IV International Music Competition
Laboratory of Alisa Gitsba
Laboratory of Alisa Gitsba
July 2025 – June 2026
"MUSIC – A DIALOGUE WITHOUT DISTANCES AND BORDERS"
Regulations on the International Music Competition
Laboratory of Alisa Gitsba
1.1. These Regulations define the goals, content, themes of and categories of participants in the International Music Competition Laboratory of Alisa Gitsba project (hereinafter referred to as the Competition Laboratory).
2.1. The Competition Laboratory is focused on identifying and supporting young performers, aged 18 – 45, who will take part in an informal educational program and will be able to gain experience in the competition. The best performers will be engaged in a series of final concerts in Russia and Abkhazia.
The goal of the Competition Laboratory is to create high-quality informal educational and creative conditions at the international level to identify and support representatives of academic performing arts (arrange the music Competition Laboratory in the territory of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Abkhazia) and provide support and information about the possibilities and prospects for further development (arrange the competition within the Laboratory and hold concert performances until June 2026 in the regions of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Abkhazia).
2.2. Objectives of the Competition Laboratory:
Inform the project target audiences of the emerging development opportunities by fostering an educational, creative and communication environment for young talents of academic vocal art, providing a possibility to participate in the theoretical and practical program of the Laboratory and improving their creative potential;
Engage project target audiences in informal educational activities and ensure their immersion in an artificially competitive environment;
Create resource conditions for demonstrating the performance results of the target audiences by arranging concert activities of the identified talented performers in the territory of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Abkhazia and countries of the near and far abroad.
The goal of the Competition Laboratory is to create high-quality informal educational and creative conditions at the international level to identify and support representatives of academic performing arts (arrange the music Competition Laboratory in the territory of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Abkhazia) and provide support and information about the possibilities and prospects for further development (arrange the competition within the Laboratory and hold concert performances until June 2026 in the regions of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Abkhazia).
2.2. Objectives of the Competition Laboratory:
Inform the project target audiences of the emerging development opportunities by fostering an educational, creative and communication environment for young talents of academic vocal art, providing a possibility to participate in the theoretical and practical program of the Laboratory and improving their creative potential;
Engage project target audiences in informal educational activities and ensure their immersion in an artificially competitive environment;
Create resource conditions for demonstrating the performance results of the target audiences by arranging concert activities of the identified talented performers in the territory of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Abkhazia and countries of the near and far abroad.
3.1. Venue: Moscow, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Kazan, Sukhum, etc.
3.2. Timing of the events arranged by the Competition Laboratory: July 2025 – June 2026.
3.2. Timing of the events arranged by the Competition Laboratory: July 2025 – June 2026.
4.1. The founder of the Competition Laboratory is Alisa Gitsba, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, People's Artist of the Republic of Abkhazia, Cavalier of the 2nd Class Order of Honor and Glory (hereinafter referred to as the Founder), with the support of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives.
4.2. Event organizers:
4.2.1. The Government of the Republic of Abkhazia;
4.2.2. The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Abkhazia.
4.2. Event organizers:
4.2.1. The Government of the Republic of Abkhazia;
4.2.2. The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Abkhazia.
5.1. Representatives of academic performing arts, aged 18-45, from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Abkhazia;
5.2. Professionals in academic vocal arts from the Russian Federation, the Republic of Abkhazia and countries of the near and far abroad (honored artists, students of music universities and colleges, soloists of leading specialized cultural institutions, teachers).
5.3. Beneficiaries: residents and guests of Moscow, Kazan, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Sukhum (Abkhazia).
5.2. Professionals in academic vocal arts from the Russian Federation, the Republic of Abkhazia and countries of the near and far abroad (honored artists, students of music universities and colleges, soloists of leading specialized cultural institutions, teachers).
5.3. Beneficiaries: residents and guests of Moscow, Kazan, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Sukhum (Abkhazia).
6.1. The Organizing Committee is responsible for coordination of all events held by the Competition Laboratory. The Organizing Committee includes representatives of the Founder, specialists in the nomination themes and specialists of the Competition Laboratory.
