4^th INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION FOR WIND ORCHESTRAS IN CONCERT PERFORMANCE »SLOVENIJA 2010«
Velenje, Slovenia, 7. - 10. October 2010

Every third year, Slovenian Fund for Cultural Activities and Slovenian Wind Orchestras Society organize an international competition for wind orchestras in concert performances and until now the competitions have been in Koper, Velenje, and Novo mesto, with participation of 41 Wind Orchestras from 9 different countries. The Jury members have been renowned experts: Nikolaj Žličar, Simon Robinson, Alojz Zupan, Reinhold Rogg, Evžen Zamečnik, Tomislav Fačini, Trevor J. Ford, and Isabella Ruf-Weber. Competitions are under the patronage of CISM (Confédération Internationale des Sociétés Musicales).

The Fourth Competition will be in Velenje from 7^th to 10^th October 2010.

The Republic of Slovenia lies at the heart of Europe where the Alps and the Mediterranean meet the Pannonian plains and the mysterious Karst. Slovenia has a population of 2 million and its capital city is Ljubljana. The official language is Slovene, one of the South Slavonic languages. In Slovenia, the sun shines approximately 2000 hours per year. And yes, there is plenty of snow in winter. As a small, beautiful and picturesque country, Slovenia makes a great tourist destination. Mountains, lakes, waterfalls, forests, caves, hills, plains, rivers and the sea - you name it, you can find it all within a modest 20.273 km2, as well as many natural and landscape parks. You can ski in the morning and surrender yourself to the luxury of the Adriatic Sea in the afternoon. Slovenian national character is firmly rooted in culture. Choral singing and brass bands have long and prolific tradition. There are 135 active wind orchestras in Slovenia now. Quality of Slovenian Wind Orchestras is outstanding.

Velenje is a modern mining town in Northeastern region of Slovenia. Coal deposits are known from the 18th century, while commercial excavations began two centuries ago. Artificial lake, suitable for water sports, is a by-product of industrial mining. Gorenje, the biggest Slovenian home appliances manufacturer is the other major source of town’s prosperity. Old castle on a hill overlooks the city of contemporary architecture and lifestyle. Wind Orchestras of the Coal Mine Velenje and School of Music are among the pillars of municipal culture.

Participants

1. All non-professional wind orchestras can participate at this international competition in Novo mesto, Slovenia. Every orchestra is allowed to have maximum 10% of professionals.

2. The competition is going to be held in Concert Hall in Velenje, Jenkova 2, 3320 Velenje. Competition will be in three categories.

3. Artistic Council selected the following Competition program:

Orchestras, competing in A (higher) category, shall perform:

• COMPULSORY COMPOSITION: Andrej GORIČAR (1971): HYADES, JSKD edition
• COMPOSITION OF THEIR OWN CHOICE: difficulty 5, 6 or E, F.
• COMPOSITION OF THEIR OWN CHOICE: Composed by composer from the Wind Orchestra's native land, appropriate difficulty 5, 6 or E, F
• WARMING-UP COMPOSITION: nonobligatory, not longer than 5 minutes

The whole performance should not be longer than 50 minutes.

Orchestras, competing in B (middle) category, shall perform:

• COMPULSORY COMPOSITION: Nejc BEČAN (1984): POTOVANJE V SREDIŠČE ZEMLJE, JSKD edition
• COMPOSITION OF THEIR OWN CHOICE: difficulty 4 or D.
• COMPOSITION OF THEIR OWN CHOICE: Composed by composer from Wind Orchestra's native land, appropriate difficulty 4 or D
• WARMING-UP COMPOSITION: nonobligatory, not longer than 5 minutes

The whole performance should not be longer than 40 minutes.

Orchestras, competing in C (lower) category, shall perform:

• COMPULSORY COMPOSITION: Bojan Adamič(1912 - 1995): POZDRAVI IZ SLOVENIJE, edition HARTMAN
• COMPOSITION OF THEIR OWN CHOICE: difficulty 3 or C.
• COMPOSITION OF THEIR OWN CHOICE: Composed by composer from Wind Orchestra's native land, appropriate difficulty 3 or C
• WARMING-UP COMPOSITION: nonobligatory, not longer than 5 minutes

The whole performance should not be longer than 30 minutes.

Jury and awards

4. Competition will be adjudicated by International Jury of 5 renowned experts on wind orchestras.

5. Evaluation criteria are: intonation, sound, rhythm and tempo consistency, playing technique, dynamics and phrasing, artistic impression of concert performance.

