Music school ‘Živorad Grbić’ – Valjevo

22 – 24 May 2026

8th International Competition of String Players ‘Golden Steps’

Organizational team

• MMus Suzana Radovanović Perić –  MS „Živorad Grbić” Headteacher

• MMus Snežana Stevanović- Art director of the festival, the violin teacher and String Department Head

• Slaviša Jezdimirović –MS „Živorad Grbić” Assistant headteacher

• Tijana Čitaković –MS „Živorad Grbić” Assistant headteacher

• Milica Stepanović Baba-Milkić –MS „Živorad Grbić” Teacher; Music Theory Department Head

Under the patronage of

City of Valjevo

Regulations

You can participate if:

• you are violinist, violist or cellist attending primary, secondary music school

• you are violinist, violist or cellist attending music academy.

Disciplines:

Pupils and students will be competing in these disciplines: VIOLIN, VIOLA, CELLO, CLASSICAL CHAMBER ENSEMBLE, NONCLASSICAL CHAMBER ENSEMBLE, STRING ORCHESTRA

Soloists:

CATEGORIES

Categories for violin, viola and cello:

Junior category (born in 2017 and younger)

Two compositions of your own choice, up to 5 minutes.

First category (born in 2015 and younger)

1. Cyclic form: concerto, sonata, sonatina (choice of movements must be in accordance with given minutes), variations

2. One composition of your own choice.

Up to 8 minutes for both compositions.

Second category (born in 2013 and younger)

1. Cyclic form: concerto, sonata, sonatina (choice of movements must be in accordance with given minutes), variations

2. One composition of your own choice.

Up to 10 minutes for both compositions.

Third category (born in 2011 and younger)

1. Cyclic form: concerto, sonata, sonatina (choice of movements must be in accordance with given minutes), variations

2. One composition of your own choice.

Up to 12 minutes for both compositions.

Fourth category (born in 2009 and younger)

1. Cyclic form: concerto, sonata, sonatina (choice of movements must be in accordance with given minutes), variations

2. One composition of your own choice.

Up to 15 minutes for both compositions.

Fifth category (born in 2007 and younger)

1. Cyclic form: concerto, sonata, sonatina (choice of movements must be in accordance with given minutes), variations

2. One composition of your own choice.

Up to 18 minutes for both compositions.

Sixth category (born in 2005 and younger)

1. Cyclic form: concerto, sonata, sonatina (choice of movements must be in accordance with given minutes), variations

2. One composition of your own choice.

Up to 20 minutes for both compositions.

Seventh category (born in 2003 and younger)

1. Cyclic form: concerto, sonata, sonatina (choice of movements must be in accordance with given minutes), variations

2. One composition of your own choice.

Up to 20 minutes for both compositions.

Eighth category (born in 2002)

1. Cyclic form: concerto, sonata, sonatina (choice of movements must be in accordance with given minutes), variations

2. One composition of your own choice.

Up to 25 minutes for both compositions.

Chamber ensembles:

Annotation for ensembles:

• An ensemble can have from 2 to 9 performers.

• The category is determined by the grade which the oldest member of the ensemble attends.

CLASSICAL CHAMBER ensemble:

• String quartet (2 violins, viola and cello)

• Piano trio (piano, violin and cello)

• Piano quintet (piano, 2 violins, viola and cello)

NON-CLASSICAL CHAMBER ensemble (chamber ensembles which consist of at least one string instrument):

CATEGORIES:

First category (from 1st to 3rd grade of primary school)

Two compositions of your own choice.

 Up to 7 minutes.

Second category (from 4th to 6th grade of primary school)

Two compositions of your own choice.

Up to 10 minutes.

Third category (secondary music school students)

Two compositions of your own choice.

Up to 15 minutes.

Fourth category (university students)

Two compositions of your own choice.

Up to 20 minutes.

String orchestra

Annotation for orchestras:

• an orchestra has to consist of at least 10 members

• an orchestra performs with a conductor

• piano accompaniment is allowed

• if the school does not have viola and double bass students, violists or double bass players do not have to be members of an orchestra

• orchestra can be made of primary and secondary school students (if you do not have enough members in either primary or secondary school). This mixed orchestra will compete in the second category (category for orchestras from secondary schools)

CATEGORIES:

First category (orchestras from primary schools)

Two compositions of your own choice.

