Director: Julia Tomachkova International Competition and Festival of Arts "SUMMER STARS OF DURRES" welcomes you to Albania and to city Durres. Albania is comfortably located on the Adriatic Sea coast between Greece and Montenegro. Durres is a large city on the Adriatic coast with a population of 200 thousand people. Durres is often called as “Balkan pearl of the Adriatic coast” and “Albanian Italy in miniature”. Famous cultural and art workers are invited as members of the international jury. The main purpose of the International Competition and Festival "SUMMER STARS OF DURRES" is to search for new talented performers, to present their skills and multicultural traditions to the audience and public of Durres, to make new friends with the same interests, to enrich of the multinational culture on the basis of mutual respect for the cultural traditions of all the countries and nations of the world, to popularize the children’s and youth creative work, to improve professional skills and qualifications of teachers and art leaders. Participation in the International Competition and Festival "SUMMER STARS OF DURRES" gives the opportunity not only to perform on stage in front of the international jury and public, but also to tan and swim in the gentle Adriatic Sea and to see the historical and cultural monuments, such as Roman amphitheater and baths, the ancient aqueduct and the 500-year-old Fatiha Mosque. The city is only 38 km from the capital of Albania - Tirana. Excursions to Berat, Shkoder, Vlora, Lake Coman, Niklä canyon, Pelumbas cave and the ancient city of Apollonia are very popular from Durres. General information: International Competition and Festival of Arts “SUMMER STARS OF DURRES” is determined for soloists, ensembles and groups of young performers from different countries of the world. The competitive program of the participants is approved by the Organizing Committee on the basis of applications received. The schedule of the competitive programme for all participants is determined in advance and depends on the age of the participants. All participants should prepare a competitive program within the time limits specified for each competitive discipline: 4 minutes for soloists, duets and small formations and 8 minutes for ensembles and groups. Participants of International Competition and Festival of Arts “SUMMER STARS OF DURRES” are divided in the following age categories: MINI KIDS - from 6 to 8 years, CHILDREN - from 9 to 12 years, JUNIORS 1 - from 13 to 15 years, JUNIORS 2 - from 16 to 18 years, ADULTS 1 - from 19 years to 25 years, ADULTS 2 - from 26 years and older, SENIORS - from 50 years and older, MIXED GROUPS. The jury evaluates the skills of the participants during the competitive performance in each competitive discipline and in each age category in accordance with the 10-points evaluation systems. Results of the art competition and festival are being summed up by the end of all competitive performances. Awards: The Organizing Committee awards diplomas of participation, diplomas of Laureate of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades, Winner of the Grand Prix and festival medals to all participants. Ensembles and groups of 3 or more persons receive one big cup or trophy of the festival and Diploma, soloists and duets receive one small cup or trophy of the festival and Diploma. The absolute Winner of the festival receives the Grand Prix of the festival and Diploma Grand Prix. All teachers, choreographers, group and ensemble leaders also receive the Diplomas of Festival. Main technical requirements: All audio sound records for the competitive program must be recorded only in the usual audio format. All audio sound records must be of high quality, with clean editing and cuts. All audio sound records for the competitive program must be sent to the Organizing Committee by email. The participants must inform the Organizer if the music stops and starts again after pause or contains silence within the musical composition. Program: 1st day, AUGUST 20, 2023 Arrival to Durres (Albania). After 14:00 – check-in and accommodation in the hotel. Free time and relax on the beach. Dinner in the hotel. Overnight in Durres. 2nd day, AUGUST 21, 2023 Breakfast in the hotel. Free time and relax on the beach. Dinner in the hotel. Overnight in Durres. 3rd day, AUGUST 22, 2023 Breakfast in the hotel. FESTIVAL DAY PROGRAM Dinner in the hotel. Overnight in Durres. 4th day, AUGUST 23, 2023 Breakfast in the hotel. FESTIVAL DAY PROGRAM Dinner in the hotel. Overnight in Durres. 5th day, AUGUST 24, 2024 Breakfast in the hotel. Check out from the hotel. Departure from Durres. Participation fee: 115 Euro per person - HOTEL 3* 145 Euro per person - HOTEL 4* every 25th person in the group is free of charge (24 paying participants + 1 free) MEMBERS OF ART GROUPS – 25 EURO per participant / main discipline TRIOS and QUARTETS – 40 EURO per person / main discipline SOLOISTS and DUETS – 50 EURO per person / main discipline PARTICIPATION IN ADDITIONAL DISCIPLINES: ART GROUPS pay extra 5 EURO per participant / 1 additional discipline SOLOISTS, DUETS pay extra 10 EURO per participant / 1 additional discipline Participation fee includes: 4 overnights in DURRES in hotel cat. 3* or 4*on basis HB (breakfast and dinner). Accommodation for participants is offered in MULTI-BEDDED (QDRPL, TRPL) rooms and few DBL/TWIN (max. 2 rooms per group 42 persons) for group leaders and drivers Tourist tax Participation fee does not include: ADDITIONAL NIGHTS: HOTEL 3* - from 30 EURO / person per night on HB HOTEL 4* - from 40 EURO / person per night on HB EXTRA PAYMENT for DBL/TWIN accommodation: +40 EURO per person to Festival price EXTRA PAYMENT for SNGL accommodation: +80 EUR per person to Festival price Travel expenses (transportation of participants, travel insurance and COVID tests), transfers, lunches and other meals, entrance tickets to sightseeing objects, tickets to public traffic, optional excursions Any group willing to participate must submit an Application form. Approved groups pay in advance a 10% guarantee fee, which is to be deducted at the final payment.