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)
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)
(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 artistFilippo 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
Igor Lešnik (HR)
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.
