Accordion Lights · Documents

Regulations of the III International Competition for Bayan, Accordion and Harmonica Performers «Accordion Lights» online

1. Organisation of the competition

The III International Competition for Bayan, Accordion and Harmonica Performers is organised and held by the international music education platform demusic.online (DEMUSIC.ONLINE LLP, BIN 230140040554, activity code 85520 «Education in the field of culture») together with partners, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

• The competition is held online from 9 to 13 December 2026
• Application deadline: 8 December 2026 inclusive
• Students of state educational institutions of culture and arts, as well as amateurs and practising musicians, may take part

2. Aims and objectives

Aims: to discover and support talented instrumental soloists and help develop their gifts; to raise the performance level of gifted young bayan, accordion and harmonica players; to preserve and develop the traditions of performing schools and the cultures of different countries; to create a platform for exchanging experience and building professional contacts between participants; to promote instrumental performance as a form of self-expression and intercultural dialogue.

Objectives: to popularise the bayan, accordion and harmonica as instruments with rich artistic possibilities, to share teaching and performing experience, and to create a creative atmosphere for the professional growth of participants.

3. Categories and disciplines

Performers may take part in the following disciplines:

• Bayan | Accordion (solo, duets and ensembles) — classical and pop disciplines
• Harmonica (garmon) (solo, duets and ensembles)
• Electronic accordion or bayan (solo)
• Orchestras
• «Teacher and Student»

Age categories:

4. Programme requirements

Classical discipline (bayan, accordion) — solo

For example: a free contrasting programme may include Baroque pieces, a cantilena, a virtuoso or original composition, a folk arrangement, transcriptions, etc.

Harmonica, and pop discipline (bayan, accordion) — solo

An instrumental backing track is allowed for the harmonica.

Electronic accordion (bayan)

Digital multi-effects, loopers, external modules, etc. are allowed.

Duets and ensembles (bayan, accordion and harmonica)

• Ensembles may include up to 2 accompanying teachers
• Duets and ensembles must include at least one bayan, accordion or harmonica

«Orchestras»

«Teacher and Student»

General notes for all categories:

• Pieces may be shorter than the time limit stated in the regulations
• The competition is held in one round for all age categories
• The competition video must be recorded in one take, without editing or sound processing
• Home recordings and existing performances no older than 6 months are allowed

5. How to apply

Fill in the online application form on the competition website by 8 December 2026 and attach a link to the video of your performance uploaded to a publicly accessible cloud storage, for example Google Drive / Yandex Disk. Pay the entry fee at the last step of the application and attach the payment receipt.

• All information provided during registration will appear on the award documents exactly as you entered it. If you need to correct your registration details, please contact the organising committee at accordionlights@gmail.com
• By submitting an application, you accept and agree to the terms of the competition; the organisers may change the competition dates.

6. Jury

Participants are assessed by an independent jury. Distinguished musicians from different countries — teachers of higher music education institutions — are invited. Particular attention is paid to objectivity and professionalism: all jury members have many years of experience in music and have repeatedly served as experts at international competitions.

Jury chairman — Vladimir Stupnikov

Vladimir Stupnikov is the winner of more than 30 international competitions, works closely with contemporary composers, has given more than 20 world premieres and is a member of the brilliant duo SenS Duo.

Born in 1996 in Ufa. In 2019 he graduated from the Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory (class of Professor Alexander Dmitriev). In 2024 he graduated from the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music (class of Professor Friedrich Lips). He completed the Master Studium and Meisterklasse programmes at the University of Music Würzburg (Germany, class of Professor Stefan Hussong).

He is a scholarship holder of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and of Yehudi Menuhin's Live Music Now e.V. programme in Germany, and a recipient of a scholarship from the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts for a residency at the Cité internationale des arts in Paris.

Winner of a number of prestigious bayan and accordion competitions:

• 1st prize — International Competition Klingenthal (2014) (Klingenthal, Germany)
• 1st prize — International Competition Trophée Mondial de l'Accordéon (2015) (Martigny, Switzerland)
• 1st prize — II All-Russian Music Competition (2017) (Moscow, Russia)
• 1st prize — International Competition Coupe Mondiale (2017) (Osimo, Italy)
• 1st prize — International Competition in Mons (2017) (Mons, Belgium)
• 1st prize — International Competition 43 PIF Castelfidardo (2018) (Castelfidardo, Italy)
• 1st prize — International Competition XXXI Arrasate Hiria (2024) (Arrasate, Spain)

He continues to perfect his skills and gives concerts in Russia and Europe. He has performed at such prestigious venues as the Mariinsky Theatre, the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall and the Small Hall of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, as well as in concert halls in Switzerland, Austria, Portugal, Belgium, Lithuania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Italy, Serbia, Germany, Estonia, Finland and France.

He has given a number of world premieres, including the bayan works «Schneekraniche» by Andreas Urevsky (Ehrbar Saal, Vienna, Austria, 2024) and «Impeto» by Martin Lohse (Musée & Jardins van Buuren, Brussels, Belgium, 2026), published by Universal Edition.

7. Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria are carefully designed to take into account every aspect of mastery, from technique to artistry: musicality and stage presence, sound quality, artistic interpretation of the piece, suitability of the repertoire for the performer's abilities and age category, etc.

Performances are scored on a 25-point scale; places are determined by the average score.

• The decision of the jury is final and not subject to review.

8. Prizes and awards

Participants are awarded the following titles:

• Grand Prix winner
• Laureate of the I, II, III degree
• Diploma winner of the I, II, III degree
• Teachers of laureates and diploma winners receive electronic letters of appreciation.

The prize fund of the III International Competition Accordion Lights 2026 is 400 USD. The winners are the participants with the highest score given by the jury members during the competition. The prize fund is divided into several prizes in different categories and is awarded to the Grand Prix winners.

9. Entry fee

• Reduced fees are available for people with disabilities and children from low-income families: a 50% discount.

Contact information

Official website: accordionlights.com

Email: accordionlights@gmail.com

VK community: vk.com/accordionlights

WhatsApp: write to us on WhatsApp

© International Competition for Bayan, Accordion and Harmonica Performers «Ogni Bayana | Accordion Lights» — 2026.