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2025 Rules

50th International Accordion Prize “Città di Castelfidardo” for Soloists and Groups
10 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2025
Artistic Direction: Antonio Spaccarotella
Rules 2025

1. The Municipal Administration of Castelfidardo (Italy) announces the “Città di Castelfidardo” International Award from 10 to 14 September 2025, dedicated to accordion for soloists, groups.
2. The registration fee is set at € 40.00 for soloists and € 60.00 for groups.
3. Candidates can enroll in multiple categories but not repeat the same program in the different categories.
4. From 1 May 1st, 2025 it is possible to register by following the instructions on the REGISTRATION page.

“CLASSICAL ACCORDION” SECTION

• CLASSIC CATEGORY “AWARD” SOLOISTS WITH NO AGE LIMITS – 3 TRIALS
• First round: Free choice program including a composition for harpsichord or organ by J.S. Bach with a maximum duration of 20 minutes. Programs should show as much as possible the variety of original accordion literature, drawing from the repertoires of the various national schools; at the same time they must include pieces of different character, age, aesthetics and style. A maximum of 8 competitors will be admitted to the second round.
• Second round: Those admitted will have to perform a free choice program different from the one presented in the first test. Total program duration: 25 minutes. A maximum of 3 competitors will be admitted to the third round.
• Third round: Those admitted will have to perform in a rehearsal with Orchestra performing the obligatory piece, which this year was commissioned to the composer CESARE CHIACCHIARETTA. DOWNLOAD HERE.
• 1. 1st prize winner
• o Artistic trophy
• o Scholarship of € 5,000.00 (pre-tax, Special AMMA Award included)
• o The special prizes will be announced by june 30 so as to facilitate their programming in anticipation of the artistic restart of the festivals and international partners.
• 2. 2nd prize winner
• o Artistic trophy
• o Scholarship of € 1500.00 (pre-tax)
• o The special prizes will be announced by june 30 so as to facilitate their programming in anticipation of the artistic restart of the festivals and international partners.
• 3. 3rd prize winner
• o Artistic trophy
• o Scholarship of € 500.00 (pre-tax)
• o The special prizes will be announced by june 30 so as to facilitate their programming in anticipation of the artistic restart of the festivals and international partners.

• CLASSIC CATEGORY “C” SOLOISTS UP TO 18 YEARS (BORN FROM 2007 ONWARDS) Free choice program with a maximum duration of 18 minutes. Competitors cannot submit programs consisting entirely of transcripts.
  1. 1st prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 600.00 (pre-tax)
  o The special prizes will be announced by june 30 so as to facilitate their programming in anticipation of the artistic restart of the festivals and international partners.
  2. 2nd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 200.00 (pre-tax)
  3. 3rd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 100.00 (pre-tax)

• CLASSIC CATEGORY “B” SOLOISTS UP TO 15 YEARS (BORN 2010 ONWARDS) Free choice program with a maximum duration of 12 minutes. Competitors cannot submit programs consisting entirely of transcripts.
  1. 1st prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 250.00 (pre-tax)
  2. 2nd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 150.00 (pre-tax)
  3. 3rd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 100.00 (pre-tax)
  
• CLASSIC CATEGORY “A” SOLOISTS UP TO 12 YEARS (BORN FROM 2013 ONWARDS) Free choice program with a maximum duration of 10 minutes. Competitors cannot submit programs consisting entirely of transcripts.
  1. 1st prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 200.00 (pre-tax)
  2. 2nd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 150.00 (pre-tax)
  3. 3rd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 100.00 (pre-tax)

• CLASSIC CATEGORY “D” SOLOISTS WITH NO AGE LIMITS Free choice program including at least one composition from the Baroque period. Maximum duration 25 minutes. Competitors cannot submit programs consisting entirely of transcripts.
  1. 1st prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 1000.00 (pre-tax)
  o The special prizes will be announced by june 30 so as to facilitate their programming in anticipation of the artistic restart of the festivals and international partners.
  2. 2nd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 500.00 (pre-tax)
  3. 3rd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 250.00 (pre-tax)

• CLASSIC CATEGORY “Chamber” CHAMBER MUSIC GROUPS WITHOUT AGE LIMITS (max 12 members) Chamber Music groups must consist of at least one accordion (with a main role) with other instruments or all accordions. Free choice program with a maximum duration of 20 minutes.
  1. 1st prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 1.500,00 (pre-tax)
  o The special prizes will be announced by june 30 so as to facilitate their programming in anticipation of the artistic restart of the festivals and international partners.
  2. 2nd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 500.00 (pre-tax)
  3. 3rd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 250.00 (pre-tax)

“VIRTUOSO ACCORDION” SECTION

• VIRTUOSO “SENIOR” CATEGORY SOLOISTS WITH NO AGE LIMITS – 2 TRIALS
• First round: Free choice program for a total duration of 15 minutes including at least:
• One or more published or unpublished compositions of the original literature for accordion relevant for character, style, aesthetics to the virtuosic category for accordion (variètè).
• One or more published or unpublished arrangements or transcriptions of the jazz, pop, world or classic repertoire, relevant for character, style, aesthetics to the virtuosic category for accordion (variètè).
• Second round: Competitors admitted to the second round must present a different program from the first round and not exceeding 8 minutes.
  1. 1st prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 1000.00 (pre-tax)
  o The special prizes will be announced by june 30 so as to facilitate their programming in anticipation of the artistic restart of the festivals and international partners.
  2. 2nd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 500.00 (pre-tax)
  3. 3rd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 200.00 (pre-tax)
  
