Rules
Online Edition 2025
General Guidelines
1. The Zolotaryov International Competition 2025 is open to accordion soloists, ensembles, orchestras, and composers of any nationality. Musicians of all instrument types and composers of all backgrounds are welcome to participate, as well as ensembles and orchestras of any formation.
2. Applications must be submitted online through the official competition website. The entry fee for Soloists is €55 EUR. The entry fee for Ensembles is €35 EUR per member (e.g., €70 EUR for duos, €105 EUR for trios, €140 EUR for quartets, etc.). The entry fee for Orchestras is €85 EUR. The entry fee for Composers is €65 EUR.
3. Contestants who are solo musicians and also part of an ensemble may participate in both categories. They may also participate in multiple ensembles, provided each ensemble has at least one different member.
4. The application fee is non-refundable, regardless of contestant withdrawal, disqualification, or failure to submit both the application and video before the deadline.
5. The competition consists of two rounds, both of which will be held in an online format.
6. For the Soloists, Ensembles, and Orchestras categories, candidates must submit the following:
- A video link of the competition program (YouTube or another streaming service)
* Note: Videos must be recorded in one take, although multiple cameras are allowed. Quality recordings made with a fixed, high-quality smartphone or iPhone are also acceptable.
7. For the Composers category, candidates must submit the following:
- A score of the composition (PDF)
- An audio sample of the piece (live recording or computer simulation)
8. Applications are open until June 15, 2025, 11:59 PM (23:59) CEST
9. In the Preliminary Round, jurors will vote independently between June 16 and June 29, 2025. Candidates admitted to the Final Round will receive a notification email on June 30, 2025, and the results will be publicly announced on July 1, 2025.
10. The Final Round will be judged by the jurors independently between July 1 and July 14, 2025, and the winners will be announced on July 15, 2025, via the competition website and social media.
11. Jury members will not judge participants who are their current or former students, family members, or relatives. In such cases, they will abstain from voting.
12. The Jury reserves the right to withhold special prizes if the competition standard does not meet the required level of excellence. All applications will be reviewed by the Jury and treated as confidential.
13. The decision of the Jury is final and cannot be appealed.
Competition Program
SOLOISTS
Accordion, Bayan
A (Maximum Age: 10 years in the year of the Competition) - max 5 min.
Free choice program
.
B (Maximum Age: 12 years in the year of the Competition) - max 7 min.
Free choice program including at least ONE movement from Children's Suites No. 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 by Zolotaryov
.
C (Maximum Age: 14 years in the year of the Competition) - max 9 min.
Free choice program including one of the following:
- At least TWO movements from Children's Suites No. 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 by Zolotaryov
- A Page from a Diary
.
D (Maximum Age: 16 years in the year of the Competition) - max 12 min.
Free choice program including one of the following original accordion compositions by Zolotaryov:
- Children's Suite No. 6 (at least TWO movements)
- Monastery of Ferapont
- Paganiniana (theme + at least THREE variations)
.
Junior (Maximum Age: 18 years in the year of the Competition) - max 20 min.
Free choice program including one of the following original accordion compositions by Zolotaryov:
- Sonata No. 2 (performed in its entirety)
- Chamber Suite (at least THREE movements)
- Capriccio
- Four Aquarelles
.
Senior (No Age Limit) - max 30 min.
Free choice program including one of the following original accordion compositions by Zolotaryov performed in its entirety:
- Sonata No. 1 (reduction by Volodimir Balyk)
- Sonata No. 3
- Partita
- Ispaniada
ENSEMBLES
with or without accordion(s)
Movements from cyclic composition(s) are allowed.
E (Maximum Age: 12 years in the year of the Competition) - max 7 min.
- Free choice program including a composition by Zolotaryov in original or transcription/arrangement
.
F (Maximum Age: 15 years in the year of the Competition) - max 10 min.
- Free choice program including a composition by Zolotaryov in original or transcription/arrangement
.
G (Maximum Age: 18 years in the year of the Competition) - max 15 min.
- Free choice program including a composition by Zolotaryov in original or transcription/arrangement
.
H (No Age Limit) - max 25 min.
- Free choice program including a composition by Zolotaryov in original or transcription/arrangement
ORCHESTRAS
with or without accordion(s)
Up to 50% of the program can include soloist(s) with orchestra.
Movements from cyclic composition(s) are allowed.
I (Maximum Age: 15 years in the year of the Competition) – between 7 and 10 min.
- Free choice program including a composition by Zolotaryov
.
J (Maximum Age: 19 years in the year of the Competition) – between 10 and 15 min.
- Free choice program including a composition by Zolotaryov
.
K (No Age Limit) – between 20 and 25 min.
- Free choice program including a composition by Zolotaryov
COMPOSERS
L (No Age Limit) – accordion piece
- Solo accordion/bayan composition inspired by the music, themes, or style of Zolotaryov
- Maximum duration: 10 minutes
- Must be an original work that has not been previously performed, recorded, or published