APPROVED
Šiauliai Saulius Sondeckis Arts Gymnasium
Director October 23, 2025
Order No. VĮ-162/2025
1. The 8th International Saulius Sondeckis Competition for Young Violinists and Cellists will be held in Šiauliai (Lithuania) from 22 to 30 June 2026. It is dedicated to the memory of one of the most famous Lithuanian conductors, orchestra leaders, honorary citizen of the city of Šiauliai, Professor Saulius Sondeckis.
The organizer of the competition is Šiauliai Saulius Sondeckis Arts Gymnasium.
2. Performers up to 22 years of age can participate in the competition.
Participants are divided into four age categories:
A – up to 10 years (inclusive)
B – 11–14 years old
C – 15–18 years old
D – 19–22 years old
3. The competition is open to students of music and art schools, art schools, gymnasiums, conservatories, and music academies: violinists and cellists.
4. The competition will be held in two rounds in age categories A, B, C, and three rounds in category D. The first place winners in category D will perform at the final concert with the Šiauliai City Symphony Orchestra "Camerata Solaris" (conductor and artistic director Vilhelmas Čepinskis).
5. The performance of soloists in all categories at the final concert is selected by the judging panel.
6. The order of performances of the contestants is determined by the date of birth of the contestants.
7. The competition program is performed by heart.
8. All auditions for contestants are public.
9. The competition program of the participants will be evaluated by an international jury , which is composed of the competition organizer.
10. The competition jury has the right to stop the performance if the performer exceeds the set time limit. The jury has the right to stop the performance of a performer who is not sufficiently professional. The decisions of the jury are final and cannot be appealed. If a participant prepared by a member of the jury participates in the competition, the member of the jury recuses himself from his evaluation and cannot influence the decisions of other members of the jury.
11. Participation fee:
Category A participants – 70 euros;
Category B participants – 75 euros;
Category C participants – 80 euros;
For category D participants – 100 euros.
12. 12. The participation fee must be paid and completed applications sent by April 15 , 2026.
The completed and signed application form must be accompanied by:
• a copy of a personal identification document (identity card or passport);
• a high-quality color photograph of the participant (from 800×1200 pixels, from 0.5 MB);
• a document confirming the payment of the fee.
13. The competition organizer has the right to adjust the maximum number of participants according to the date of filling out the submitted application. The expected number of participants is up to 70 participants. The received applications are evaluated by the competition organizer and the acceptance or rejection of the applications will be notified by April 20, 2026 to the participant's e-mail address specified in the application. If the application is rejected, the paid participation fee will be refunded.
14. The performances of the participants of the competition are evaluated on a 25-point system:
A participant who has scored:
• up to 14.9 points – does not qualify for the II round, receives a Participant's Certificate;
• 15–19.9 points – enters the II round, is awarded a Diploma;
• 20 or more points in the II round becomes a laureate of I, II, III places, is awarded a Laureate's Diploma.
• Category D participants are selected in the III round by the evaluation committee (I, II, III place laureates, diploma holders).
15. The estimated prize fund of the competition is 5,000 euros. Special cash and other special prizes may be established. The special prize awards are awarded by the evaluation committee. The monetary prizes of the competition winners are paid by bank transfer within 30 calendar days after the awards ceremony. The decisions of the evaluation committee regarding the prizes are final and cannot be appealed.
16. Participants participate in the competition accompanied by their own concertmaster. Participants who will need the services of a concertmaster must inform the organizer about this in the Participant Application. The organizer of the competition mediates for participants who will need the services of a concertmaster. Please note that this service is not included in the participation fee and the participants must pay for it separately.
17. Participants and their teachers will be able to participate in the planned master classes on June 28-29, 2026 , which will be conducted by Prof. Zakhar Bron (Germany / Switzerland, violin), Rolanda Ginkutė (Lithuania / Qatar, violin), Prof. David Geringas (Lithuania / Germany, cello), Jorge Gil Garcia (Spain, cello). All information and registration are online . The master classes will be held at P. Višinskio g. 19, Šiauliai.
18. Participants are responsible for their own travel, accommodation and meal expenses.
19. The competition organizer has the right to exceptionally exempt a participant from the participation fee and cover accommodation and meal expenses.
20. The competition organizer has all rights to the publication of the participant's image in materials related to the competition in the public domain, to the audio or video recordings and publication of the competition rounds and the final concert, as well as the commercial use of these recordings without payment to the competition participants.
21. Auditions for all participants of the 8th International Saulius Sondeckis Young Violinist and Cellist Competition will be held in the hall of the Šiauliai “Dagilėlios” Singing School (Vytauto g. 113, Šiauliai) on June 22–27, 2026.
22. The award ceremony for the competition participants will take place on June 30, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. (Šiauliai City Concert Hall “Saulė”, Stained Glass Foyer, Tilžės St. 140, Šiauliai).
The closing of the competition and the grand final concert of the laureates will take place on June 30, 2026 at 6:00 p.m., to which participants of all categories selected by the judging committee will be invited (Šiauliai City Concert Hall "Saulė", Tilžės g. 140, Šiauliai).