Hamburg Contemporary

The akademie kontemporär offers a forum for highly talented young musicians in the field of contemporary music at the University of Music and Drama. One of the aims of the akademie kontemporär is to impartially convey and disseminate the entire range of multifaceted contemporary music of the 20th and 21st centuries. A consistently high standard of quality forms the foundation on which the comprehensive professionalization of participants from the German and international context is built. They are encouraged and supported to break new ground and to realize and creatively implement extraordinary artistic approaches.

As part of the akademie kontemporär, which is a member of the EU-funded cultural network ULYSSES, young, highly talented instrumentalists and composers are given the opportunity to engage in an intensive exchange with established teachers and coaches and to network with each other.

In September 2025, Hamburg Contemporary 's biennial academy will once again offer outstanding young instrumentalists and composers the opportunity to receive individual support and network with each other in the context of contemporary music.

Contents: From 22 to 27 September 2025, members of the ensemble LUX:NM (Ensemble in residence) will be present in Hamburg to work on a musical program in intensive rehearsals with the participants. The final concert will take place on September 27, 2025. The visiting composer is the composer Philipp Maintz, who will conduct a masterclass for composers.

This time, the academy and associated festival planned for 2025 is all about money: "MONEY DOUGH"! (Public) funding for culture is being cut back in many places in Germany, party programs justify planned cuts in cultural investment with the sweeping judgment that it is a "luxury" in times of crisis. Reason enough for creative artists not to hide: let us perform as if it were the last concert, so that many more can follow and give us "PinkePinke" (Money Dough)!

The young musicians we will welcome in September 2025 will give such a performance among millions of possibilities. We would like to thank the ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius and the Ulysses Platform for their support, who are thus investing in contemporary art against the trend of cutbacks.

Facts and figures:

When: September 22 to 27, 2025 (day of arrival: September 21, day of departure: September 28)

Where: University of Music and Drama, Hamburg

Who: The following places are available:

• A maximum of 5 musicians from the following instrumental areas:
  - flute
  - oboe
  - trombone
  - percussion
  - viola

• Maximum 8 composers of all genres

Artists who play at Master's level or are in a comparable training and are not older than 32 years can apply. Experience with contemporary repertoire and music theater is desirable, but not a prerequisite.

Costs: Participation in the akademie kontemporär is free of charge. Meals (lunch and dinner) will be provided for all participants. External participants will receive a travel allowance of €200 (receipts required) and the costs of overnight accommodation will be covered.

Instrumental scholarships: A scholarship of €800 will be awarded to each of the participating instrumentalists. In addition to rehearsing and performing the world premieres, the instrumentalists may have the opportunity to perform pieces from their solo or chamber music repertoire in other concerts.

Composition scholarships: The composers should write a work for one of the three available instrumentations and will each receive a scholarship of 800€. External participants will receive a travel allowance of €200 (receipts required) and accommodation costs will be covered.

Young composers are free to explore the theme of "MONEY DOUGH" compositionally or conceptually. The degree of abstraction of the examination is left to the composers, as is the decision as to whether a (simple!) scenic representation could take place. The composers can participate in their own pieces if necessary.

The following instrumentations and piece distributions are available:

• Ensemble A
  - flute
  - saxophone
  - trombone
  - piano
  - viola

• Ensemble B
  - oboe
  - trumpet
  - percussion
  - violin
  - violoncello

• Ensemble C
  - flute
  - oboe
  - saxophone
  - trumpet
  - trombone
  - percussion
  - piano
  - violin
  - viola
  - violoncello

The line-up is provisional. We reserve the right to make changes until a final decision has been made. It may not be possible to fulfill a cast request and a cast will be assigned/specified.

Hamburg Contemporary is part of the Ulysses Platform, co-funded by the European Union and the ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius.

Application deadline: January 31, 2025

Documents to be submitted: Completed application form (all applicants).

Instrumentalists: If possible, audio samples (online or via wetransfer).
Composers: Work sample, if possible including recordings (scores via PDF, recordings online or wetransfer).

Selection and announcement of scholarships and cast: Mid-February

Announcement of course and schedule: Mid-July

Submission of sheet music by composers: August 1

Contact: benjamin.helmer@hfmt-hamburg.de

The akademie kontemporär 2021 was dedicated to the theme "Farewell - A Million Ways to Say Goodbye". As part of an in-situ project, the young artists were given the opportunity to explore the topic intensively and from very different perspectives. The Herbordt/Mohren directing team and members of the LUX:NM ensemble supported the participants in their creative work.

The akademie kontemporär 2021 is a member of the Ulysses Network and was made possible by the kind support of the ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius, the Creative Europe Program of the European Union and the Enst von Siemens Musikstiftung.