International Silver Sounds Contest, an annual woodwind, brass and percussion competition, was first held in Petrozavodsk in 1995 and originated from competitions held for young musicians from the Republic of Karelia and Russia in Soviet times. It is now held as a three-year program that consists of a festival for young performers on woodwinds, brass and percussion in every first year of the program, a competition of solo performers in every second year and a competition of ensembles in every third year. International Jury members represent music universities in Russia (Moscow, Saint-Petersburg and Petrozavodsk), Finland, Estonia, Czech Republic, Italy, Spain and the US. Participants from Russia and abroad have diverse opportunities to visit concerts by jury members, take part in unique master classes and join a Grand Finale Joint Concert. The Artistic Director of the Contest is Roman Vorobyev, Professor of Clarinet at the Petrozavodsk State Glazunov Conservatoire, the Honored Art Worker of the Republic of Karelia.