Up to 15 minutes.

Second category (orchestras from secondary schools)

Two compositions of your own choice.

Up to 15 minutes.

Third category (orchestras consisting of university students)

Two compositions of your own choice.

Up to 20 minutes.

Note:

PERFORMERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO EXCEED THE TIME LIMITS. IF PERFORMERS EXCEED THE TIME LIMIT, THE JURY HAS THE RIGHT TO STOP THE PERFORMANCE.

Members of the jury

Violin / Viola

Prof. Maja Jokanović – Faculty of Music, Belgade (Serbia)

Prof. Marko Josifoski – Faculty of Music, Belgade (Serbia)

Prof. Vlada Marković – Music school ‘Mokranjac’, Belgrade (Serbia), Academy of Music – East Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Prof. Orfej Simić – Chamber Orchestra „Gustav Mahler“ Concertmaster, Kărntner Sinfonieorchester Concertmaster– Klagenfurt (Austria)

Prof. Ivan Otašević – Academy of Arts, Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Prof. Vladimir Vasiljević – Music school ‘Mokranjac’, Belgrade (Serbia)

Prof. Jasna Simonović Mrčela, Music school ‘Pavla Markovca’, Zagreb (Croatia)

Cello

Prof. Srđan Sretenović – Faculty of Music, Belgade (Serbia)

Prof. Nemanja Stanković – Faculty of Music, Belgade (Serbia)

Prof. Smiljan Mrčela – Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Academy of Music – Zagreb (Croatia)

Prof. Judit Josifoska – Music school‘Isidor Bajić’, Novi Sad (Serbia)

Chamber ensembles and String Orchestras

Prof. Maja Jokanović – Faculty of Music, Belgade ( Serbia)

Prof. Orfej Simić – Chamber Orchestra „Gustav Mahler“ Concertmaster, Kărntner Sinfonieorchester Concertmaster– Klagenfurt (Austria)

Prof. Vlada Marković – Music school ‘Mokranjac’, Belgrade (Serbia), Academy of Music – East Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Prof. Ivan Otašević – Academy of Arts, Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Prof. Vladimir Vasiljević – Music school ‘Mokranjac’, Belgrade (Serbia)

Prof. Jasna Simonović Mrčela, Music school ‘Pavla Markovca’, Zagreb (Croatia)

Prof. Smiljan Mrčela – Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Academy of Music – Zagreb (Croatia)

Awarding

TEACHERS/PROFESSORS, WHOSE PUPILS/STUDENTS ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE COMPETITION, CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION AFTER THE AWARDS ARE GIVEN.

The jury will mark candidates in the following way:

First Prize from 95.00 to 100.00 points

Second Prize from 85.00 to 94.99 points

Third Prize from 75.00 to 84.99 points

Honorable Mention from 65.00 to 74.99 points.

If two participants have the same number of points, advantage will be given to the younger one.

For every category the jury awards Special First Prize (The winner of the category)

The jury can announce an absolute winner of the Competition: Laureate among all primary schools, Laureate among all secondary schools and Laureate among all academies.

Laureate of the entire competition – Award of prof. Dejan Mihailović

The competition of string players ‘Golden steps’, whose aim is first of all to recognize, systematically monitor and improve young talented string players, is a realization of a wish of Dejan Mihailović. During many decades of outstanding professional engagement Prof. Dejan Mihailović insisted on the importance of creativity, performing individuality, uniqueness and expressive interpretation as essential values of a musician. ‘Golden steps’, the name for a collection of miniatures for young violinists, whose author was professor Živorad Grbić, inspired professor Mihailović to give the competition this symbolic name as it suggests a road of dedication, love and determination that every artist must take during his creative development and a road which is fully recognizable in the form of this competition.

As a person who has dedicated his whole life to research and to stimulating creativity, Prof. Mihailović is certainly the brains behind the idea that was growing in the minds of Valjevo’s string players and which came to life through the first ‘Golden Steps’ in May 2016 . For that reason the award, Laureate of the Entire Competition, will bear his name.

