Invitation

13th International Wind Orchestra Competition and
1st Online competition in the composition category
Omišalj – Croatia

We invite you to the 13th international brass band competition Mitteleuropa Blasmusikfest 2025 and to the 1st online composer competition in the composition category. The brass band competition will take place from April 25 to 27, 2025, in the new hall of the community center in Omišalj on the island of Krk, which is connected to the mainland by the Krk Bridge and is 6 km from the Uvala Scott Hotel Kraljevica and 5 km from the Rijeka airport.

1. Competitive part:
   Wind orchestras perform in 4 categories (A B C and D) classified by difficulty of performance
   
   In categories A, B and C, they perform 4 compositions in this given order:
   - Warm-up composition: (must be with a degree of difficulty equal to or greater than theirs categories and will not be subject to evaluation;
   - Two compulsory compositions: (the jury gives two mandatory compositions of different character/style, indicated in point 2 and one determines the category in which the orchestra will perform at the competition;
   - Composition of your choice: with a degree of difficulty equal to or greater than their category have chosen and are subject to jury evaluation.

In category A, the duration of the performance is a maximum of 40 minutes, category B 35 minutes and C category 30 minutes.
Competitors are required to respect the maximum times established for individual categories; for those who do not respect these limits, a penalty of 5/100 will be applied for each minute exceeded.

For category D, orchestra members up to the age of 25 have the right to perform.
The youth wind orchestras in category D perform three pieces: a warm-up piece, one compulsory piece and a piece of your choice, lasting a maximum of 25 minutes.
If they assess that they can perform in a heavier category than category D, they can compete in a higher category. Solo instrumental or vocal compositions are not permitted in any way in any category.

2. Categorization and names of mandatory compositions in A, B, C and D categories:
   In the competitive part, the orchestras perform in four categories (A, B, C, D) in front of an expert jury of 3 members in the following categories.

• CATEGORY A - WEIGHT 4.5 -6
• CATEGORY B - WEIGHT 3-4.5
• CATEGORY C - WEIGHT 2 – 3
• CATEGORY D – Young orchestras

Names of compulsory compositions for wind orchestras by category (A, B, C and D)

Category A - Level 4.5-6
• Slovenian Overture – Schonherr/Prasel, ed. Hartman.si
• Symphonic Suite - Clifton Williams, ed. Alfred Music

Category B - Level 3-4.5
• Intermezzo from the opera Ksenija - Viktor Parma/Firmi, ed. Tierloff Music
• Masquerade - Philip Sparke, ed. Anglomusic

Category C - Level 2 -3
• Suite from Dora - Dora Pejačević / arr. Jure Primožič & Stefano Pastorcich, ed.
•  BoraVerlag (available from December 1, 2024 at www.sheetmusicdirect.com)
•  Bright Dawn Overture – Franco Cesarini, ed. Franco Cesarini

Category. D – Youth Orchestra
• La matita di Leonardo – Luciano Feliciani, ed. Scomegna

After the performance of the compositions in the break before the announcement of the results of the competition, the jury will invite the presidents and conductors of the orchestra to a conversation and give expert advice for the further progress of the orchestra, while not giving them the results of the competition for the performance of their compositions.

3. Category of composition
composers must submit a composition for wind orchestra between level 2 and 3. The submitted composition must be original. Popular themes can be used, but must be included on the cover as a source of work, which the author must illustrate briefly and in detail. 
Please take a look at the composition “Bright Dawn Overture” by Franko Cesarini, listed in category C, which may be helpful to you in composing your new composition.

Participants, authors of newly composed compositions send by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with “TITLE OF THE WORK, Composition – Blasmusikfest 2025” and send:
– 1 PDF file with the score (only and exclusively with the title of the piece, without  the name of the author);
– 1 attached file with personal data of the author and the title of the work.

Each author reserves all publishing rights. Multiple works can be submitted, taking into account Art. 5 of the festival regulations. The winning composition will be included in the Mitteleurope Blasmusikfest 2026 competition program.The registration fee for composers is €50 for each registered composition.

The registration fees are paid upon registration and are non-refundable. All bank and/or postal costs are borne by the competition participants. The winner will be announced on April 27, 2025 on the festival's social media pages (Facebook and Instagram).  For more detailed information about participation in the competition, read the proposals in English on the website of our festivalFestival participants, orchestras and their entourage, arrive for dinner on Friday (April 25) and leave on Sunday (April 27, 2025) with lunch..
The registration fee is €350 for each orchestra in categories (A, B, C), while in category D it is €300 for each orchestra. The registration fee is paid upon registration and is not returned to the orchestras.

Organizer of the competition reserves the right to evaluate all requests for dates and program. To obtain the application form for the competition as well as other organizational questions, including accommodation, contact the e-mail: 
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  and  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.For musical questions regarding the competition, please contact the president of the festival jury in English or Italian: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We look forward to your arrival at the festival!