Composition Competition

Marimba Competition

Past Editions

Jury

Dr. Ludwig Albert (BE)

Founder & Artistic director / Marimba virtuoso
Internationally acclaimed as a virtuoso artist and devoted pedagogue, Ludwig Albert belongs with the absolute topflight and is known throughout the world as an important musical pioneer. He is also recognized as one of the most successful pedagogues of his generation. Showered with titles and positive reception by the press abroad for his rare lyrical sound, he performed regularly in more than 35 countries concerts and master classes and has released fifteen albums containing primarily first recordings of masterworks, his own compositions, improvisations, arrangements and dedicated works displaying his versatile art. He founded as A European creation the Master Marimba Degree defined with his innovative pedagogoc methode in body controlled marimba sound production at the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp welcoming students from over the World. In addition, he is also professor at the marimba and percussion department of the LUCA University College of Arts Leuven. At present he is signature artist of Adams Musical Instruments NL and Innovative Percussion US.

Stefaan Ottenbourgs (BE)

Co founder & committee member / Musicologist
(Belgium, °1964) studied musicology, communication and arts management at the University of Louvain, known as one of Europe’s oldest and prestigious universities. He worked for the Belgium National Classic Radio 3 (now called Klara) between 1987-1991 and was professor at the ‘Provinciale Hogeschool Limburg’ from 1992 till 1998. He’s a board member of several Cultural organizations and associations and is director of the Academic Hall since 1996 and director of the Cultural Centre de Bogaard since 2002. He's related as executive director at the Universal Marimba Competition since its foundation.

Filippo Lattanzi (IT)

Marimba & Percussion artist
Filippo Lattanzi is defined as an outstanding interpreter and as one of the leading figures in the worldwide panorama of marimba and percussion. As classical percussionist, Lattanzi has presented Italian and world premiere performances of many works and has to his credit a large number of first-time recordings of marimba solo pieces and concerto's. His activity as a soloist and chamber music artist has included hundreds of concerts abroad. He teaches Percussion Instruments at the Conservatorio Statale di Musica “Niccolo' Piccinni” of Bari (Italy) and plays exclusively, as endorser, ADAMS Marimbas and Percussion Instruments, GRETSCH Drums and SABIAN cymbals.

Rodrigo F. Marques (PT)

1st laureate DUO 2021 & Composition 2017 / Marimba Artist / Composer in residence

Rodrigo Marques won multiple Prizes as a young musician and received International recognition as 1st Prize Laureate of the Universal Marimba Competition in the disicplines marimba & composition. He profiles himself as a marimbist of the new generation owning the rare combination of performer, composer and improviser. He's also related as composer in residence of the Unversal Marimba Competition. During last years, he presented concerts and masterclasses and appeared as jury member in Poland, Australia, Romania, Italy, Portugal, Belgium etc... His latest published works are highly praised abroad showing a new voice in the marimba repertoire. Starting 2024, he' s related as endorsed artist with Adams companie NL and Innovative Percussion US.

Igor Lešnik (HR)

Jury president / Percussion virtuoso
As one of the leading European percussion virtuoso and composer , Igor Lešnik is Professor percussion and department head at the Zagreb Music Academy in Croatia. His compositions are part of concert programs of renowned soloists and ensembles as well as percussion competitions. His collaborations with famous colleagues, his rich collection of recordings and his international concert activities introduced Croatian percussion music to the world. Since 1984 he leads the Croatian Radio Symphony orchestra percussion section and since 1990.

Leo Ouderits (BE)

Percussion virtuoso - Professor Emiritus
As one of most significant Belgian Professors of percussion, he teached at the 'Royal Conservatory' in Antwerp and at the 'Lemmens Institute' in Leuven. He also appeared as guest-professor at the 'Academie d'été' in Libramont. He founded the Mol percussion Orchestra, known as Europe's first created percussion Orchestra, and conducted this ensemble over 30 years with performances at several important festivals and Radio & TV broadcasts. They made several special broadcastings and LP & CD productions, including several European hits.

Foo Pui Yee (HK)

Marimba Artist
Foo Pui-Yee has made her mark in the world as one of the Hong Kong's finest artist. Her performances across thirty states are hailed as "full of character and demonstrating a unique and beautiful style of playing". She collaborates continuously with distinct composers and has more than hundred world premiere. She is also the Artistic Director of the International Hong Kong Percussion Convention-festival and the jury president of the competition.

Sergei Golovko (AU)

Sergei Golovko is a renowned percussion soloist, performer, and educator known for his vibrant interpretations of famous compositions and his compositions, which showcase his masterful marimba technique. Music critic Michael Easton has praised his performances as "percussion pyrotechnics" and described himas a "man with helium hands.
Sergei is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Australian Marimba Competition and the APA Austalian Percussion Academy. Sergei Golovko is related as International endorsed artist with the Dutch company Adams and the GROVER company in the US. Sergei Golovko is not only a master marimbist & percussionist, but also a source of inspiration for his students.

Eliane Rodrigues (BR)

Rodrigues’ ascent in the world of classical music was marked by numerous accolades, including the prestigious Gina Bachauer prize at the Van Cliburn Competition in the United States, which she earned at just 18 years old. In Belgium, she continued her studies under Jacques Detiège, a pupil of Leon Fleischer and Maria Curcio. Here, Rodrigues not only excelled in competitions but also enriched her artistic repertoire, eventually becoming a revered professor at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp.
Her discography, encompassing over 25 releases, is a testament to her versatility and includes both live performances and studio albums, notably featuring the complete piano concertos of Sergey Prokofiev and Beethoven. Belgian listeners of Klara, a prominent classical music radio station, voted Rodrigues as their all-time favorite performer. Her interpretation of Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto at the 1983 competition, where she was awarded 5th Laureate place, garnered international praise and left an indelible mark on the hearts of music aficionados, cementing her legacy in the classical music world.

Yuyan Wang (CN)

Yuyan Wang is an internationally active performer, educator, Bergerault artist, Adjunct Professor at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and Artistic Director of the Sonamus Chamber- and Percussion Ensembles. Yuyan won numerous awards and prizes and is also committee member of the IPEA International Percussion Education Association and Vice-President of the China Marimba Association.

Seung Myeong Oh (KR)

Seung Myeong Oh is the percussionist with infinite potentiality that embodies various repertories and creative ideas coming from the never-stopping challenge. Currently, Oh is the Principal Timpanist of the Jeju Philharmonic Orchestra, leader of the Oh Percussion Group and Oh Junior Percussion Ensemble Music Director, member of the executive committee of Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival and Jeju International Brass & Percussion Competition, ADAMS artist and a lecturer in Jeju National University for the future potential percussionists.

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