INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS OF STRING INSTRUMENTS
in 2026
RULES
Article 1.
Full-time and part-time students of primary and secondary music schools, Music Academies and related institutions from the country and abroad have the right to participate in the competition.
Article 2.
The organizer of the competition is the “Regional Association of Music Educators and Performers” and the “Association of Creative and Educational Center – Music Studio”, Novi Sad – Republic of Serbia.
Article 3.
The competition will be held from April 24 – 28, 2026 in Sremski Karlovci and Novi Sad – Republic of Serbia.
Article 4.
The competition is public and the program is performed by heart, except for the sonata form which can be performed from sheet music.
CATEGORY – VIOLIN
Article 5.
• Pre-category A (candidates born in 2019 and younger)
Competitors perform a program of their choice for a total duration of up to 10 minutes
• Pre-category B (candidates born in 2017 and 2018 and younger)
Competitors perform a program of their choice for a total duration of up to 10 minutes
• Category I (candidates born in 2016)
Competitors perform a program of their choice for a total duration of up to 10 minutes
• II category (candidates born in 2015)
Competitors perform a program of their own choice for a total duration of up to 12 minutes
• Category III (candidates born in 2014)
Competitors perform the I or II and III movement of the concert and a piece of their choice in total duration – up to 14 minutes
• Category IV (candidates born in 2013 year )
Competitors perform the I or II and III movement of the concert and a piece of their choice in total duration – up to 14 minutes
• Category V (candidates born in 2012)
Competitors perform the I or II and III movement of the concert and a piece of their choice in total duration – up to 18 minutes
• VI category (candidates born in 2011)
Competitors perform the I or II and III movement of the concert and a piece of their choice in total duration – up to 18 minutes
• VII category (candidates born in 2010)
Competitors perform the I or II and III movements of the concert and a piece of their choice in total duration – up to 20 minutes
• VIII category (candidates born in 2009)
Competitors perform the I or II and III movement of the concert and a piece of their choice in total duration – up to 22 minutes
• IX category (candidates born in 2008)
Competitors perform one movement from a solo partita or sonata by J.S.Bach, I or II and III movements of a concert, a piece of their choice in total duration – up to 24 minutes
• X category (candidates born in 2007)
Competitors perform two movements from a solo partita or sonata by J.S.Bach, I or II and III movement of the concert, a piece of their choice in total duration – up to 26 minutes
• XI category (candidates born in 2005-2006)
Competitors perform a program of their choice for a total duration of up to 30 minutes
• XII category (candidates born in 2002, 2003, 2004)
Competitors perform a program of their choice for a total duration of up to 30 minutes
• Category XIII (candidates born in 1995 and younger)
The contestants perform the program at their leisure selection in total duration – up to 40 minutes
CATEGORY – VIOLA
Article 6.
• Category I (candidates born in 2013 and younger)
Competitors perform two compositions of their choice for a total duration of up to 12 minutes
• Category II (candidates born in 2011 and younger)
The contestants perform the program for a total duration of up to 15 minutes
• Concert (I movement or II-III movement; or two movements of the Telemann concert)
• Piece of your choice
• Category III (candidates born in 2009 and younger)
The contestants perform the program for a total duration of up to 20 minutes
• Concerto (I movement with cadenza or II-III movement; or two movements of the Telemann concerto) / whole Baroque sonata / Sonata (classicism and beyond) – 1st movement
• Piece of your choice
• Category IV (candidates born 2007 and younger)
The contestants perform the program for a total duration of up to 25 minutes
• Concerto (I movement with cadence or II-III movement) or Sonata form (from classicism onwards) – 1st movement
• Composition of your choice
Note: Sonata form can be played from sheet music
• Category V (candidates born in 2005 and younger)
Competitors perform a program of their choice for a total duration of up to 30 minutes
•Category VI (candidates born in 2003 and younger)
Competitors perform a program of their choice for a total duration of up to 30 minutes
• Category VII (candidates born in 1996 and younger)
Competitors perform a program of their choice for a total duration of up to 40 minutes
CATEGORY – CELLO
Article 7.
• Pre-category (candidates born in 2017 and younger)
Competitors perform two compositions of their choice, accompanied by a piano.
in total duration – up to 7 minutes
• I category (candidates born in 2015 and younger)
Competitors perform two compositions of their choice, accompanied by a piano, for a total duration of up to 9 minutes.
• Category II (candidates born in 2013 and younger)
Competitors perform two compositions of their choice, accompanied by a piano, for a total duration of up to 12 minutes.
• Category III (candidates born in 2011 and younger)
The contestants perform the program for a total duration of up to 14 minutes
• Concert (I movement or II-III movement; or Sonata)
• Piece with piano accompaniment
•
• Category IV (candidates born in 2009 and younger)
The contestants perform the program for a total duration of up to 20 minutes
• Concerto (I movement or II-III movement; or Sonata or Theme with variations)
• Composition of your choice
• Category V (candidates born in 2007 and younger)
The contestants perform the program for a total duration of up to 22 minutes
• Concerto (I movement or II-III movement; or Sonata or Theme with variations)
• Composition of your choice
• VI category (candidates born in 2005 and younger)
Competitors perform a program of their own choice for a total duration of up to 26 minutes
• Category VII (candidates born in 2003 and younger)
Competitors perform a program of their choice for a total duration of up to 30 minutes
CATEGORY – DOUBLE BASS
Article 8.
