&

present

Zivkovic’s International Summer Academy & Festival

for Marimba & Percussion 2026 (ZISAMP)
August 22th to August 28th, 2026 in VIENNA, Austria

Zivkovic’s International Summer Percussion Academy 2026!  Vienna, Austria!

Join the international group of  Marimba and Percussion enthusiasts at Zivkovic Marimba and Percussion Summer Academy,(ZISAMP). The Academy takes place in the centre of Vienna, Austria, unofficial music capital of the world. You will experience 5 very intense days PACKED with concerts, lectures & masterclasses. As an active participant you will receive  5 (yes, five!) individual lessons during the Academy ( open master class format, approx. 30-40 min each).   In 2026, Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovic will invite again several top international guest artists from all over the world, with a unique combination of Soloists and Orchestral Percussionists from TOP orchestras. Aside from the emphasis on Marimba and Marimba Duo,  we will also offer Orchestral Timpani,  Orchestral Percussion, Marching snare, up to the film music experience from the “World of Hans Zimmer”, – we  have it all!
The Academy is intended primarily for advanced marimba students, percussion teachers and professionals – but everyone can benefit from this week. Intermediate/less advanced players are also welcome to enroll as active pertitipants in the Academy, if they prepare minimum of two pieces of moderate difficulty.  Selected participants may perform in public concerts on the last evening of the  Academy.

There will be two possibilities to participate

1. As a performing participant (active) or
2. As an observer (passive participant).
It is highly recommended that players who wish to be ACTIVE  partitipants of the Academy, apply early, since the number of active participants is limited to 35.
(Apply early to get better rate and be sure that you can be an active participant. We expect that summer 2026 will be booked out before the first deadline.
So, IF you want to attend, be sure to apply early. You will also save 50 Euros if you apply before April 20th 2026).

Each active participant should prepare a minimum two composition of his choice. ANY  piece for Marimba,  in addition to it,  ANY snare drum, timpani or multipercussion piece. ( Multipercussion preferably one of  Zivkovic’s  multipercussion  works, we have the instruments for it) Players of any level are welcome as observers (passive participants). During the ZISAMP, each active participant will get FIVE individual lessons on the prepared pieces, or on anything else he would like to learn.  These individual lessons have an open master class format, the length of witch depends on the difficulty and length of the piece performed. Lessons last approx. 40 minutes each lesson. All active partitipants will also perform in various chamber music combination coached by Nebojsa  and/or other guest artists.
Passive participants will also be involved in group working on fundamental problems like grip, technique, etc but will not be involved in any performing or any individual lesson.

PUBLIC CONCERT with the participants and Nebojsa Zivkovic

There will be a CLOSING concert on the last evening of the ZISAMP2026, with the SELECTED partitipants. We are working to organize additional public concert in Vienna, right after the course. (to be confirmed) ONLY selected participants will perform in a public concert that MIGHT BE scheduled right after the ZISAMP (that additional concert is NOT part of the ZISAMP).
We have several world class marimba and percussion guest teachers! Use this chance to come with your duo or group and get professional coaching in chamber music.
Last but not least, this is your chance to take you partner with you to Vienna,  and have a dream vacation in one of the most beautiful cities on the Earth.

This is what you will get at ZISAMP 2026:

• As active partitipant, you will get FIVE (5!!) individual lessons (master class format) ONE with NEBOJSA, and FOUR with different professors of your choice, this means each day one lesson plus all lectures and master classes 🙂
  
•  you can attend all our masterclasses, lectures and individual lessons of other partitipants every day: Timpani, Rudimental snare, Marimba duo&solo, Orchestral Percussion master classes and lectures of your choice,  by various professors,  – DAILY.
• Discussions concerning fundamental performing problems – some aspects of mental attitude towards solo performing.
• DAILY Guest Artist Lectures!!  Will include:  Marimba Four & Two-mallet technique, German timpani technique,  Snare drum, orchestral studies,  triangle,  frame drum /tambourin technique, Marching snare drum, Hans Zimmer (!)  film music percussion parts…  and more
  
• MALLET TECHNIQUE WITH NEBOJSA  FOR EVERYONE (four mallet grip and technical exercises)
• Aesthetics and developing of sound on marimba, timpani, snare drum  (sound, endurance, power-kicks, etc..)
• Introduction of new works for marimba and percussion (bring YOURS if you have something interesting!)
• Chamber music, duets, percussion trios, marimba and piano, etc… (we intend to play some of that  during the Academy)
• YAMAHA concert percussion instruments exibition, Sheet Music exibition, Mallets, merchandise, and BIG Discount on purchasing during the academy. you save a lot of $$$)
• Music festival  with 4  evening concerts during ZISAMP (Zisamp participants  have free entrance) 
  

