Composers Lab 2023

I SOLISTI Composers Lab gives you as a composer the opportunity to freely experiment with composing on and/or for images. During this edition you will work together with a photography student at the KASK in Ghent. The photographer takes care of the image, you take care of the music. Together you are challenged to look for the most suitable form of presentation within your own artistic language. Your work will be created during a public showcase at the end of the week.

Experienced composers Frederik Neyrinck and Daan Janssens are your coaches and the other participating composers and photographers your sounding board. In addition, you will get the full cooperation of 10 musicians from I SOLISTI led by conductor Filip Rathé to help shape your work in progress, from the first working session to the showcase in which your work is presented to the public.

We start with a meeting where participating composers and photographers are introduced to each other. You work on a concept together. After submitting your first draft version, you will receive feedback and a first sound impression will be sent to you. During the course week there is time for refinement and deepening of your composition and your presentation form.

How does the Composers Lab work?

To be selected, you complete the application form by 23 November 2023 and send us two compositions for different instrumentations, including at least one for ensemble. If you have recordings of your chosen works, please send them in attachment.

Coaches will make the selection in early December, 8 composers can participate. On 15 December we will organise a meeting in Ghent between all participating composers and photographers. Attendance is expected from everyone, either physically or digitally. On that day, duos of composers and photographers will be formed and you will be assigned one of the composers as your main coach. He will guide you (digitally) in the run-up to the course week in August and organise interim feedback moments. During the Composers Lab in August, you will get the chance to work on your score together with both coaches and 10 musicians from I SOLISTI. During that week, we will work towards the public performance on Sunday 27 August, where your creation (music + image) will be shown.

What does Composers Lab offer?

• Collaboration with a photography student, where you will be challenged to search for an interesting form of presentation in your own artistic language

• Intensive guidance by experienced composers as coaches

• A preliminary trajectory at the Composers Lab, with 3 coachings prior to the course week in August

• Rehearsals and working sessions with 10 musicians from I SOLISTI and conductor during Composers Lab

• A high-quality live recording of your work, which you can use afterwards for your portfolio

For whom?

We primarily aim at composition students and young composers who have graduated for a maximum of ± 5 years. To guarantee the quality of the coaching, a maximum of 8 composers can participate in Composers Lab 2023.

instrumentation

You will work independently to get the score ready for the start of the course. The maximum instrumentation you write for is:

• Flute (also piccolo)

• Oboe (also English horn)

• Clarinet (also Clarinet in Es and bass-clarinet)

• Bassoon (no contrabassoon)

• French horn

• Trumpet

• Trombone

• Violoncello

• Double bass

• Percussion (cymbals, tomtoms, glockenspiel, vibraphone, small percussion, no timpani)

There will be one player per instrument, for percussion, please stick to the given setup.

Important dates and deadlines

• You can subscribe via the application form until Wednesday 23 november 2022

• Early december: announcement of selection

• 15 december: meeting between composers and photographers (Ghent)

• End of March: deadline for submitting a concept for the presentation

• 2 coachings with your head coach to be scheduled in mutual agreement (before the end of June)

• Early July: recording of the compositions as they are at that moment

• Mid/late July: feedback session with your head coach (to be scheduled in mutual agreement)

• 23/08 - 27/08/2023: course week at De Bijloke, Ghent

• 27/08/2023: public showcase

For good cooperation, we ask to be present on all specified dates and the course week. During the course week, we expect everyone to be physically present. Of course, it is possible to meet up digitally for all previous moments.

Contact

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any question: cindy@isolisti.be

I SOLISTI Composers Lab 2023 is organised by I SOLISTI in collaboration with KASK and De Bijloke, Ghent.