Dear Friends,
With deep regret, we inform you that the 53rd International Jeunesses Musicales Competition Belgrade, in the harp discipline, has been canceled. This decision was made with great difficulty, especially considering the significance of the competition for Belgrade, Serbia, and the international community.
For years, this competition has served as an important platform for the affirmation of young musicians worldwide. Let us remember that among the participants of this competition were Kirill Rodin, Natalia Trull, Philippe Bianconi, violinists Gottfried Schneider, Alexis Gaperine, Irena Grafenauer, James Campbell, Mate Bekavac, Stojan Krkuleski, Helen Jaren, Ivo Josipović, Snežana Savičić, Martin Ler, Dušan Bogdanović, Jovan Kolundžija, the wind quintet “Paul Taffanel,” the Moscow String Quartet, and many others. The beauty of this competition lies in the fact that many former contestants later took on the role of jury members. Aware of the crucial role this competition plays in the careers of talented artists, we have made this difficult decision with the deepest regret.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all those who contributed to the preparation of this year’s competition – selectors Milena Stanišić and Alexander Boldachev (Switzerland), as well as jury members: Ljiljana Nestorovska, Jason Chang (China), Catherine Michel (France), Felice Pomeranz (USA), and Dragana S. Jovanović. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors – the most prestigious harp manufacturers: Camac Harps, Salvi Harps, and Lyon & Healy Harps.
Additionally, we thank the event’s founder, the Secretariat for Culture of the City of Belgrade, as well as our long-standing friends: Kolarac Endowment, RTS Music Production, Jeunesses Musicales International, the World Federation of International Music Competitions based in Geneva, the Association of Composers of Serbia, the publishing house CLIO, the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, and many, many others, without whom this competition would not have been possible.
We hope that the International Jeunesses Musicales Competition will continue its mission of supporting young artists in 2026 in the viola discipline.
Once again, we sincerely apologize to everyone looking forward to this year’s competition, and we hope to welcome you again soon in Belgrade.