"The city will by no means, nor does it intend to shut down." International Music Youth Competition Belgrade, on the contrary," he says for "Vreme" Jelena Medakovic, Secretary for Culture of Belgrade, denying newspaper articles about it.
Recently, on the website of the World Federation of International Music Festivals, a text about the International Music Youth Competition was posted, full of praise, announcing this year's competition and the 2027 competition, which should be understood as a confirmation that the competition has not been canceled.
Impression of the abolition
Two things led to the impression that it was: the decision of the City Assembly on January 22, according to which Music Youth of Belgrade (MOB), otherwise the founder of the festival, is no longer its organizer, and the fact that this year's competition, although ready, was not held.
This March 21, the 54th competition, dedicated to the viola, was supposed to start - every year, musicians compete on a different instrument, and at one time there were singers along with the musicians.
"We are working on bringing back the competition in full. On this occasion, Florian Riem, secretary general of the International Music Youth, was in Belgrade, who emphasized the importance of Belgrade, the long tradition of this city competition and the desire for it to take place like in the old days with a large number of candidates, as well as to bring back the tradition of the two competitive disciplines - before, singers also performed with the instrument," announces Medaković.
The old jury remains.
He says that "the new Board is in agreement with the composition of the existing jury that was elected last year, and with the selector of the competition."
Instead of Music Youth, "the organizer of the Competition will be CEBEF in close cooperation with the Guarnerius institution whose founder, Jovan Kolundžija, was himself a participant and laureate of this competition". CEBEF is listed as the organizer in the mentioned text on the website of the World Federation.
Jelena Medaković announces that this year's canceled competition will be held, most likely at the end of the year, with the fact that it will continue in the old time from next year, and she expects that the exact time will be announced soon.
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