• Any Baroque work. (Repeats in Baroque compositions are not required.)
• Own Choice Program: The candidate must select a program consisting of two (2) pieces, one piece to be of a slower, lyrical style and the other piece to be of a technical virtuosic style.  At least one (1) of these Own Choice pieces must be an original work for accordion.
  
• A minimum of two (2) different Composers
• Single movements from cyclic works are acceptable, however a maximum of one movement of any cyclic work shall be selected. Playing time for Round I: maximum of 15 minutes.
  Round I music must be played in one sitting and may be played in any order.

OWN CHOICE PROGRAM ONLY: Own Choice Show/Entertainment Program.

• Playing time: maximum 15 minutes.
• External sound modules, may be used for effects only, not for the whole program.
• Rehearsal time of up to 15 minutes per candidate will be scheduled prior to the competition.
• Performance sound set up time - maximum 2 minutes. Performance sound break down - maximum 2 minutes.
• All types and make of digital accordion may be used and bellows must be the primary volume control of the digital sounds. Digital accordions with acoustic sounds are permitted with the reeds amplified provided the candidate uses the accordion and bellows to make substantial use of digital sounds.
• To assist the candidates in preparing their programs, please note that the adjudicators marks will take into account:
  - Originality and creativity of program
  - Technique/playing ability
  - Musicality
  - Digital Usage eg: multiple voices, multiple sounds, programing of sound sets, correct sound useage.
    Look for effective use of many of the digital instrument capabilities plus creativity factors.
  - Creativity eg: additional equipment such as - computer, effects box, looping - multi tracking and
    backing tracks, exploiting instrument possibilities, customising settings. Effective use of technologies.
  - Structure eg: planned programing, adaption for digital instrument.
  - Stagecraft, charisma, performance presentation.
  - Candidates playing on a digital instrument, in the same way they would perform on an acoustic
    accordion, without good digital usage, are not making effective use of digital technology and
    that should refelct in the marks with higher marks to candidates with good digital usage, creativity
    and structure.

Since 1996, after his many projects in folk, rock, dance, theatre and avant-garde music projects, Kimmo has concentrated on his solo 5-row accordion project, featuring extreme and original compositions, custom-made MIDI-fied electric accordion, live loops and effects, dynamic and animated stage performance, orchestrated lights and surround sound. Sound and light design are crucial elements of the performance, creating an event that is stimulating visually as it is sonically. His performances and his music have been called revolutionary, astounding audiences and critics alike with their uncompromising intensity and originality. Solo concerts have been performed all over Europe, North and South America, Israel, Japan, China and Russia to unanimous rave reviews.
 
In the hands of Finland’s Kimmo Pohjonen, the accordion abandons its folk roots to become a gutbusting furnace of shamanic sound, animated by primal energies and orchestral dynamics…a performer whose blend of virtuosity and resolute experimentation is routinely likened to that of Jimi Hendrix and Laurie Anderson. Wire
 
A visionary of boundless energy, Pohjonen’s roots go back forty years in all forms of accordion music including folk, dance, classical, rock, experimental, theatre music and more.  His studies in the progressive and innovative Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department were a critical factor in Pohjonen’s transition to the boldly creative and versatile, internationally successful musician/performer he is today. Pohjonen activities:

