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    Omišalj

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    Community center, Omišalj

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    Hotel Uvala Scot, Kraljevica

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    Riječki korzo

Logo Blasmusic 2025

Invitation

blass 2023

Dear wind orchestras, brass bands and chamber ensembles, 

We invite you to the 12th international festival of wind orchestras, brass bands and chamber ensembles called "Mitteleuropa Blasmusikfest 2024". In the past ten years, the festival has been held in the cities of Split and Opatija. In the last two years, the festival has been held on the island of Krk (which is connected to the mainland by a bridge) in the tourist town of Omišalj. The participants of the festival (orchestras, bands and chamber ensembles and their entourage from distant parts of Croatia and abroad) will be accommodated in the Uvala Scott hotel in Kraljevica (located near the Krk bridge), which is 7 km from Omišalj and 6 km from Rijeka airport .

The goal of the international competition is to increase the quality of the amateur work of brass bands, as well as the better work of brass bands and chamber ensembles, and to develop mutual cooperation and popularize their music in the region of Central Europe and the wider world. Of course, anyone interested from other parts of the world can also participate in the competition. Brass bands compete in four categories (A, B, C, D) and in free performance in category E, with three pieces of their choice. The competition in category F and G (brass bands and chamber ensembles) is being held for the first time at the festival.

The festival program consists of two parts:

  1. The competitive part for wind orchestras, brass bands and chamber ensembles will be held in the Social Center in turistic destination Omišalj on the island of Krk. 
  2. The ceremonial parade of all orchestras and brass bands be held in Rijeka in the center of  city – Korzo. Orchestras play songs of their own choice, afterthat, all orchestras play three together compositions (Radetzky march, Show Time (AbelLex) and Serenade about Opatija).The organizer of festivals obliged to send the scores of the above three compositions to the registered wind orchestras and brass bands.

1. Competitive part

In the competitive part, festival participants perform in seven categories (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) in front of an expert jury of 3 members in the following categories:

  • CATEGORY A  - Difficulty 4,5-6
  • CATEGORY B  - Difficulty 3-4,5
  • CATEGORY C  - Difficulty 2-3
  • CATEGORY D  - Flexi Band and Young Band 
  • CATEGORY E  -  Valutation
  • CATEGORY F  -  Brass Band
  • CATEGORY G  - Chamber Music 

The orchestra also has to choose one of the two obligatory compositions offered, and with that choice they also chose one of the 4th categories listed below.

Obligatory compositions for wind orchestras by category (A, B, C and D) (each participating group will choose 1 piece from those proposed)

  1. Difficulty level 4.5-6 – Bert Appermont: Saga Candida Beriato 
    https://www.bandmusicshop.com
    Fridges Hydas Vjenne  Ruh Editions 
    https://ruh.ch
  2. Degree of difficulty 3 -4.5 Norman DelloJoio ; Satiric Dances – Hal Leonard
    https://www.bandmusicshop.com
    Jan Van Der Roost; Dublin Dances – Hal Leonard De Haske 
    https://www.bandmusicshop.com
  3. Degree of difficulty 2 -3 Adam Gorb: A Little Tango - Music G&Brand
    https://www.gmbrand.co.uk
    Antonio Rossi : Red Mountain - Scomegna
    https://scomegna.com
  4. Flexi Band and Young Band: Filippo Ledda Contos - Scomegna (flexi band) 
    https://scomegna.com
    Otto M. Schwrz : Apollo 11, Hal Leonard - Mitropa
    https://www.bandmusicshop.com

The order of performance of obligatory and optional compositions in categories (A, B, C and D) is not fixed and can be changed during performance, but must be properly announced to the jury before the performance. The opening piece will not be graded, it is only performed to warm up the orchestra before grading the obligatory and optional compositions.The choice of obligatory composition determines which category the orchestra will belong to. The chosen obligatory composition must have the same or higher degree of difficulty compared to the optional composition.This composition must be either a chorale or a march of high artistic value. Instrumental or vocal solo compositions will not be allowed in the competition. 

In category E, brass bands do not perform obligatory pieces from categories (A, B, C, D and F). rather, they can choose three compositions for performance of their free choice, among which must be one composition (author's piece) for wind instruments. The above three compositions must be performed within 25 minutes. The jury will evaluate the performance of these compositions and in conversation with the conductors, will give professional advice for the further progress of the orchestras and bands. If you have any questions, please contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Category F – Brass Bands

The conditions for competition in category F are the same as in categories A, B, C and D. Participating groups choose one obligatory piece of music from the two offered pieces of music:

  1. Philip Sparke: Music for Arosa - Studio Music - https://studio-music.co.uk 
  2. Edward Gregson; Connotations - Boosey&Hawkes

In category G (Chamber Music), chamber ensembles from 2 to 15 members participate in the competition. This category consists of two competition parts: the initial online competition and the final competition at the festival. 
In that first phase, chamber ensembles compete online with video submission. Chamber ensembles are obliged to perform two pieces of different character/historical period for a maximum duration of 25 minutes. Scores of compositions must be sent in PDF format to the e-mail of the jury with an indication of the name of the ensemble and the performance program.Registration starts on November 5, 2023. The last day of registration for the online online competition is February 20, 2024. 

The date of publication of the results of the 6th best placed chamber ensembles is March 20, 2024, and their competition at the festival will be held on April 26, 2024 in the Community Center in Omišalj.Registration for the online competition via the Internet is 30 euros for one member of the band, 60 euros for two members, 90 euros for three, etc. After the online competition, the 6th best-rated bands enter the final part of the festival (Friday, April 26). In categories (A, B, C and F (final part), the registration fee for participation in the competition for each orchestra is 340 euros, and for categories (D,E )it is 300. euros. The fee is paid upon registration and is non-refundable. All bank  charges must be paid by the registrant.

The deadline for applications for categories (A, B, C, D, E and G) for the competition is February 20, 2024, if the number of participants is not filled by then. Please register as soon as possible, otherwise the organizer will have to give you more expensive accommodation in another hotel. 

For the application form, accommodation and other organizational questions, contact 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, Mr. Matteo Firmi, in English or Italian: 
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mitteleuropa Blasmusikfest 2024. Kvarner Riviera 
Rijeka, European City of Culture 2020! 
Opatija, the pearl of the Adriatic and Central Europe! 
Omišalj, Beautiful Croatian island tourist destination! www.blasmusikfestival.net