FESTIVAL ASPUŠ GALANTA 2025 - ENGLISH

13.03.2025

ASPUŠ – Accordion competition show of Art schools organised under the aegis of the Slovak Accordion players association (ZAS)

The Slovak Accordion players association in the cooperation with the host city/ school organizes anually the accordion competition show of Art schools (ASPUŠ). It is a travelling competition show which takes place in a different city of the Slovak Republic each year. Its choice takes account of the regional breakdown of the country and West, East and Central parts of Slovakia alternate regularly. The main goal of this competition is to develop the art education in the subject of accordion playing.

ASPUŠ covers participants with all types of artistic education. In case of the primary Arts schools, the competition is open only for the Slovak primary Art schools pupils. Conservatory students are competing in categories that are open also for students from the Czech Republic. Both the students from Slovakia and abroad are allowed to compete within the framework of the highest solo cathegories that are opened for the University students. This makes the competition of university students an international competition.

As a part of ASPUŠ, we organise also the international competition in a chamber play. We don´t considerate the type of Art school that the participant is attending. Categorisation is based on the age of the oldest member of the chamber ensemble. The participation fee for this competition is not paid by those contestants who are competing within solo accordioon playing competition. All other participants are obliged to pay the fee specified in the rules.

The chamber play cathegories are opened for ensembles of various sizes as well as diverse instrumental cast, but the accordion must be the main component of the performed competition repertoire. In case of non-compliance of this rule, the jury reserves the right to do not rate the ensemble.

9th Annual Accordion competition show will be held on 5th and 6th June 2025 in Galanta

The Accordion competition show of the Art schools is opened for soloists and chamber ensembles.
Competition categories 0. – VII. are opened for soloists. All pupils attending a primary Art school or a Pedagogical school in Slovak Republic can participate.
Competition categories VIII.A and VIII.B are opened for the Conservatory students studying in Slovak or Czech Republic.
The competition is international within the categories IX.A and IX.B that are opened for University students.
The competition is international within the categories of chamber music X.A, X.B and X.C.

Main rules of the competition:

It is a one-round interpretation competition show.
A play by ear in all solo cathegories is a must.
A contestant submits to the jury at least one copy of the sheet music of the competition repertoire.
Chamber ensembles can play by sheet music.
Contestants in all categories have to play at least two contrasting compositions.
At least one original piece for accordion is obligatory in VIII.A, VIII.B, IX.A and IX.B categories.
If the time limit is exceeded, the President of the Jury has the right to stop the contestant.
A Jury in each category consists of at least five members.
All Jury members are rating all contestants according to the set rules.
The highest and the lowest ratings of the contestant are crossed off.
The final ranking of contestants will be determined by the point average of rankings that were not crossed off.
The Jury has the right to not evaluate the performance in case of non-compliance with the rules.
All score results will be disclosed after the end of the competition.
The Jury can award duplicate prizes in case of the equality of the point average of the contestants and they have also the right to not award the prize.

RULES FOR THE SOLO ACCORDION PLAY COMPETITIONS

Competition categories and minutage for the primary Art schools and a Pedagogical schools:

0. Category: year of birth 2018 and younger – up to 3 minutes
I. Category: year of birth 2016 and 2017 – up to 4 minutes
II. Category: year of birth 2014 and 2015 – up to 6 minutes
III. Category: year of birth 2012 and 2013 – up to 8 minutes
IV. Category: year of birth 2010 and 2011 – up to 10 minutes
V. Category: year of birth 2007 and 2009 – up to 11 minutes
VI. Category: year of birth 2004 and 2006 – up to 12 minutes
VII. Category: year of birth 1997 and 2003 – up to 15 minutes

Competition categories and minutage for the Conservatories:

VIII.A Category: 1.-3. year Conservatory students – from 12 up to 15 minutes
VIII.B Category: 4..6. year Conservatory students – from 15 up to 20 minutes

Competition categories and minutage for the college with concert specialisation:

IX.A category: college students – bachelor degree – from 20 up to 25 minutes
IX.B category: college students – master degree – from 25 up to 30 minutes

RULES FOR THE SOLO ACCORDION PLAY COMPETITIONS

X.A category: year of birth of the eldest member no later than in 2013 – from 6 up to 10 minutes
X.B category: year of birth of the eldest member no later than in 2007 – from 10 to 15 minutes
X.C category: category: members without the age limit – from 15 up to 20 minutes

Scoring rules for 0., I., II., III., IV., V., VI. and VII. categories:

Average score between 21 – 25 points – golden band
Average score between 16 – 20 points – silver band
Average score between 21 – 25 points – bronze band
Average score between 21 – 25 points – honorable diploma
The contestant with the highest number of points in each category will be awarded by the title "CATEGORY WINNER"

Scoring rules for VIII.A, VIII.B, IX.A, IX.B, X.A, X.B and X.C categories:

1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Honorable diploma

The contestant with the highest number of points (the point average) in the categories I. to X.C will be awarded by the title "THE LAUREATE OF THE COMPETITION"

Registration rules for the ASPUŠ contestants:

It is necessary that the contestants have filled in all required fields in the binding application form (full name of the contestant, name of the teacher, school, competition category, age, etc.). In the repertoire section of the application form, the full names of composers must be included, as well as the full title of the work being performed. In case of failure to provide complete data, the organizer reserves the right not to include the contestant in the official bulletin of the event.

Registration rules for the ASPUŠ teachers and event observers:

The application form for teachers and observers must include the category (teacher, observer), name, school/city and contact information. By registering for the event, the participant is entitled to refreshments, a bulletin and other services related to the event.

Registered participants will have access to the competition area and will also have the opportunity to participate in the accompanying activities (concert, masterclasses, etc.).

Application form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScp8MSxlgrx7dk2ucRo6WWEuvwjzlhitd27XTrLeohVFThvrA/viewform

Deadline for the Accordion competition show applications: 15 May 2025.

Proof of payment (or a copy thereof) shall be submitted as a part of the application form. The fee must be paid to the bank account at least 10 working days before the event. If you are paying for more than one pupil, you must make each payment separately, indicating the name of the contestant (ensemble name) in the "message to the recipient" field. If you are paying for a teacher, observer or chamber ensemble, please add a note to the participant's name (teacher/ observer/ chamber play).

Fee in solo categories:

30 € - pupil/student

20 € - teacher or event observer

Fee in chamber play categories:

0 € - pupil/student who is contesting in one of solo categories

15 € - pupil/student who is contesting only in a chamber play category

70 € - a flat-rate fee for the ensemble with 6 and more members

Please note in the message to the recipient "NAME OF THE PARTICIPANT" or "NAME OF THE TEACHER".

Payment data for the participation fee:

IBAN: SK76 0200 0000 0038 7546 6157

The participation fee covers costs associated with the organisation of the competition (rental of premises and the technical equipment, printing of bulletins and diplomas, etc.), refreshement and prizes for contestants.

The fee is non-refundable in case of non-participation.

May you have any question, please contact us via the email akordeonisti@gmail.com, or via the following phone numbers:

+421 908 477 401, +421 915 532 321