Program & rounds

1. Eliminatory (max. performance duration 15 min)

1. 1. Ivana Bilić: Arion for Solo Marimba (7 minutes – Inkoplastika Edition; https://www.theinkexperimentduo.com/product-page/arion-for-solo-marimba
   2. Free choice Snare drum piece

2. Semifinals (max. performance duration 20 min)

1. 1. Igor Lešnik: Desert Thorn for Vibraphone and Sonic Landscape (10 minutes – Edition Igor Lešnik; igor@igorlesnik.com)
   2. Free choice Timpani piece or movement from a longer work (optionally with instrumental or electronic accompaniment – accompanists NOT provided by competition)

3. Finals (total finals program duration limited to max. 30 min)

1. 1. Free choice piece for solo Mallets
   2. Croatian Set piece – Igor Lešnik: Silent Dance for Percussion Soloist and Orchestra (20 minutes – version 2025, available from December 2024 at igor@igorlesnik.com)

For further questions concerning the RHYTHM-O-PHONIA please feel free to e-mail competition office at rhythm-o-phonia@muza.hr.

RHYTHM-O-PHONIA Competition Rules

1. RHYTHM-O-PHONIA International Percussion Competition is organized by the University of Zagreb Academy of Music.
2. Dates of the Competition are 6 July 2025 (arrival) to 13 July 2025 (departure).
3. Application is open to all ages and nationalities.
4. The application process is composed of two steps:
   1. candidates are requested to e-mail their competition performance program proposal to rhythm-o-phonia@muza.hr as these are subject to confirmation by the application committee;
   2. upon receiving the payment link and the official confirmation of their competition program proposal being accepted, the candidates may proceed to payment of the inscription fee via the online ticket sales system ulaznice.hr (https://www.ulaznice.hr/web/?lang=en).
5. Inscription fee is 200 EUR – no refund available once the payment is made.
6. The competition consists of 3 rounds and participants are requested to perform the program fulfilling the following requirements:

• • Eliminatory round (max. performance duration 15 min)

1. 1. 1. Ivana Bilić: Arion for Solo Marimba (7 minutes – Inkoplastika Edition; https://www.theinkexperimentduo.com/product-page/arion-for-solo-marimba
      2. Free choice Snare drum piece

• • Semifinals (max. performance duration 20 min)

1. 1. 1. Igor Lešnik: Desert Thorn for Vibraphone and Sonic Landscape (10 minutes – Edition Igor Lešnik; igor@igorlesnik.com)
      2. Free choice Timpani piece or movement from a longer work (optionally with instrumental or electronic accompaniment – accompanists NOT provided by competition)

• • Finals (total finals program duration limited to max. 30 min)

1. 1. 1. Free choice piece for solo Mallets
      2. Croatian Set piece – Igor Lešnik: Silent Dance for Percussion Soloist and Orchestra (20 minutes – version 2025, available from December 2024 at igor@igorlesnik.com)

7. Along with the published works, the free choice pieces may be arrangements, transcriptions or own compositions. In such cases, the score samples are required at the first application step.
8. Competition schedule is:

Sunday, 06.07.2025. – Arrivals, Registration ends at 18h00, Performance order drawing at 19h00

Monday, 07.07.2025. – at 16h00 Eliminatory round

Tuesday, 08.07.2025. – Eliminatory round cont. / Rehearsals

Wednesday, 09.07.2025. – at 10h00 Semifinals

Thursday, 10.07.2025. – Setting up, practice sessions

Friday, 11.07.2025. – Rehearsals with orchestra:

