Propositions

I. OPERA - Solo Categories

LADIES

• Pre-category A: competitors born in 2007 and younger, students of elementary music school.
• Pre-category B: competitors born in 2007 and younger, students of I and II year of secondary music school.
• Category I/A: competitors born in 2005 and younger, students of elementary music school.
• Category I/B: competitors born in 2005 and younger, students of secondary music school.
• Category II/A: competitors born in 2003 and younger, students of elementary or secondary music school.
• Category II/B: competitors born in 2003 and younger, university students.
• Category III: competitors born in 1999 and younger, young professionals.
• Category IV/A and IV/B: competitors born in 1990 and younger, young professionals.

GENTLEMEN

• Pre-category A: competitors born in 2005 and younger, students of elementary music school.
• Pre-category B: competitors born in 2005 and younger, students of I and II year of secondary music school.
• Category I/A: competitors born in 2003 and younger, students of elementary music school.
• Category I/B: competitors born in 2003 and younger, students of secondary music school.
• Category II/A: competitors born in 2001 and younger, students of elementary or secondary music school.
• Category II/B: competitors born in 2001 and younger, university students.
• Category III: competitors born in 1997 and younger, young professionals.
• Category IV/A and IV/B: competitors born in 1990 and younger, young professionals.

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II. MUSICAL - Solo Categories

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

• Category V: competitors born in 1990 and younger; university students and young professionals specializing in the musical genre.

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III. ENSEMBLES

• Category VI/A: Chamber ensembles with piano accompaniment by a student; members born in 1990 and younger.
• Category VI/B: Mixed opera duets or ensembles with professional accompanist; members born in 1990 and younger.
• Category VI/V: Musical duets or ensembles with professional accompanist; members born in 1990 and younger.

I. OPERA - Program

• Pre-category A (Elementary school): Old master; One solo song of free choice.
• Pre-category B (Secondary school): Old master; Two solo songs of free choice.
• Category I: Old master; Two solo songs of free choice.
• Category II/A (Secondary school) and II/B (University): Old master; Two solo songs; Aria from opera or operetta.
• Category III (two stages): Stage I: Old master; Aria from oratorio/mass/cantata. Stage II: 3 solo songs (19th, 20th century, Slavic composer); Aria from opera/operetta.
• Category IV/A (two stages): Stage I: Old master; Aria from oratorio; Mozart aria; Aria from opera. Stage II: 20th century solo song; Song cycle; Solo song by a Serbian composer; Aria from opera.
• Category IV/B (two stages): Stage I: Two opera arias. Stage II: Two opera arias.

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II. MUSICAL - Program

• Category V: Two songs from a musical of different character.

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III. ENSEMBLES - Program

• Category VI/A: Two compositions of different character (with student accompaniment).
• Category VI/B: One opera duet or ensemble (with accompanist).
• Category VI/V: One song (duet or ensemble) from a musical (with accompanist).

REGULATIONS

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

ARTICLE 1: These Regulations (hereinafter: Regulations), in accordance with the law and other regulations, define the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of the Cultural Element organization (hereinafter: Organizer) during the organization of the Lazar Jovanović International Opera Competition for Solo Singers (hereinafter: Competition).

ARTICLE 2: The organizer of the competition is the Cultural Element organization, registered in the APR under registration number 28071299, PIB 107407843. The Cultural Element organization is the legal holder of all copyrights to the name, trademark, rules, and propositions of the competition. The use of these without the written permission of the organizer is not allowed. The person authorized to legally represent the competition is the president of the organization, Tadija Miletić.

ARTICLE 3: All individuals who professionally study solo singing, as well as those without formal opera education, aged 17-35, may apply for the competition. The competition is held once a year and is open to competitors of all nationalities.

II. ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

ARTICLE 4: The Organizer forms an Organizing Committee for each individual competition. The Organizing Committee invites participants to apply, forms a collaborative team, defines the content of awards, the composition of the jury, elects the president and secretary of the jury, selects the official accompanist, publishes and updates the propositions, determines the amount of entry fees, and announces the jury's decision.

III. JURY AND EVALUATION

ARTICLE 5 (Composition): The composition of the jury members is chosen by the Organizing Committee. Jury members are selected from among prominent music educators and artists. The jury for lower categories consists of at least 3 members, and the jury for higher categories consists of at least 4 members.

ARTICLE 6 (Members' obligations): Jury members evaluate participants with scores from 0 to 100; submit individual score sheets to the secretary; enter scores into the prescribed form; participate in the work of the jury throughout the competition; attend the performance of all competitors; attend jury sessions; sign score sheets.

ARTICLE 7 (Jury President): The Jury President monitors the regularity of evaluation; at the end of the category, makes a proposal for participants for the final concert; at the end of the competition day, forms and signs the list of results.

ARTICLE 8 (Conflict of interest): A jury member cannot evaluate a candidate: a) if they are related to the candidate; b) if they are the candidate's teacher or professor; c) if they have worked with the candidate within 12 months prior to the Competition. In such cases, the candidate is evaluated by the Jury Secretary instead of the jury member.

ARTICLE 9 (Scoring): Competitors are evaluated with scores from 0 to 100. Placement is determined by summing the scores of all jury members and dividing the obtained sum by the number of jury members (the so-called "average score"), rounded to two decimal places. In borderline cases (e.g., 89.99), a lower-ranking award is given.

ARTICLE 10 (Stages): For categories with two stages, the first stage is eliminatory. Every competitor who scores more than 70 points qualifies for the second stage. The number of points from the first stage is not publicly announced before the end of the second. The final placement is the average of the scores from both stages.

ARTICLE 11 (Awards): Competitors are ranked according to the number of points scored: a) First prize: 90-100 points. b) Second prize: 80-89.99 points. c) Third prize: 70-79.99 points.

ARTICLE 12: The jury's decision is final, irrevocable, and not subject to appeal.

IV. APPLICATIONS AND COMPETITION PROCEDURE

ARTICLE 13 (Application): Applications are submitted exclusively electronically with proof of payment of the entry fee. The program must be written in the original language. Paid entry fees are non-refundable. All costs of transport, accommodation, and food are borne by the competitors themselves.

ARTICLE 14 (Accompanist): A candidate may be accompanied by their own accompanist. If they do not have one, the Competition recommends an official accompanist whose services are charged and include one rehearsal and the performance.

ARTICLE 15 (Program): The program for all categories is performed from memory and in the original language. For a premiere performance, sheet music must be submitted.

ARTICLE 16 (Order of performance): Competitors perform in alphabetical order by the initial letter of their surname, starting from the letter determined by draw.

ARTICLE 17 (Program change): A competitor may change one composition if the change is reported before the start of the competition in the category and if the jury members agree.

ARTICLE 18 (Final Concert): After the competition, first-prize winners perform at the final concert, where awards and diplomas are presented.

V. FINAL PROVISIONS

ARTICLE 19 (Audiovisual material): The Organizer reserves the right to realize and publish audiovisual material. Participants waive all rights (copyright or other) related to the use of material created through their participation, without the right to compensation.

ARTICLE 20 (Additional activities): After the competition day, a round table with jury members may be held. Opera and music workshops may be held during the competition.

ARTICLE 21 (Responsibility): The Organizer is not responsible for any injuries to participants or damage to instruments and other equipment.

ARTICLE 22: By entering the competition, the candidate or their guardian accepts all rules stated in the propositions and these Regulations.

ARTICLE 23 (Dispute Resolution): In case of a dispute, the conflicting parties will try to resolve it by agreement. If this is not possible, the competent court in Belgrade will have jurisdiction, and only the regulations in Serbian are valid.