Call for compositions

The workshop will be led by Enno Poppe, Composer in Residence of the Grafenegg Festival 2024, and accompanied by one of the Grafenegg Festival's orchestras in residence, the Tonkunstler Orchestra.

The workshop takes place in two work phases. Part 1 of the workshop allows the participating composers the opportunity to work on and complete their work with the workshop leader and section leaders of the Orchestra. In Part 2, taking place during the Grafenegg Festival, the workshop’s focus is on the preparation of the world premiere: participants will have the unique opportunity to rehearse their own compositions as conductors with the Tonkunstler Orchestra and present their works in concert.

Enno Poppe will work with the participating composers on the fine-tuning of their works and support them in the preparation of conducting their pieces. The experience of performing one’s own composition from the conductor's desk allows to gain a new perspective on one's own work. Overcoming possible barriers between composers and the musicians in charge of executing the piece as well as the promotion of creative exchange are at the heart of the workshop.

All orchestra rehearsals are documented in detail, so that the participants and workshop leader by way of video analysis of the rehearsals and the participants’ conducting can continuously work on the realisation of pieces and the realisation of the participants’ musical ideas.

The compositions of all participating composers will be presented in a final concert in the Auditorium Grafenegg on 25 August 2024, 3 pm.

• Composers and students of composition etc.
• Experience in conducting is an advantage but not required
• No age limit
• Course language: English

Successful applicants will be highly talented composers at the beginning of their professional careers with a keen interest in gaining a new perspective on their own work in the practical execution with orchestra and who want to get an insight into possible tensions between one’s own imagination of sound during the composition process and the actual sound experience in the concert hall.

The schedule will include daily rehearsals, Music Lab lectures and workshops, discussions, open rehearsals and other social gatherings.

Completed applications to be submitted online require the following:

1. A completed application form
2. Curriculum vitae in German or English (maximum of two pages) including name and contact of the current composition teacher (if available)
3. Full scores of 3 works of reference for various instrumentation and ensembles including recordings (if available)
4. An application video (max. 3 minutes duration) or a motivation letter (max. 3.000 characters) including answers to: 
   - What do you expect from participating in the workshop?
   - What would you wish for if participating?
   - Why is it important for you to attend the Ink Still Wet composer conductor workshop?
5. Composition: a new, unpublished, unperformed orchestral work with a maximum duration of 7 minutes

The application includes the elaborated score of at least 2 minutes of the composition and a description of the concept of the composition (max 3.000 characters) as well as possibly a sketch for the further composition.

For information on the orchestral instrumentation and layout please refer to the «Guidelines for Instrumentation and Layout».

Applications will be accepted electronically only (in PDF format) on MUVAC.

The Workshop Leader will choose the participants after the application deadline. Only complete applications will be accepted. Successful applicants will be contacted for more information by Friday, 15 December 2023.

If admitted to the Ink Still Wet composer conductor workshop, the composition must be further developed until workshop part 1 in March 2024.

The conducting score must be submitted by 02 May 2024.

All instrumental parts as PDF must be submitted by 05 June 2024.

Number of participants: max. 5 persons

Each position in the Ink Still Wet composer conductor workshop is fully funded by the Grafenegg Festival:

• Accommodation (in single rooms in the Grafenegg Cottages)
• International travel expenses (fully reimbursed up to a given amount depending on the origin of your trip)
• All local transport to and from Vienna
• Subsistence costs during the duration of the workshop
• Tickets to any available concerts of the Grafenegg Festival during part 2 of the workshop will be provided free of charge

Ink Still Wet is part of the Grafenegg Festival

Matias Alzola 
email: isw@grafenegg.com
Apply on MUVAC

Venue
3485 Grafenegg 10
Austria
Europe