International Competition for Young Musicians ‘Ohrid Pearls’

International Competition for Young Musicians ‘Ohrid Pearls’

The age limit is up to 25 years old.
The structure of the competition depends on the category – one, two or three rounds followed by a group final.

Every year

April 15, 2026

Required documents:

• A filled out application form with an attached short biography of the applicant;
• A Youtube link or links to a preselection video recording (does not apply to solo pre-categories as well as all chamber music categories);
• Copy of an ID document (passport, personal ID card or birth certificate);
• Complete performance repertoire;
• One photo (passport size) obligatory;
• Address;
• Phone and e-mail address (if applicable)
• Paid entrance fee in the amount of:

20 € for Pre-category
30 € for A and B – category
40 € for C – category
50 € for D – category
30 € per person for all chamber music categories

• Paid piano accompaniment fee (if requested in the application);
• Payment of the participation and piano accompaniment fees and will be conducted online via banking card. The payment link is available on our website.
• Solo categories A, B, C and D which have a preselection round will pay only 50% of the entrance fee upon registration. Only those participants that pass the preselection round will be required to pay the other 50% of the participation fee (also online via banking card).
• Pre-category and chamber music categories pay the full amount at the time of registration.
• Competitors which have not paid the entrance fee will be excluded from participating in the competition.
• In cases of cancellations by the competitors the entrance fee is nonrefundable.
• The application process will be done completely online through a Google registration form available on our website ohridskibiseri.org.mk

• The competition is open to musicians of all nationalities.
• The winners of the grand prix “Ohrid Pearls” from the previous editions of the competition are not allowed to participate again in the competition.
• The competition is public without any compensation for radio and TV broadcasting, including internet streaming. The recordings are in permanent ownership of the competition organizers which shall use them according to their needs.
• The mandatory compositions in the solo disciplines must be performed by memory.
• The prizes are non-divisible and will be awarded to one competitor only (with the exception of pre-category where the number of prizes is not limited).
• Repetition of any composition from one round to the next is not allowed. The competitor is obligated to present the full score of the composition which he/she is performing at the request of the competition organizers.
• Every competitor will have scheduled rehearsal time at the competition venue prior to their performance.
• The organizers will provide practice rooms for the competitors from the time of their arrival in Ohrid till the time of their performance.
• The competitors are required to register in the competition office (at the Music School “Metodi Patce”- Ohrid, “Nikola Karev st.” no. 4, 6000 Ohrid, North Macedonia) at least one day prior to their performance.
• All the competitors are obligated to present a confirmation of paid entrance fee before their performance at the request of the competition organizers.
• The rules and regulations of this competition are published in two languages – Macedonian and English. The Macedonian text takes precedence in any dispute concerning the interpretation of the Competition rules and regulations.

The International Competition for young musicians “Ohrid Pearls” is open to the following instruments and ensembles:
Solo: Violin and Piano
Chamber Music: Duo Piano (four hands), Duo (two string instruments), Piano trio (violin, violoncello, piano) and String quartet.

Contestants can participate in the following categories according to their age group:

Categories for solo violin and solo piano:

Pre-category    – born in year 2017 or after
A – Category    – born in year 2014 or after
B – Category    – born in year 2011 or after
C – Category    – born in year 2007 or after
D – Category    – born in year 2001 or after

Categories for Chamber Music:

A – Category   – born in year 2014 or after
B – Category    – born in year 2011 or after
C – Category    – born in year 2007 or after
D – Category    – born in year 2001 or after

• Our competition features an online preselection round for solo categories A, B, C and D.
• Solo pre-categories and all chamber music categories do not have an online preselection round and applicants in those categories are admitted directly to the competition.
• The requirements for the preselection program are stated in the competition program for violin and piano.
• The preselection program should be recorded in video format (all kinds of quality, even phone recordings are acceptable) and uploaded to Youtube and the link or links to the videos should be pasted into the corresponding field of the online registration form.
• Participants which pass the preselection round will be notified by e-mail.

• The competitors will be judged by an international jury composed of no less than 5 renowned music pedagogues – ohridskibiseri.org.mk
• The Jury work is regulated by the jury rules containing guidelines which encompass all the segments of the competition.
• Communication between the competitors and the jury members is prohibited until the end of the competition.
• The Jury members are required to sign a statement declaring competitors with whom they are related or have had any professional connections in the 12 months prior to the beginning of the competition.
• The Jury members are forbidden to grade the competitors with whom they are related or have had any professional connections in the 12 months prior to the beginning of the competition.
• Once stated the jury decisions are final.
• The jury reserves the right not to award all the prizes.
• After the end of the competition, every competitor has the right to a discussion with the Jury members about their further development.

The following diplomas will be awarded in all categories and disciplines:

• First prize diploma
• Second prize diploma
• Third prize diploma
• Acknowledgement diploma

The prizes in the solo disciplines in categories B, C and D as well as in the chamber music disciplines in categories A, B and C are non-divisible and will be awarded to one competitor only.

Every competitor will receive a diploma for participation.

The following cash prizes will be awarded to the competitors that participate in the final concert:

First prize:       Grand Prix “Ohrid Pearls”

                              Gilded plaque + 2000 €

Second prize:   Silver plaque        + 1500 €

Third prize:      Bronze plaque     + 1000 €

The “Tomislav Zografski” foundation will award a special prize for the best performance of a piece by the Macedonian composer Tomislav Zografski (as a free integrated part of the program):

PIANO:

• Piano Pre-category, A, B, C category: a choice of miniatures
• Piano D – category: 6 contrasting miniatures or Suite for piano solo op. 27 (1960)

VIOLIN:

• Violin A, B, C – category Suite op. 28 & op. 12 for violin and piano
• Violin D – category: “SONG” for solo violin

The foundation will give two awards – one for piano and one for violin. The award contains a Diploma and a replica of old Macedonian jeweler.

The Composers Association of Macedonia awards a prize of 100 € for the best performance of a piece by a Macedonian composer (as a free integrated part of the program) for the performance of any the following compositions or other unmentioned here:

VIOLIN:

Aleksandar Dzambazov: HUMORESKA for violin and piano

Goce Kolaroski: PRELUDIUMI for violin and piano (a choice of one or more movements)

Vlastimir Nikolovski: MALITE VOJNICINJA (a choice of one or more movements)

PIANO:

Vlastimir Nikolovski: TOCCATA for piano, 1955

Blagoj Canev: FOLK SUITE “OVCHEPOLSKA” for piano (a choice of one or more movements)

Toma Proshev: CLASSICAL SUITE for piano, 1950

Boris Svetiev: THREE ETUDES for piano (a choice of one or more etudes)

The Association of Music Artists of Macedonia awards a prize to the best ranking  Macedonian performers . The prize consists of a concert at the GOLDEN LIRA music festival.

The European Music Competitions for Youth awards a special prize for an exceptional performance. This prize is in the form of promotion on the EMCY website.