6. International Jury will give following awards:

• The Golden Medal with an honor for the wind orchestras achieving at least 95% points;
• The Golden Medal for the wind orchestras achieving at least 90% points;
• The Silver Medal for the wind orchestras achieving at least 80% points;
• The Bronze Medal for the wind orchestras achieving at least 70% points;
• Certificate of Participation for all the rest.

All decisions of the Jury are final without any right of appeal.

7. The Jury will also reward the best orchestras with monetary awards in total amount of 10.000 EUR (only orchestras with more than 90% points are eligible).

8. The organizers give awards in cheques of their partners and competition sponsors and on orchestra account.

9. Jury’s decision will be made public at least one hour after the completion of the competition.

10. Each orchestra will receive written opinion from all members of the Jury during the closing ceremony at the end of the competition.

Application

11. Filled-in application form must contain all necessary data.

12. Application must also contain:

• Audio recording of at least 2 compositions on audiocassette or CD/DVD, recorded from 1. January 2005, to the date of registration. It can also be a demo recording made at a rehearsal,
• Orchestra’s short curriculum vitae and activity in the last season (concerts, performances, recordings…),
• 1 score or orchestral extract of the warming-up composition (if it is played)
• 1 score or orchestral extract of the first and second composition of wind orchestra’s own choice (photocopies are allowed only with written approval by publisher or author, if the work has not been published yet),
• 1 detailed photography of the wind orchestra,

13. Wind orchestras must register not later than on Friday, 8^th January 2010 (datum on post office seal).

14. Written application must be sent in a sealed envelope to the address:

Javni sklad RS za kulturne dejavnosti, Štefanova 5, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Please write also “Slovenija 2010” on the envelope.

General Informations

15. The Artistic Council will be listen recordings and decide which orchestras are to be admitted to the competition. Orchestras will be informed about the selections results in written form. Decision of the Artistic Council is final without any right of appeal.

16. Selected wind orchestras will with Artistic Council decision receive invoice for non refundable enrolment fee of 350 EUR, which to be paid till September 2010.

17. Selected wind orchestras should send 4 scores or orchestral extract of the warming-up (if it is played) composition and 4 scores or orchestral extract of the first and second composition of wind orchestra's own choice till September 1^st 2010.

18. Selected wind orchestras can change their program or cancel participation at the competition no later than on 31^st August 2010.

19. The Artistic Council must be informed if any changes are made in the composition of the orchestra once the registration form has been sent and shall inform the president of the jury before the competition at the latest.

20. Travel, accommodations and food are at expenses of the participating wind orchestras. However, the Organizers can provide some pecuniary options for orchestra wishing to stay overnight in Velenje. Options are available at www.jskd.si

21. Wind orchestras overstaying in Velenje will have possibility to rehearse in a rehearsal hall.

22. The course and execution of the competition is covered in detail in the Rules of the Competition.

23. Orchestras who wish to do any sightseeing or playing a concert during their stay may contact Organizers for further details.

24. The Organizers and Artistic Council reserve the right to modify the planned events to ensure the positive results of the Competition.

25. If the number of the participants in a single category is not sufficient, the Organizers may cancel that category.

26. The Organizers are not responsible for any accidents to persons or things during their journey or during the competition.

27. Organizer has the right to audio and video record and broadcast the competition with no compensation being paid to the wind orchestras and to use such recordings for promotional

purposes. Competing wind orchestras allow their performances at the competition to be publicly released.

28. Any complaints regarding the rules and regulation of the competition must be made to the organizers. Only the Slovene and English language will be taken into consideration.

For the Organizing Council of the Competition “SLOVENIJA 2010”
Srečko Meh, president of the Organizing Council
Velenje, August 2009

Organizer of the competition: OI JSKD VelenjeOrganizing Council of the Competition
President: Srečko Meh, Mayor of the City Comunity Novo mesto
Members: Igor Teršar, Daniel Leskovic, Nina Mavec Krenker, Matjaž Emeršič
Artistic Council: mag. Ivan Marin, Marjan Stropnik, mag. Milivoj Šurbek
Mailing address:

Competition „Slovenija 2010“
JSKD
Štefanova 5
SI - 1000 Ljubljana
Tel.: +386 1 24 10 532
Fax: + 386 1 24 10 536
E-mail: tekmovanje@jskd.si, Home page: www.jskd.si