 PROFESSORS of  ZISAMP 2026 ARE:

• Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovic –  (Europe) Marimba & anything else you desire to know from him
• Anders Kann Elten Marimba virtuoso, teacher at Royal Danish academy of Music in Kopenhagen
• Brian Barker (Canada/Germany) – Solo timpanist of  the Hamburg State Opera, lecturer University of Hamburg
• Benjamin Toth (USA) –  Professor of Percussion  Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford
• David Christopher Panzl (Austria) Multipercussionist, marching specialist, Lecturer at  State University Vienna
• Aleksandra Suklar (Slovenia/Austria)  – affirming concert Artist & member of Hans Zimmer Band
• Tchiki Duo (Switzerland) – Jasques Hostetter & Nicolas Suter

COME AND ENJOY THIS FESTIVAL AND SUMMER ACADEMY! 
MEET OTHER PERCUSSIVE FRIENDS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, HAVE FUN & LEARN!

ACADEMY SITE:  VIENNA, A HOLIDAY YOU WILL NEVER FORGET!

The Academy will take place in the facilities of YAMAHA  AUSTRIA, in Vienna.  Vienna is regarded as one of the most interesting cities world wide and offers marvelous touristic attractions. Make the trip of your life and take your family / partner with you for a wonderful vacation. Enjoy Viennas historic and modern Attractions,  visit Austrian Alps and lakes, and experience unique Austrian hospitality. Right after the Academy you can Visit  hundreds of world wide famous tourist sites like: Musikverein Wien, Konzerthaus, Staatsoper Wien, Belvedere Schloss,  Karlskirche,  Rathaus,  and numerous of Museums and  other attractions.  In 2024 Zivkovic Summer Academy is far more than marimba and percussion academy only –  it is life  changing experience!

VIENNA at night  🙂

ARRIVAL, DEPARTURE AND DETAILS OF THE ACADEMY:

Total Academy duration is 6 days.
Arrival –  on Sat. August 22nd 2026 in the afternoon (any time between 3-5 PM).
Departure –  on  Friday. August 28th 2026 in the morning. (last event of ZISAMP is closing concert on Thursday Aug. 27th in the evening)

Vienna has excellent public transportation system while car parking is expensive and not so  convinient. We reccommend arrivals by train, plane or bus. There will be a welcome-meeting  on arrival  day in the afternoon,  schedule of the active partitipants and opening public concert by Nebojsa and guest Professors  in the evening, for everyone!
After 5 full days of work (6-7 hours per day master classes, lectures, and in addition to that, PRACTICING CHAMBER MUSIC) selection for the public concert will be made.
We want to work hard and learn, but we also want to meet each other and to exchange experience and be friends.
We will also try to have one free afternoon/evening to  spend together in Vienna and see a bit of this beautiful city.
IF YOU ARE COMING BY CAR, PLEASE TAKE YOUR MARIMBA WITH YOU.  We will have several YAMAHA marimbas available.
We will practice chamber music with Marimbas and percussion. Therefore also percussion groups (duo, trio, quartett) are very welcome.
With an confirmation of your application, you will get an exact map of the location and explanation how to arrive to the academy site.

ACADEMY FEE and APPLICATION DEADLINE:

Vienna offers hundreds of different accomodation possibilities for everyones  budget,  so accomodation and food are NOT  included in academy fee, and are to be  organised by the partitipants themselves.

FINAL APPLICATION DEAD LINE IS: JUNE 20th 2026.

Applying before APRIL 20th 2026 will save you € 50.-
ACADEMY FEE:

• If applied before  APRIL 20th  2026:   ACTIVE:  Euro 570.-  PASSIVE: Euro 300.-
• If applied after  APRIL 20th  2026:    ACTIVE:   Euro 620.-  PASSIVE: Euro 350.-
• ONE DAY PASS  with access to all clinics and concerts of THAT day, (no individual lessons):  Euro 80.- 
• NON-percussionist-family pass in connection with one active perticipation (mom, dad, girlfriend, boyfriend) for entire academy incl all concerts: Euro 80.-

HOW TO APPLY? MAILING ADDRESS FOR APPLICATION AND PAYMENT REGULATION: ONLINE APPLICATION FORM: CLICK HERE

 

MONEY RETURN POLICY: In case you pay in full but do NOT come, and cancel BEFORE May 20th 2026, your full amount will be returned to you. (except banking fee)  If you cancel AFTER MAY 20th, only a DEPOSIT (200 €) will be withhold and
rest will be paid back to you.  Canceling  AFTER JUNE 20th, – your total Academy fee will be withold. You may send replacement person for you and  have it reimbursed when that person pays the fee.
(Paypal or preferably bank transfer, ask for bank details with the application)

ANY QUESTIONS?? CONTACT  Nebojsa Zivkovic