Dear Lecturers and Educators,Young Adepts of the Art of Percussion, on behalf of the Centre for Artistic Education, the F. Chopin State Music School of the 1st and 2nd degree in Opole and the Polish Percussion Association based in Opole, we would like to warmly invite young percussionists to participate in the International Percussion Competitions:XVII International Percussion Kit Playing Competition ”Young Drum Hero” (24-25.11.2023),XVIII International Vibraphone Competition (19-21.10.2023),IX International Marimb Competition (19-21.10.2023),These competitions – enjoying prestige and popularity in the percussion community – are an integral part of the DRUM FEST festival, held for many years in Opole with the participation of the biggest stars of the world percussion scene. Let us recall that the DRUM FEST Festival – initiated in 1988 by Wojciech Lasek at the F. Chopin First and Secondary Music School in Opole – is an event of interdisciplinary character, well-known not only in the Polish music community, but also worldwide. In its programme – in addition to concerts with the participation of artists of international stature – competitions addressed to young adepts of the art of percussion, and above all – students of music schools and music academies, have their established place. Among the winners of previous editions of the Competitions are now well-known personalities of the world percussion scene, such as Marta Klimasara and Katarzyna Myćka. One of the greatest assets of the Percussion Competitions in Opole is their international jury composed of distinguished foreign and Polish pedagogues – at the same time leading artists of the DRUM FEST Festival scene. Since 2012, the artistic director of the Vibraphone and Marimba Competitions has been Professor Mark Ford (USA) – lecturer at the University of North Texas at Denton’s Department of Percussion, long-standing president of the Percussive Arts Society, internationally acclaimed composer and marimba virtuoso. The jury of the 2021 edition, which was exceptionally held online due to the pandemic, included, in addition to Professor Mark Ford, professors and great musicians: Pius Cheung (CN/CA), Paweł Dobrowolski (PL), David Friedman (USA/DE), George Kollias (GR), Cezary Konrad (PL).In response to the growing interest in the Competitions also on the part of the youngest percussionists, we would like to inform you that this year’s edition will be held in three age groups (group I: up to 14 years old, group II: 15-18 years old, group III: 19-23 years old). We enclose the regulations and information on the programme requirements of the Marimbaand Vibraphone Competitions. Current information about the International Percussion Competitions in Opole will be followed on the website:https://psmopole.eu/konkursy-perkusyjne On the same website, an electronic application form will be activated in June for filling in online.Please direct any questions or comments to Katarzyna Kaczmarczyk, Ph:  kaczmarczykk@psmopole.pltel. +48 660 048 875. With musical greetings,Co-organisers of