• Pohjonen celebrated his fiftieth year on Earth in 2014 with anniversary concerts at Helsinki Festival with Kronos Quartet and in Tamperetalo, Tampere, Finland with a two hour extravaganza of various projects from his entire career.
• Pohjonen and Finland’s top ballet dancer Minna Tervamäki present the project Bright Shadow. Tervamäki (previously with the Finnish National Ballet) has performed in all of the important classical ballets’ main roles and has worked with the most interesting contemporary choreographers, such as Ohad Naharin and Mats Ek. She also works actively as a choreographer. The artists’ co-operation began on the stage of the Finnish National Opera in 2011 and has evolved to the present day. Bright Shadow has been performed in Finland and Germany.
• A full length documentary film about Pohjonen, entitled Soundbreaker premiered in early 2012 in New Zealand, Australia and Finland and has been shown in over thirty countries. Directed by Kimmo Koskela, the film is a portrait of Pohjonen from early years to the present including archive and current material, interviews, concert video and more. Soundbreaker won the “Prix de la Création / Award for Creativity” at the 30th International Festival of Films on Art, Montreal, 2012. It was shown throughout Germany 2013-2015 in almost fifty cities and broadcast on 3sat TV in Germany, Austria, Switzerland. It is now available on DVD and as iTunes app
• Kimmo Pohjonen and sampling master Samuli Kosminen meet Kronos Quartet in the Uniko project featuring music composed by Pohjonen and Kosminen. Uniko with Kroos has been performed in Helsinki, Moscow, Molde Jazz Festival Norway, BAM NEXT WAVE festival in New York, Colours of Ostrava in Czech Republic, Palace of the Arts in Budapest, Barbican Centre in London and Katowice, Poland. The Uniko album with Pohjonen, Kosminen and Kronos was recorded in New York and Helsinki from 2007-2010, produced by Iceland’s Valgeir Sigurdsson and was released worldwide by Ondine label of Finland in Febrary 2011. The Uniko DVD with Kronos was released worldwide by CMajor.
• Uniko is also performed with Finland’s Proton String Quartet in Finland, Estonia, Germany, Portugal, Turkey, Macau, Belgium and Roskilde Festival plus the Mezzo Voce TV program for French TV in 2015. Upcoming concerts in Ljubljana, Wien and Luxembourg.
• Pohjonen works with French drummer, Eric Echampard, in a 100% improvisational duo. They released a live album Uumen and have performed in Finland, France, Estonia, Norway, Slovenia, Serbia, Italy and Netherlands.
• Kimmo Pohjonen and drummer/vocalist Saana Pohjonen perform in the new duo formation featuring all new compositions. They have performed in Finland, Georgia, Slovenia, Germany and Estonia.
• KTU (pronounced ”K2”) is the band featuring Pohjonen with Texans Pat Mastelotto and Trey Gunn from King Crimson. Concerts include Helsinki, Moscow, Tampere Jazz Happening, Tallinn, Moers Festival, Jena, Tokyo, Wien Accordion Festival, Ljubljana, FIMAV in Victoriaville (Canada), Nattjazz (Norway), SPOT Festival (Denmark), Pohoda Festival (Slovakia), Etnosur Festival (Spain), Drumfest (Poland), Monte Steppe (Montenegro), FMM Festival (Sines Portugal 2005 and 2008) and the North American/Mexican tour of 2007. KTU performed on the same bill with Patti Smith and Keith Emerson in Kazan,Tatarstan 2008. The first KTU album 8 Armed Monkey (also featuring sampling genius Samuli Kosminen) was released in 2005. The second KTU album, Quiver, was released in 2009 in Europe, Japan and America
• Pohjonen and Finnish artist Ismo Alanko premiered their collaboration project, pohonen alanko in 2014 and toured Finnish in 2015.  Their focus is vocal experimentation and excursions and features third team member Tuomas Norvio on electronics and samples.
• Heikki Laitinen and Kimmo Pohjonen collaborate on the project Murder Ballads with their 2012 CD of traditional Finnish murder songs.
• Pohjonen composed music for the Finnish dance performance Hardcore Humppa by choreographer Harri Kuorelahti and the Helsinki Dance Company. The premiere was September 2009 at Helsinki City Theatre and the performance ran through November 2009. Pohjonen also composed music for the Swedish dance performance premiered in October 2006 by choreographer Lisa Torun. Pohjonen collaborated in Paris in June 2006 with dancers /choreographers Tero Saarinen and Carolyn Carlson. Finnish choreographer Jorma Uotinen directed the Finnish National Opera Ballet performing Pohjonen’s Kielo music at Helsinki‘s National Opera House and again in Netherlands and Australia with local dance companies.
• Pohjonen has composed and performed music for three films: the British short film Flickerman and the Ivory-Skinned Woman, the Russian full length feature film, Majak and, with Samuli Kosminen, the full length Finnish feature film Jade Warrior where they won the Finnish Jussi Award for Best Film-Score. They have also composed music for a Finnish ”new circus theatre” performance, Keskusteluja.
• Pohjonen enjoys a high profile UK with performances over the years at WOMAD, The Proms at Royal Albert Hall London, Jazz Festival at the Barbican, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Royal Festival Hall. Pohjonen has performed at two Meltdown Festivals in London: Pohjonen / Kosminen Kluster at David Bowie’s Meltdown performed one set of Bowie music followed by their own show. At Patti Smith’s Meltdown at Royal Festival Hall 2005, Pohjonen and drummer Sami Kuoppamäki participated in the Songs of Experience concert performing music of Jimi Hendrix. Pohjonen also toured  his projects Earth Machine Music and Accordion Wrestling in UK. Pohjonen was nominated for BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards in 2002 and 2005 for the BBC Radio 3 Planet Award.
• Kimmo Pohjonen has received two consecutive five year artist grants from the Finnish state. He was Named “Accordionist of the Year” for 2000 and 2001 in Finnish Jazz magazine Jazz Rytmit and received the Nordic Council Music Award. In December 2012 Pohjonen was awarded two prizes: the Aesthetic Act of 2012 Prize for his work with Romanian street musicians and the Order of the Lion of Finland, Pro Finlandia award, a prestigious medal awarded by the Finnish president annually to Finns who have distinguished themselves in the field of arts and science, and is one of Finland’s highest honours.