6.2. The Organizing Committee of the Competition Laboratory forms the jury of the Competition Laboratory with the purpose to hold expert reviews of the competition materials and define the participants of the final event. The jury includes famous musicians, honored professionals in art and culture.
6.3. LABORATORY JURY MEMBERS:
- Hold expert reviews of the materials submitted to the Competition Laboratory, issue expert opinions and recommendations based on the results of the online and in-person events of the Competition Laboratory;
- The jury, at its own discretion, may stop any participant during the audition;
- Any decision made by the jury is final and is not subject to revision;
- Each participant in the Competition Laboratory may receive an expert assessment of their performance from any member of the jury.
6.2. The Organizing Committee of the Competition Laboratory forms the jury of the Competition Laboratory with the purpose to hold expert reviews of the competition materials and define the participants of the final event. The jury includes famous musicians, honored professionals in art and culture.
6.3. LABORATORY JURY MEMBERS:
- Hold expert reviews of the materials submitted to the Competition Laboratory, issue expert opinions and recommendations based on the results of the online and in-person events of the Competition Laboratory;
- The jury, at its own discretion, may stop any participant during the audition;
- Any decision made by the jury is final and is not subject to revision;
- Each participant in the Competition Laboratory may receive an expert assessment of their performance from any member of the jury.
7.1. The International Music Competition Laboratory of Alisa Gitsba is held from July 2025 to June 30, 2026, and includes an informal educational program and competitive tests. Work stages:
Stage 1 (July - October 2025) – forward and accept applications for participation, review and hold an initial evaluation of video materials by experts (jury), put together a list of Stage 2 participants that should include at least 100 people.
Stage 2 (October 2025) - deliver the informal educational program (meetings and workshops, master classes, press conference, offline events and hold Round 2 and Round 3 of the International Music Competition of Alisa Gitsba within the Competition Laboratory. Sum up the results of the competition and grant awards to the winners.
7.2. The Competition Laboratory will hold its competition tests in three nominations: Solo Opera Singing, Chamber Vocal Performance, The Art of Accompaniment.
7.2.1. Solo Opera Singing Nomination, age category: from 18 to 45 years inclusive.
7.2.2. Chamber Vocal Performance Nomination, age category: from 18 to 45 years inclusive.
7.2.3. The Art of Accompaniment Nomination (accompanists), age category: from 18 to 45 years inclusive.
7.3. Auditions will be held at all stages. The forms of auditions and their rounds are described in the Laboratory Regulations.
Stage 1 (July - October 2025) – forward and accept applications for participation, review and hold an initial evaluation of video materials by experts (jury), put together a list of Stage 2 participants that should include at least 100 people.
Stage 2 (October 2025) - deliver the informal educational program (meetings and workshops, master classes, press conference, offline events and hold Round 2 and Round 3 of the International Music Competition of Alisa Gitsba within the Competition Laboratory. Sum up the results of the competition and grant awards to the winners.
- October 12 – October 16, 2025 – Round 2, Moscow: hold the draw and in-person auditions (on stage) and online audition (videos) for those who live more than 300 km away from Moscow;
- October 20 - October 22, 2025 - Round 3, the Republic of Abkhazia, the city of Sukhum, the stage of the Abkhazian State Philharmonic named after R. Gumba. Accommodation for Round 3 participants is at the expense of the Organizing Committee, travel expenses to Abkhazia are paid by the participants of the competition.
- October 23, 2025 - Award Ceremony for the winners, Gala Concert of laureates and diploma holders of the Competition Laboratory in the city of Sukhum, on the stage of the Abkhazian State Philharmonic named after R. Gumba, accompanied by a combined orchestra;
7.2. The Competition Laboratory will hold its competition tests in three nominations: Solo Opera Singing, Chamber Vocal Performance, The Art of Accompaniment.
7.2.1. Solo Opera Singing Nomination, age category: from 18 to 45 years inclusive.
7.2.2. Chamber Vocal Performance Nomination, age category: from 18 to 45 years inclusive.
7.2.3. The Art of Accompaniment Nomination (accompanists), age category: from 18 to 45 years inclusive.
7.3. Auditions will be held at all stages. The forms of auditions and their rounds are described in the Laboratory Regulations.
