Greetings from Finland!

The Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival is pleased to announce a new International Accordion Competition called the Primus Ikaalinen to be held in Ikaalinen, Finland on the 1st of July, 2005.

The genre of the competition is varietee/entertainment music. In the Final, the contestants perform two pieces of 3-4 minutes suitable for a public entertainment concert, including one piece from their native country, if possible.

All together five contestants will be awarded prizes totaling 7,000 Euros.

The final will be a live TV broadcast in a fully booked concert hall, in front of a real concert audience. The finalists will be accompanied by a professional band (piano, guitar, bass, keyboard and drums.) The chairman of the jury is Mr. Richard Galliano.

In order to take part in the competition, the contestant should play 4-5 pieces of his/her own choice and record it on a tape, video, CD, DVD or minidisk. The tape, a completed entry form and other attachments mentioned on the entry form should be sent to the organizer by the 31st of January 2005. The competition Committee will then select 8-10 contestants to the Final in Ikaalinen. The finalists will be informed by a letter of their success no later than the 15th of March 2005. The contestants will be provided with free accommodation in Ikaalinen and a travel grant of 250 Euros.

Primus Ikaalinen is part of the week-long Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival. This gives the contestants the possibility to enjoy the festival program outside the competition. The festival program will include a large variety of accordion music, with different styles and versatile artists from both Finland and abroad. The contestants will have a free admission to all the festival events and concerts.

The Competition Rules

1. The Primus Ikaalinen International Accordion Competition will be organized by the Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival and Municipality of Ikaalinen together with guidance of the Finnish Accordion Association, the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) and Finland's National TV Channel 'TV2' on 1st July 2005.

2. The contestant must perform two (2) virtuoso entertainment style pieces of 3-4 minutes in duration suitable for a public entertainment concert, and should include one (1) folkloristic piece from their native country if possible. The contestants will perform their pieces accompanied by a band provided by the organizers. The competition will be televised live on Finland's National TV Channel 'TV2.'

3. Accordionists under the age 32 on 1st of July 2005 wishing to enter the competition must send a completed and signed application form to the Competition Secretary by 31st January 2005.

Primus Ikaalinen
Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival
P.O. Box 33
F-39501 Ikaalinen
FINLAND

4. The application must include the following enclosures: a copy of the applicant's passport or birth certificate a short history of the applicant's musical studies and concerts any recommendations and major concert reviews an audio tape including an own choice program of 4-5 pieces (CD, minidisk or video) two publicity style press photos Application documents and tapes cannot be returned

5. The Competition Committee will select 8-10 contestants from the submitted application documents and recordings. The successful applicants will be advised in writing by a letter dated no later than 15th March 2005. The contestant from Finland will be the winner of the Golden Accordion Final Competition held on 30th of June 2005.

6. Free accommodation will be provided for the contestants in the Ikaalinen Summer Hostel during the competition. Contestants will also be awarded a travel grant of 250 Euros. Contestants requiring a visa for Finland must obtain it themselves, however it will be paid for by the organizer. The travel grant and the visa cost will be paid to the contestant upon registration.

7. The jury will consist of five members who are internationally recognized musicians.

8. Awards - The top five winners will be awarded prizes as follows:

• 1st Prize: 3,000 Euros
• 2nd Prize: 2,000 Euros
• 3rd Prize: 1,000 Euros
• 4th Prize: 500 Euros
• 5th Prize: 500 Euros

The prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the competition on 1st July 2005.

9. The organizers of the competition will have unlimited rights to broadcast the competition performances on radio and television in Finland and abroad.

10. For further information please contact:
Primus Ikaalinen
Sata-Häme Soi International Festival
PO Box 33
F-39501 Ikaalinen, FINLAND

Festival Competition Organizer: Minna Kulmala: minna.kulmala@satahamesoi.fi