• Pre-category (candidates born in 2015 and younger)
Competitors perform two compositions of their choice for a total duration of up to 6 minutes
• I category (candidates born in 2013 and younger)
Competitors perform two compositions of their choice for a total duration of up to 10 minutes
• Category II (candidates born in 2011 and younger)
Competitors perform two compositions of their choice for a total duration of up to 14 minutes
• Category III (candidates born in 2009 and younger)
Competitors perform two compositions of their choice for a total duration of up to 18 minutes
• Category IV (candidates born in 2007 and younger)
Competitors perform two compositions of their choice for a total duration of up to 20 minutes
• Category V (candidates born in 2005 years and younger)
Competitors perform two compositions of their choice for a total duration of up to 22 minutes
• VI category (candidates born in 2002 and younger)
Competitors perform two compositions of their choice for a total duration of up to 30 minutes
CATEGORY – CHAMBER ENSEMBLES
Article 9.
Within this discipline, competitors can perform as:
• String duo, string trio, string quartet, string quintet
• Piano trio, piano quartet, piano quintet
• All ensembles consist EXCLUSIVELY of string instruments (from two to nine performers), except for the piano trio, quartet and quintet.
CATEGORIES
• Category I (candidates born in 2011 and younger)
Competitors perform two compositions of different character, of their free choice, in total duration – up to 10 minutes
• II category (candidates born in 2007 and younger)
Competitors perform a free program from two different stylistic eras for a total duration of up to 18 minutes
• Category III (candidates born in 2001 and younger)
Competitors perform a free program from two different stylistic eras for a total duration of up to 30 minutes
HOW TO REGISTER
Article 10.
Applications for participation in the “International Meetings of String Instruments” are submitted electronically to the mail: int.gatheringofviolinists@gmail.com,
Or via the link provided
on the website: http://internationalgatheringofviolinists.org/
Article 11.
Donation for participation in “International Meetings of String Instruments” amounts to:
CATEGORY – violin, viola, cello, double bass:
• Pre-category A and B and I, II and III category is RSD 4,000.00 – 40e for foreign citizens
• Categories IV, V, VI amounts to 4,500.00 dinars – 45 e for foreign citizens
• Categories VII, VIII, IX, X amounts to 5,000.00 dinars – 50 e for foreign citizens
• Categories XI, XII amounts to 5,500.00 dinars – 55 e for foreign citizens
• Category XIII amounts to 6,000.00 dinars – 60 e for foreign citizens
CATEGORY – chamber ensembles:
• Category I is RSD 1,500.00 – RSD 15 for foreign citizens – per ensemble member
• Category II amounts to 2,000.00 dinars – 20 e for foreign citizens – per member of the ensemble
• Category III is 2,500.00 dinars – 25 e for foreign citizens – per ensemble member
Payment should be made to account number 265-7590310000403-49
(purpose of payment: Donation for “International Meetings of String Instruments”)
Candidates from abroad – for the payment of a donation for participation in the “International Meeting of String Instruments” receive instructions for payment (to the Bank’s business account) exclusively by email: int.gatheringofviolinists@gmail.com
Article 12.
Along with the application for participation in the competition, the candidates submit: a birth certificate and proof of the paid donation.
Article 13.
The deadline for submitting the application is April 9, 2026.
Article 14.
The participants of the competition are responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses in Novi Sad, Sremski Karlovci
Article 15.
In case of cancellation of participation by the candidate – competitor, the donation is not returned.
CO-REPETIATION
Every performer has the right to request an official accompanist. Information regarding accompaniment can be obtained exclusively by email: korepetitorsusreti@gmail.com, as well as by phone – number: 060-521-82-18 – Boris Jekić, piano professor, official accompanist (www.borisjekic.com)
Submit the sheet music by April 9, 2026 to the email: korepetitorsusreti@gmail.com
WORK OF THE JURY
Article 16.
The contestants are judged by a jury, made up of renowned string pedagogues from the country and abroad. Jury members are appointed by the competition organizer.
Article 17.
The jury has the right to interrupt a competitor who exceeds the time limit and to evaluate him based on the performed program up to the moment of interruption.
Article 18.
The jury’s decision is final and irrevocable.
Article 19.
The best-placed student of each category – violin, starting with the pre-category A and B, and ending with the VI category, receives a special prize “Ružica Kovač”.
Article 20.
Jury members can announce laureates by unanimous decision. The title of laureate can be taken by the participant with the maximum number of points in the categories: from pre-category A and B to VI; VII to X and from XI-XIII category.
For the category – chamber ensembles, the jury can declare only one ensemble as the laureate of the competition.
EVALUATION OF COMPETITORS
Article 21.
By decision of the jury, the “Maestro Sreten Krstić” prize is awarded to the most promising violinist of the 2026 Competition.
Article 22.
By decision of the jury, the “Prof. Robert Lakatoš” prize is awarded to the violinist of the 2026 Competition for the most successfully performed work by the composers P. Sarasate and H. Vijenjavski.
Article 23.
The number of prizes that the jury will award in each category is not limited.
Article 24.
Grading of students is done by adding up the points from the score sheets and calculating the average grade. The required number of points for the corresponding award is:
First prize: 95 – 100 points
Second prize: 85 – 94.99 points
Third prize: 75 – 84.99 points
Praise: 65 – 74.99 points
All information can be obtained by mail:
int.gatheringofviolinists@gmail.com
The complete composition of the jury will be published on the website http://internationalgatheringofviolinists.org/
Organizational team
“Regional Association of Music Educators and Performers” – Novi Sad
“Music Studio” – Novi Sad