COMPETITION RULEBOOK

GUITARISTS ASSOCIATION of VOJVODINA – NOVI SAD

Based on Article 2 of the Statute of the Guitarists Association of Vojvodina, the Board of Directors of the Guitarists Association of Vojvodina, at its meeting held on November 5, 2025, hereby adopts:

COMPETITION RULES „Dr Jovan Jovičić“ for 2026

I GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1.

The GUITARISTS ASSOCIATION of VOJVODINA (hereinafter: AGV) organizes the International Competition for Classical Guitarists „Dr Jovan Jovičić“ (hereinafter: the Competition) in accordance with these Rules and the AGV Statute.

Article 2.

The Competition is conducted in accordance with the Competition Rules, which regulate elements concerning the organization of the Competition, contestant categories, competition program, as well as criteria and methods of Jury evaluation.

Article 3.

The International Competition of Classical Guitarists „Dr Jovan Jovičić“ has been organized since 2007 as a permanent event within the Vojvodina Classical Guitar Festival (Vojvodina Guitar Fest) and is intended for classical guitarists of all ages.

II RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE AND REGISTRATION

Article 4.

The Competition is a public musical event in which guitarists from Serbia and abroad have the right to participate in accordance with the propositions timely published on the AGV website.

Article 5.

Participants apply via the official application form on the AGV website within the prescribed deadline.

III ORGANIZATION OF THE COMPETITION

Article 6.

The Competition is organized by the Organizing Committee appointed by the AGV Board of Directors.

Article 7.

The Organizing Committee is responsible for: choice of venue, dates, technical support, composition of the expert jury, publication of schedules and results, administrative and promotional activities.

IV COMPETITION FLOW

Article 8.

The Competition is organized in the following categories:

– First category: born 2015 and younger
– Second category: born 2013 and younger
– Third category: born 2011 and younger
– Fourth category: born 2009 and younger
– Fifth category: born 2007 and younger
– No age limit: professional category without restrictions
– Amateur category: for contestants not attending a music school

Article 9.

Participants perform the competition program in accordance with the propositions published for the current year. The program must be performed in its entirety and from memory. In case of exceeding the allowed duration, the Jury has the right to stop the candidate.

Article 10.

The order of performances is determined by the Competition Organizer.

V JURY AND EVALUATION CRITERIA

Article 11.

Members of the Jury are selected by the Executive Board upon the proposal of the professional commission. The Jury consists of at least three members, distinguished pedagogues and performers in the field of guitar. If necessary, prominent artists who are not strictly guitarists may also be engaged.

Article 12.

The Jury evaluates candidates according to the following criteria:

Technical preparedness: hand positioning and instrument posture; hand coordination; tempo reliability and rhythmic precision; fluency of performance, fullness and color of tone; technical complexity and level of difficulty of the program

Musical expression: clear phrasing and articulation; dynamics and agogics; emotional expression appropriate to the performer’s age; sense of musical form

Interpretative creativity: originality of expression; personal artistic imprint appropriate to the performer’s age; convincing artistic freedom

Stage performance: posture, contact with the audience, self-confidence, security, expressiveness

Minimum score: 50 points
Maximum score: 100 points

Article 13.

Decisions of the Jury are final and are made by majority vote.

VI DIPLOMAS AND AWARDS

Article 14.

Based on the total number of points, the following awards are granted:
– 1st Prize (95–100 points)
– 2nd Prize (85–94 points)
– 3rd Prize (75–84 points)
– Commendation (74 points and less)

In the event of an identical number of points for two or more competitors, priority in ranking is given to the younger competitor.

Article 15.

AGV may also provide additional awards in the form of instruments, merchandise prizes, cash prizes, concert performances, participation in masterclasses, audio/video recordings, etc.

Article 16.

As part of marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Jovan Jovičić (1926–2013), a Special Award “Dr. Jovan Jovičić” is presented to the performer who demonstrates exceptional artistic quality and depth of interpretation in the performance of a composition by Jovan Jovičić.

The award is provided and presented by the daughter of Jovan Jovičić, Prof. Dr. Dubravka Jovičić.

Participation conditions will be published in due time on the AGV website https://agv.org.rs/

Article 17.

Winners in each category perform at the Final Concert.

Diplomas and awards are received at the Award Ceremony of the final concert of the Competition winners.

If not collected, they may subsequently be collected in Novi Sad with prior notice via email to AGV office@agv.org.rs

The organizer does not send diplomas and awards by mail.

VII COMPLAINTS AND OBJECTIONS

Article 18.

Complaints regarding the technical flow of the Competition are submitted in writing to the official AGV email within 30 minutes after the publication of the results. Complaints regarding jury grades will not be considered.

Article 19.

Complaints are decided by the Complaints Committee appointed by the Organizing Committee within 24 hours of receipt of the complaint.