8.1. Video materials for Stage 1 of the Competition Laboratory shall be forwarded electronically to the email address: gitsba-competition@mail.ru by September 30, 2025, together with an application for participation (Attachment No. 1A, No. 1B), consent to personal data processing (Attachment No. 2) and the entire document package (Attachment No. 3).
8.2. At this stage, the Stage 2 participants are defined.
8.3. The results of the qualification stage and the lists of those who proceed to Stage 2 the Competition Laboratory are published in the Internet on the official page of the Competition Laboratory at VKontakte and electronic resources no later than October 3, 2025.
8.4. Subject to the preliminary request, a participant of the Competition Laboratory may be provided with an on-duty accompanist/illustrator. In this case, the musical material must be sent by September 30, 2025, in electronic form to the email address of the Competition Laboratory.
8.2. At this stage, the Stage 2 participants are defined.
8.3. The results of the qualification stage and the lists of those who proceed to Stage 2 the Competition Laboratory are published in the Internet on the official page of the Competition Laboratory at VKontakte and electronic resources no later than October 3, 2025.
8.4. Subject to the preliminary request, a participant of the Competition Laboratory may be provided with an on-duty accompanist/illustrator. In this case, the musical material must be sent by September 30, 2025, in electronic form to the email address of the Competition Laboratory.
9.1. Prizes, awards and special prizes will be awarded according to the results of the competitive auditions;
9.2. The Grand Prix is a one and undivided prize awarded to a single participant;
9.3. All other Prizes are awarded separately in each nomination based on the decisions made by the jury.
9.4. Prizes can be divided between the participants. A participant diploma is awarded to all participants who took part in Round 2 and Round 3.
9.5. Also, the jury may award Special Prizes to the participants of the Competition Laboratory.
9.6. The laureates of the Competition Laboratory undertake to participate in the Gala Concert of the Competition free of charge. Also, the laureates and diploma holders of the Competition Laboratory in all nominations undertake to perform at 2-3 concerts during the 2025-2026 concert season in various regions across Russia (those who cannot participate for a valid reason may be rescheduled to other dates).
A special program is provided for the finalists of the Competition as an incentive: master classes by outstanding cultural professionals, lectures by stage masters, special incentives and invitations to special events. The special program of the Competition Laboratory includes specific recommendations on performance style, principles, important aspects of words and music. This will be the main task of handing over traditional knowledge to our young performers from famous musicians who represent Russian art on various international stages.
9.2. The Grand Prix is a one and undivided prize awarded to a single participant;
9.3. All other Prizes are awarded separately in each nomination based on the decisions made by the jury.
9.4. Prizes can be divided between the participants. A participant diploma is awarded to all participants who took part in Round 2 and Round 3.
9.5. Also, the jury may award Special Prizes to the participants of the Competition Laboratory.
9.6. The laureates of the Competition Laboratory undertake to participate in the Gala Concert of the Competition free of charge. Also, the laureates and diploma holders of the Competition Laboratory in all nominations undertake to perform at 2-3 concerts during the 2025-2026 concert season in various regions across Russia (those who cannot participate for a valid reason may be rescheduled to other dates).
A special program is provided for the finalists of the Competition as an incentive: master classes by outstanding cultural professionals, lectures by stage masters, special incentives and invitations to special events. The special program of the Competition Laboratory includes specific recommendations on performance style, principles, important aspects of words and music. This will be the main task of handing over traditional knowledge to our young performers from famous musicians who represent Russian art on various international stages.
Activities of the Competition Laboratory are funded from the raised funds of subsidies granted for other purposes. Expenses associated with the organization and implementation of the Program are to be allocated according to the approved cost estimate.
Raf Gadzhiev, +7-919-924-5297
The Organizing Committee publishes all information on the official website and the laboratory communities in social networks: program, timing, venue, audition results, etc.
The Organizing Committee publishes all information on the official website and the laboratory communities in social networks: program, timing, venue, audition results, etc.
