The Varaždin Woodwind & Brass Competition actively presents, develops and promotes woodwind and brass talents from around the world. In doing so, it has become one of the significant gateways to the international woodwind and brass music scene for young musicians.
The Varaždin Woodwind & Brass and Varaždin Woodwind & Brass Grand Prix Competition began at the Varaždin School of Music in 2015 together with the Jurica Murai and Murai Grand Prix International Piano Competition. This biennial competition is held on the School premises in the baroque Erdödy Palace. The school, with its long tradition of activity since 1828, promotes music education and significantly enriches the cultural life of Varaždin. The competitions of the School are dedicated to promote the development of artistic work of young gifted musicians, international cultural cooperation, as well as to the tourist promotion of Varaždin, Varaždin County and northwestern Croatia.
Varaždin Woodwind & Brass is designed for students belonging to categories from A to F. Competitors compete in six or seven categories, which are determined by the age of the candidate on the day the competition begins. The Jury will choose one competitor from every discipline who will perform at the final contest, and the winner of the final contest will be presented as the competition laureate. Varaždin Woodwind & Brass Grand Prix is a competition intended for artists aged from 15 to 35 and takes place in two rounds. In the first round competitors compete by disciplines. The passage to the second round is won by the majority of the votes of the Jury. In the second (Final) round competitors compete in a single discipline. The competition is organised in the following disciplines: tuba, trombone, clarinet, saxophone, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, horn, euphonium and flute.
The Varaždin School of Music has established this competition with the aim of developing the artistic talent of students, young professional musicians, to contribute to the promotion of woodwind and brass music and instruments, the development of artistic activity of young gifted musicians, international cultural cooperation and exchange of experiences, and the tourism promotion of Varaždin. The extraordinary number of candidates each year is just a further confirmation of the prestige of this competition, which serves to young and talented as a starting point to their careers.
The number of participating countries is growing every year, confirming the importance and the international status of the Competition. Contestants from United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Germany, Austria, Poland, Turkey, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia and Croatia are regular applicants in the Competition.
The 6th edition of the International Varaždin Woodwind & Brass Competition and Varaždin Woodwind & Brass Grand Prix awaits you from March 19th until March 28th 2025!
