Invitation

14th International Competition for Wind Orchestras and Composers
Pula – Croatia

Dear wind orchestra and composers,

We invite you to the 14th Summer International Festival of Wind Orchestras and Composers in the Composition Category. The Wind Orchestra Festival will be held from (03.09. to 06.09.2026.) in the city of Pula on the northwestern part of the Adriatic Sea, while the composers' competition will be held online in the category: composition. Anyone who composes this type of music can apply to the competition in the composition category.

1. Festival Program

The performance of the wind orchestras at the festival consists of two parts:

1. A ceremonial parade of wind orchestras through the streets of the city of Pula with the performance of compositions of their own choice. After that, the orchestras will perform three compositions together in the central square of the city of Pula at the Roman Forum near the temple of Emperor Augustine.
   The festival organizer sends the names of three compositions and their scores to the orchestras after they register for the festival.
   
   
2. The concert part of the festival lasts a maximum of 30 min. and consists of:
   • Mandatory compositions proposed and evaluated by the Artistic Committee.
     The brass bands choose only one composition from the following list:
     • Andrea Alvarez - DOBOGÓKŐ - The Heart of the Earth, ed. Mordente music
     • Jacob de Haan - Festa Paesana, edition De Haske Music
     • Ralph Benatzky arr. Jure Primožič - Selection from “Im Weissen Rössl"edition Bora Verlag
     • Philip Sparke - A Klezmer Karnival, edition Anglo Music
     • Franz Lehar, arr. Matteo Firmi/Stefano Pastorcich - Selection from “Die Lustige Witwe".edition: Bora Verlag
     • Johan Strauss, arr. Hans Thaler - Bijoux Polka, edi tion. Bora Verlag
       
       
3. The second composition in the concert is also evaluated and the brass bands choose it at their free choice.
   
   
4. The remaining part of the concert, the orchestras perform free compositions of their choice that are not evaluated and if they exceed 30 minutes, they will be interrupted by the Artistic Committee. At the concert, when performing compositions for evaluation, the orchestras must submit original compositions. The orchestras must present a concert program that is interesting, attractive and reflects the real capabilities of the orchestra.The organizers will inform the orchestras about the documents that need to be submitted  after the registration of each orchestra.
   
   
5. The final part of the festival will be held on Sunday (06.09.) from 09:00 to 12:00

Before the award ceremony, the Artistic Committee will hold interviews with the orchestra presidents and conductors about their performance at the festival.
For all other information regarding the festival, be sure to read our Regulations on the festival website.

2. Online competition in the composition category:

Composers must submit a composition for wind orchestra of difficulty between 2nd and 3rd level. The submitted composition must be original. Popular themes can be used, but must be on the cover as a source of work that the author must briefly and exhaustively illustrate.

Please see the composition "Bright Dawn Overture" by Frank Cezarini. as a good example of composing a composition by difficulty.

Competitors, authors of newly composed compositions, send an e-mail to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject "TITLE OF WORK, composition - Blasmusikfest 2026" and send:

• 1 PDF file containing the score (only and exclusively with the title of the work, without the name of the author);
• 1 attached file with the author's personal data and the title of the work.

Each author reserves all rights to publish. Multiple works can be submitted in accordance with Art. 5. of the Festival Regulations. The winning composition will be selected as one of the mandatory compositions at the Mitteleuropa Blasmusikfest 2027.

The registration fee for composers is €60 for each submitted composition. Registration fees are paid upon registration and are non-refundable. All bank and/or postal charges are the responsibility of the competition participants. Contestants in the composition category can apply until July 31, 2026. The winner will be announced on the festival's social media pages (Facebook and Instagram) on Sunday, September 6, 2026.

3. Accommodation, registration fees and other information

Most of the festival participants will be accommodated in Duga Uvala near Pula, and the rest in the city of Pula. For festival participants, the three-day full-board arrangement begins with dinner on Thursday (September 3rd) and ends with lunch on Sunday (September 6th, 2026).

More information about accommodation can be obtained by orchestras after submitting a request.

Wind orchestras can bring other accompanying persons with them and register them on their group list. All orchestras and their accompaniment receive a festival brochure in color as a souvenir with their photos, compositions and a short description of the orchestra. See the layout of the festival brochures on our first festival website

In their free time, orchestras and their accompaniment can tour the city of Pula and its sights, the famous Roman amphitheater called the Arena, the Temple of Augustine and other sights from the rich history of more than a thousand years with tourist guides.

You can also go to the beaches in the city of Pula or its surroundings.

The registration fee for each registered orchestra is €350. The registration fee is paid upon registration and is non-refundable to the orchestras. 

The orchestras are responsible for all bank and/or postal charges. The deadline for registration for the festival is Monday, May 25, 2026.

Since the festival takes place in the summer, we ask interested wind orchestras to book their performance at the festival as soon as possible. Late registrations will only be accepted if the planned number of orchestras at the festival is not met by that deadline.

The festival organizer reserves the right to evaluate all requests for dates and program.

To send the festival application form as well as for other organizational questions, please contact us at 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 Matteo Firmi in English or Italian:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Festival Organizing Committee
www.blasmusikfestial.net