The VIII International Competition of Bayanists and Accordionists will be held in Moscow from December 7 to 14, 2025, at the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music. Founders: Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, Government of Moscow, Moscow City Committee for Culture, Gnessin Russian Academy of Music, Friedrich Lips Charitable Foundation. The competition is open to performers who are at least 18 and no more than 32 years old at the time of the competition.

Entries are closing on October 1st, 2025.

Applications are accepted until October 1, 2025 and can be made on their website or by emailing: info@fundmusic.ru

Regulations

Classical

1st Round

1. One of the following works on the choice of the competitor:
   · J.S.Bach – Prelude and Fugue from “WTC” on the choice of the competitor from the following list:
   • vol.1: C♯ minor, E♭ minor, B♭ minor
   • vol.2: C♯ minor, E minor, F major, F♯ major, G minor, A♭ major, A minor, B major
     or
     · D. Shostakovitch – Prelude and Fugue from the cycle “24 Preludes and Fugues”
2. One piece from Tchaikovsky´s cycle of piano “The Seasons”
3. Original work for the accordion

Duration of the program maximum 25 min.

2nd Round

Own choice program including a complete original cyclic work (with minimum 2 parts). Duration of the program maximum 30 min.

3rd Round
E. Podgaits. Concerto № 4 «Rhymes of Time» for bayan (accordion) and orchestra

Virtuoso

1st Round
Own choice program maximum 10 min (jazz, folk, pop, rock, tango, etc.)

2nd Round
Own choice program maximum 15 min (jazz, folk, pop, rock, tango, etc.)
It is impossible to repeat pieces from 1rd Round

The following documents must be enclosed with the entry form:

a) the copy passport (scan)
b) certificate of musical education (copy);
c) a brief curriculum vitae with particulars of training, awards and diplomas (resume);
d) two recent professional references of a music organization, a music school or two prominent musicians;
e) one recent photograph with instrument

The past festival held in 2024 featured five evening concerts and featured Alexander Veretennikov (accordion) and Cao Ye (bayan, China), Samgar Tolkynkhan, Olzhas Nurlanov, Nikita Vlasov and Yuri Shishkin. It included performances with the ensembles State Academic Russian Folk Ensemble “Russia” named after L. Zykina and Chamber Orchestra “Soloists of Nizhny Novgorod”.