• VIRTUOSO “JUNIOR” CATEGORY SOLOISTS UP TO 18 YEARS (BORN FROM 2007 ONWARDS)
• Free choice program for a total duration of 15 minutes including at least:One or more published or unpublished compositions of the original literature for accordion relevant for character, style, aesthetics to the virtuosic category for accordion (variètè).
  • One or more published or unpublished arrangements or transcriptions of the jazz, pop, world or classic repertoire, relevant for character, style, aesthetics to the virtuosic category for accordion (variètè).
• 1. 1st prize winnero Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 500.00 (pre-tax)
  o The special prizes will be announced by June 30 so as to facilitate their programming in anticipation of the artistic restart of the festivals and international partners.
• 2. 2nd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 300.00 (pre-tax)
• 3. 3rd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 150.00 (pre-tax)
• VIRTUOSO “STUDENT” CATEGORY SOLOISTS UP TO 15 YEARS (BORN 2010 ONWARDS) Free choice program with a maximum duration of 9 minutes (pieces from the varieté, jazz, blues, pop, South American repertoire, in published or unpublished arrangements are allowed).
  1. 1st prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 200.00 (pre-tax)
  2. 2nd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 150.00 (pre-tax)
  3. 3rd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 100.00 (pre-tax)

“WORLD ACCORDION” SECTION

• WORLD “SENIOR” CATEGORY SOLOISTS WITH NO AGE LIMITS Competitors who use an accordion, a diatonic accordion (of any model), a garmoshka, a bandoneon, etc. are allowed.
  Competitors must present a program of a maximum duration of 15 minutes including compositions, arrangements or creative elaborations of pieces taken from the world music, ethno jazz, ethnic, folk, traditional repertoire including at least ONE SONG FROM THEIR OWN CULTURE / TRADITION.
  1. 1st prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 500.00 (pre-tax)
  o The special prizes will be announced by june 30 so as to facilitate their programming in anticipation of the artistic restart of the festivals and international partners.
  2. 2nd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 250.00 (pre-tax)
  3. 3rd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 150.00 (pre-tax)
• WORLD “JUNIOR” CATEGORY SOLOISTS UP TO 18 YEARS (BORN FROM 2007 ONWARDS) Competitors who use an accordion, a diatonic accordion (of any model), a garmoshka, a bandoneon are allowed. Competitors must present a program in the maximum duration of 9 minutes including compositions or arrangements and creative elaborations of pieces taken from the world music, ethno jazz, ethnic, folk, traditional repertoire including at least ONE SONG FROM OUR CULTURE / TRADITION.
  1. 1st prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 350.00 (pre-tax)
  o The special prizes will be announced by june 30 so as to facilitate their programming in anticipation of the artistic restart of the festivals and international partners.
  2. 2nd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 200.00 (pre-tax)
  3. 3rd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 100.00 (pre-tax)
• WORLD “STUDENT” CATEGORY SOLOISTS UP TO 15 YEARS (BORN 2010 ONWARDS) Competitors who use an accordion, a diatonic accordion (of any model), a garmoshka, a bandoneon are allowed. Competitors must present a program of a maximum duration of 7 minutes including compositions or arrangements and creative elaborations of pieces taken from the world music, ethno jazz, ethnic, folk, traditional repertoire including at least ONE SONG FROM THEIR CULTURE / TRADITION.
  1. 1st prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 200.00 (pre-tax)
  2. 2nd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 150.00 (pre-tax)
  3. 3rd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 100.00 (pre-tax)
• WORLD ENSEMBLE CATEGORY WITHOUT AGE LIMITS Groups (max 12 members) can participate, with at least one accordion or a diatonic accordion (of any model), a garmoshka, a bandoneon or a digital accordion, with a main role in the formation. Groups with more than one bellows instrument or with only bellows instruments (of the type mentioned above) are admitted. At least one piece of the program must refer to one’s own CULTURE / TRADITION. The organization suggests the use of traditional clothes from their homeland.
  Competitors must present a program of a maximum duration of 16 minutes including compositions or arrangements and creative elaborations of pieces taken from the world music, ethno jazz, ethnic, folk, traditional repertoire.
  1. 1st prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 1000.00 (pre-tax)
  o The special prizes will be announced by june 30 so as to facilitate their programming in anticipation of the artistic restart of the festivals and international partners.
  2. 2nd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 500.00 (pre-tax)
  3. 3rd prize winner
  o Artistic trophy
  o Scholarship of € 250.00 (pre-tax)

NUGO Special Award
The “NÜGO Prize” consists of the production, recording and publication of a record for the winner of the Prize, total value 2000€.

AMMA Special Award
The AMMA Prize is awarded to the winner of the PREMIO category and has a value of 500€.

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