Other awards

The jury will announce:

• THE BEST PEDAGOGUE,

• THE BEST PIANO ACCOMPANIST

Accompanying events of the competition

Violin and Cello Masterclass

Master class - violin: Prof. Marko Josifovski (Belgrade, Serbia)

Master class - cello: Prof. Nemanja Stanković (Zagreb, Croatia)

Masterclasses are intended for participants of all ages.

The number of participants is not limited.

Only participants of the “Golden Steps” String Competition may attend the masterclass.

Registration for the masterclass should be completed as part of the competition’s online application.

Additional information via email:

Snežana Stevanović (e-mail: Ova adresa el. pošte zaštićena je od spam napada, treba omogućiti JavaSkript da biste je videli )

The list of registered participants can be followed at THIS LINK.

Other accompanying programs

Exhibition of instruments: Artistic workshop “Tarisio”

The concert of Laureate of the entire competition and announcing the ablosute winner of the competition

The competition takes place in

Music school ‘Živorad Grbić’ – Valjevo, 122 Karadjordjeva Street, Valjevo (Google maps, OpenStreet maps)

Valjevo Grammar school, 3 Vuka Karadžića Street, Valjevo (Google maps, OpenStreet maps)

Engaging piano accompanist

Participants can engage our professional accompanist. That must be noted in the application form. In that case, the music sheets partituras have to be sent by email to the accompanist no later than 27th April 2026.

Additional information about fees and rehearsals:

Darјa Samofalova (e-mail: Ova adresa el. pošte zaštićena je od spam napada, treba omogućiti JavaSkript da biste je videli )

Video footage of the performance

During online registration participants can request a video footage of their performance. After the performance video footages will be sent via online service wetransfer.com.

The fee for recording the performance is 2000 dinars.

The fee is to be paid to the same dinar bank account used for the Donation. In the field “Purpose of payment”, after “Donation for the Flautists’ Gathering”, please add “+ performance recording”.

Applying

Deadline:

27th April 2026

This competition is in the Calendar of competitions for primary schools in Serbia in the year 2026.

Application links:

Soloists

Chamber ensembles

String orchestras

Important note for registering the Orchestra:

after filling out the online Application, it is necessary to send a list of district members by e-mail!

The template for the list (in .XLS format) can be downloaded from: List of orchestra members

You can check the list of registered participants at THIS LINK.  

Lists of participants whose donation payments or recording fees have not yet been processed through the school’s bank account can be viewed at THIS LINK.

Donation

Donation for soloist:

Junior, First, Second and Third category: 4500 dinars.

Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth category: 5000 dinars.

For soloists from “Živorad Grbić” Music School – Valjevo, the donation is 50% of the amount for other participants.

Donation for chamber ensemble:

First and Second category: 5000 dinars

Third and Fourth category: 6000 dinars

Donation for orchestra:

First and Second category: 5000 dinars

Third category: 6000 dinars

For all participants, the donation should be paid to the dinar bank account of the “Živorad Grbić” Music School – Valjevo.

The payment form should be filled out as follows:

A scanned (or photographed) copy of the payment slip (or other proof of payment) must be sent to the following email address: Ova adresa el. pošte zaštićena je od spam napada, treba omogućiti JavaSkript da biste je videli until 27th April 2026.

For participants from abroad: additional information about payment can be requested via e-mail Ova adresa el. pošte zaštićena je od spam napada, treba omogućiti JavaSkript da biste je videli

Additional annotation:

There will be no refunds in case of cancellations.

How to pay the donation if more than one member of a family (brothers or sisters) are applying:

1st child - full sum of the donation

2nd child - 50% of the donation

3rd child - free of charge

Participants, their teachers and piano accompanists bear the cost of their travel and stay during the competition.

All payments must be completed by 27th April 2026.

Competition applications will be accepted only after the payments have been processed through the school’s bank account.

Organizer's contact details:

e-mail: Ova adresa el. pošte zaštićena je od spam napada, treba omogućiti JavaSkript da biste je videli

phone: +381 14 291 535