experiences and discoveries.

Rector of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Judita Žukienė

Dear accordion community,

Once again gathered in Vilnius for the International Competition. It is wonderful that this cultural event has entered its fourth decade. First of all, we would like to thank the Lithuanian Accordionists’ Association, its president and the artistic director of this competition, Prof. Raimonds Sviackevičius. However long the traditions of this competition and however extensive and serious the programme, without the maestro, Professor Siaviacaitis, this competition would be hard to imagine.
I am delighted that so many participants, their teachers, listeners and spectators have come to our lovely capital. It is very important for us that there are also representatives from Ukraine, which is fighting for its freedom and whose musical culture we know as very high and rich.
The accordion, as a versatile instrument, is also very democratic – it can be used to produce a wide range of sounds, from a light melody to a strong and expressive rhythm. That is why I know the accordion community as very democratic, energetic and friendly.
Congratulations to the contestants, the teachers of the young talents and the authoritative international jury! I wish you all a creative spirit, pleasant discoveries and inspiring communication!

Vytautas Juozapaitis,
Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Culture of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania

Dear participants, teachers and jury members of the 16th International Accordion Competition VILNIUS 2025,

I am delighted that every two years Vilnius becomes the epicentre of this international event. In a relatively short period of time, thanks to the efforts of the Lithuanian Accordionists’ Association, the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and the teachers, Vilnius has become a meeting place for young accordion talents to meet, discover and develop their creative skills.

Let this competition be not only a stepping stone to a bright artistic career, but also a celebration that encourages cooperation, international exchange of performers and love of music.

I congratulate you on this meaningful music competition and wish all participants inspiration and courage!

Mayor of Vilnius City
Valdas Benkunskas

Dear contestants,

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the International Accordion Competition VILNIUS 2025 – this unique environment where young talents flourish, high level professional accordion art triumphs and new creative partnerships are born.

I also extend my greetings to the educators who have nurtured these wonderful musicians, as well as to the esteemed jury, and I wish you all perseverance, excellent musical performances and faith in their calling.

The world today presents us with new challenges, not always easy. Not everyone today has the opportunity to live under peaceful skies, and this reminds us that freedom of expression, freedom to create and to share one’s creativity is the greatest value that we must cherish and protect.

I sincerely wish you to strive for even greater professional excellence, to proudly represent your country’s culture in the world and to contribute to intercultural communion.

Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania
Kęstutis Budrys

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Click here to check past edition from 2023