Jury
These are the members of the Jury 2026
- Dr. Ludwig ALBERT (BE) - artistic director / marimba virtuoso
- Igor LESNIK (HR) - jury president / percussion virtuoso
- Filippo Lattanzi (IT) - percussion virtuoso
- Noriko Tsukagochi (JP) - Marimba artist / 2nd Laureate 2004
- Johan Bridger (DK) - Marimba / Percussion artist
- Ru Wen (CN) - Percussion virtuoso
- Extra jury to be confirmed from December 2026
Dr. Ludwig Albert (BE)
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)
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.
(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.
Rodrigo F. Marques (PT)
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)
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.
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.
Pei-Ching Wu (TW)
Pei-Ching Wu (TW)
Pei-Ching Wu is a prominent marimba artist in six-mallet performance, internationally recognized for advancing the field through her development of the Pei-Ching Grip, a distinctive approach that expands the expressive and technical possibilities of the marimba. A founding and senior member of the Ju Percussion Group, she has performed on major stages in over 35 countries, appearing in more than 3,500 concerts worldwide, with numerous recitals and orchestral collaborations to her credit. She is regularly invited to present masterclasses and serve on juries at major international festivals and competitions. Wu is Professor at the Taipei National University of the Arts and hosts the radio programs Pei-Ching’s Percussion World on Bravo FM 91.3 and Classical FM 97.7. She is also the author of Performing with Six Mallets on Marimba – Exploration and Breakthroughs of Pei-Ching Grip.Noriko Tsukagoshi (JP)
Noriko Tsukagoshi (JP)
2nd Prize Laureate 2004 / Marimba artistNoriko Tsukagoshi is an acclaimed Japanese marimbist who has earned accolades in concert halls and competitions all over the world. Noriko has won or placed in many major international marimba competitions including the 8th Japanese Classical Music Competition & the 2nd Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium 2004. She is an active performer and has performed extensively in Japan as well as Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Poland, the United Kingdom, Argentina, and the United States. Noriko has released 4 CDs and has received outstanding reviews.
Noriko represents YAMAHA and Innovative Percussion as an artist/clinician
Filippo Lattanzi (IT)
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.