10h00 only orchestra without soloists

19h00 Finalists with orchestra

Saturday, 12.07.2025. – Finals

10h00 rehearsal general

19h30 Concert

Sunday, 13.07.2025. – Departures

9. Candidates are obliged to provide accompaniment audio files (WAW or MP3) and original scores for the jury, except for unpublished works. All the scores and unpublished works shall be given back after each round.
10. Practice sessions will NOT be available during the eliminatory round except 15 minutes for warm up immediately prior to the performance.
11. Candidates going through to the next competition round will have accommodation expenses for that round covered by the competition.
12. Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Pavle Zajcev accompanies set piece performances in the final round.
13. The Jury of the Rhythmophonia 2025 competition is: Shinichi Ueno / Japan, Ludwig Albert / Belgium, Pei-Ching Wu / Taiwan, Kai Strobel / Germany, Ksenija Komljenovic / Serbia, Ivana Bilić / Croatia and Igor Lešnik / Croatia as the jury president.
14. Performance order of the two pieces is up to each contestant.
15. Performances exceeding the time limit shall be stopped by the jury president, but the contestant will still receive points.
16. The organizer reserves all rights to any kind of audio-video broadcast during all stages of the Competition, without compensation to the competitors.
17. The jury will cast their votes at the end of each round using prepared voting ballots, the validity of which shall be verified by their signatures.
18. The performances of each round will be evaluated by jurors with a score from 0 to 100 for every candidate.
19. Depending on the number of points received from the jury in the first round, six contestants with the highest number of points qualify for the Semifinal.
20. Semifinalists will have practice time at their disposal according to the schedule announced together with the results of the first round.
21. Pieces with electronic accompaniment in the semifinals are to be performed using monitor speakers and a PA system provided by the competition.
22. Concert piano would be available for semifinals, but it is the responsibility of Competitors to arrange everything concerning their accompanist – Competition does not cover such additional travel nor accommodation expenses.
23. Competitors may use their personal instruments for practice in Semifinal and Final rounds. Rhythm-o-phonia will provide practice rooms and stage hands. Using personal instruments for the performance is permitted only in the Final round.
24. Number of points achieved in the Second round will be doubled for calculation.
25. Three highest scores of the Semifinal go to Finals.
26. Finalists will have practice time at their disposal according to the schedule that shall be announced together with the results of the second round.
27. Points achieved in Finals will be tripled for total calculation.
28. The points from all rounds will be added and the winner of the Competition is highest total score comprising points achieved in all rounds.
29. First prize of the RHYTHM-O-PHONIA Competition is 8.000 EUR, Second prize is 4.000 EUR, Third prize is 2.000 EUR.

For further questions concerning the RHYTHM-O-PHONIA  please feel free to e-mail competition office at rhythm-o-phonia@muza.hr.

Application starting 1 October 2024 comprises two steps:

1. candidates are requested to e-mail their competition performance program proposal to rhythm-o-phonia@muza.hr as these are subject to confirmation by application commitee;

2. upon receiving the payment link and the official confirmation of their competition program proposal being accepted, the candidates may proceed to payment of the inscription fee via the online ticket sales system ulaznice.hr (https://www.ulaznice.hr/web/?lang=en)

Inscription fee is 200 EUR – no refund available once the payment is made.

Candidates are obliged to provide original scores for the jury, except for unpublished works. All the scores and unpublished works shall be given back after each round.

Practice sessions will NOT be available during the eliminatory round except 15 minutes for warm up immediately prior to the performance.

Rhythm-o-phonia applicants are responsible for booking their accommodation in Zagreb. Candidates going through to the next competition round will have their accommodation expenses for that round covered by the competition.

Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Pavle Zajcev accompanies set piece performances in the final round.

SCHEDULE

Sunday, 06.07.2025. Arrivals

Monday, 07.07.2025. – Tuesday, 08.07.2025 / Eliminatory round & Rehearsals

Wednesday, 09.07.2025. / Semifinals & Rehearsals

Thursday, 10.07.2025. / Setting up & practice sessions

Friday, 11.07.2025. / Rehearsals with orchestra

Saturday, 12.07.2025. / Finals

Sunday, 13.07.2025. / Departures

For further questions concerning the RHYTHM-O-PHONIA  please feel free to e-mail competition office at rhythm-o-phonia@muza.hr

RHYTHM-O-PHONIA frequently asked questions

How can I apply for the competition?

First step: e-mail your competition program proposal to rhythm-o-phonia@muza.hr.

Is there an age limit for participation?

There is no age limit.

What is the deadline for submitting my program proposal?

Applications close after the 30th competitor pays the inscription fee; therefore, early application is recommended.

What if my program proposal in the first round is slightly longer than 15 minutes?

Performances exceeding the time limit shall be stopped by the jury president, but the contestant will still receive points.

Is there a required performance order?

Performance order of the two pieces is up to you in all rounds.

What headphones are used at the competition?

Pieces with electronic accompaniment are to be performed using monitor speakers and a PA system provided by the competition.

May I perform with my piano accompanist?

Yes, but Rhythm-o-phonia does not cover such additional travel or accommodation expenses.

May I include my own composition into the competition program?

Along with the published works, the free choice pieces may be arrangements, transcriptions or compositions of your own. In such cases, the score samples are required at the first application step.

What are the brands of instruments at the Rhythm-o-phonia Competition?

The general list of instrument brands and models offered by the competition is: Marimba One Izzy Enhanced Keyboard, Pearl Philharmonic Snares, Musser vibraphones, Adams Professional and Universal timpani, Yamaha tom-toms and hardware, Zildjian cymbals, Grover Pro percussion…

I would like to play a timpani piece for seven drums, is this possible?

Rhythm-o-phonia Competition timpani availability comprises sets of 5 drums – 32“, 29“,26“, 23“ and 20“ by Adams (Professional II and Universal models) and Ludwig Professional Symphonic. Additional single drums might be available but candidates must accept that these additional drums might be of a different model or brand.

May I bring my own marimba for practice and the performance?

Competitors may use their personal instruments for practice in Semi-final and Final rounds. Rhythm-o-phonia will provide practice rooms and stage hands. Using personal instruments for the performance is permitted only in the Final round. 

For further questions concerning the RHYTHM-O-PHONIA  please feel free to e-mail competition office at rhythm-o-phonia@muza.hr