Academy

Special Programs 2025

Besides individual lessons, ensemble coaching and rehearsals, lectures, discussions and other discourse programs, as well as a daily festival program with concerts, installations, presentations and music communication programs, the impuls Academy 2025 holds various Special Programs (open only for registered and accepted participants), that partly come along with selection and partly also need preparation in advance. We kindly ask you to read the descriptions and conditions as stated below first and contact us, if you should need any further information.

In case you are seriously intending to apply for one or more of these programs, please point them out to us already with your initial application (use titles as given) or announce your interest any time afterwards to office@impuls.cc. Multiple application for Special Programs are of course possible, but please only sign up for those programs you are really interested in, willing to supply material as asked for, and that you actually would agree to take part in on selection. Please do keep track of the different deadlines for submitting specific application material (as required for most of the programs) in time. Please also note, that for these Special Programs all compositions, scores, parts etc. have to be made available to impuls 2025 and its coaches without charge, including readings and rehearsals, possibly also performances at the impuls Festival and recordings made for documentary and archive reasons, and, if of interest, also to other impuls participants 2025 for reasons of studies, even if not mentioned explicitly below anyway.

Further Special Programs to be announced still ...

 

Intermedia Collaboration - percussion, electronics, video, gestures, performance

 

With Pierre Jodlowski a renowned composer and interdisciplinary artist is tutoring at impuls, whose artistic work is diverse as much as it is concise, impressive and exciting. His music, often marked by a high density, is at the crossroads of acoustic and electric sound and is characterized by dramatic and political anchor. His work unfolds today in many areas: films, interactive installations, staging. He is defining his music as an "active process" on the physical level (musical gestures, energy and space) and on the psychological level (relation to memory and visual dimension of sound). In parallel to his compositions, he also performs on various scenes (experimental, jazz, electronic), solo or with other artists.

Christian Dierstein in turn has established himself among the most interesting performers in the contemporary music of our time, not only as the percussionist of ensemble recherche and Trio Accanto but also as solo performer. He has focused also on music theatre and free improvisation, teaches at Hochschule für Musik in Basel, and gives masterclasses all around the world.

At the impuls Academy 2025 they will work together for the first time on a Special Program, bringing composers and percussionists together for the development of collaborative projects, with daily working phases leading to a final presentation at the impuls Festival 2025. The projects can be conceived for solo, duo, trio or flexible groups of performers and must include an interdisciplinary approach (electronic sounds, video, gestures and theatrical approach).

 

 

Special Program

with Pierre Jodlowski

and Christian Dierstein

 

for composers

and percussionists

Not only classical percussion instruments should hereby play a central role, but also the inclusion of objects, body, surfaces and video and electroacoustic elements. Before you develop your ideas, concepts, description of projects, please also consider the lists of a.) instruments (PDF) and b.) technical infrastructure (PDF) available for this program. Should your application ask for other tools, props, technical set-ups etc., please be aware, that you would have to supply these yourself. Event-related technical conditions must thus be considered, in order to also ensure realizability (also in terms of performance, duration or setting).

Composers need to bring their computer, sound interfaces and the softwares, that they wish to use for their projects (Pierre Jodlowski can provide help and support in the following softwares : Max/Msp - ProTools - Premiere - After Effects). In case special elements are required by the projects (special devices, triggers, sensors…), participants will have to provide them themselves and also need to have enough technical knowledge to be (technically) autonomous.

 

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as composer for the impuls Academy 2025 first. Please pre-announce your interest in this special program (subject: Intermedia Collaboration - percussion, electronics, video, gestures, performance) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration. Percussionists participating in the Academy, do not need to sign up for this program, unless they intend to hand in an application (see point 2) themselves.

2.) In sequence impuls participants interested are asked to then hand in until October 15th, 2024 at the latest (as PDF to office@impuls.cc) a.) 2-3 scores / projects relevant in this context, b.) a description, concept, precise idea to be developed together with the percussionists during impuls (thus no fully written scores are asked for), c.) a short letter of intention and expectation.

3.) The announcement of selected applications will be made by November 15th, 2024.

4.) Please be aware, that taking part in this Special Program is quite time consuming not only during impuls, but also before, as it implies at least one online-meeting with Pierre Jodlowski and Christian Dierstein for the composers selected before the start of impuls. Please reserve the following dates and make sure you will be available then for an online-meeting: January13th, 14th and 15th, 2025, 6-8 pm CET (individual exact timeslots will be announced at a later stage).

5.) The participation in this workshop also implies a time-consuming commitment and may make it impossible to actively participate in many of the other projects of the Academy. Thus composers will receive only one additional individual lesson with a composition tutor (instead of three).

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Team Composition

 

impuls Academy 2025 participants, be it composers or performers, are invited to apply for Team Composition, a 7-day Special Program led by violist Dimitrios Polisoidis and composer Matthew Shlomowitz.

Works created for this project may be co-authored or "open works". Co-authorship may be score-based work between multiple composers, or between a composer and a performer (e.g., a work for soloist and ensemble, where the composer creates a score for the ensemble and the performer creates their own part). By "open works" we mean scores that leave room for performers to make creative contributions beyond the remit usually ascribed to "interpretation". Examples include instruction scores, graphic scores, pieces with modified stave/staff notation, and pieces involving improvisation. We’ll look at work by composers such as Anthony Braxton, Cathy Van Eck, Pauline Oliveros, Marina Rosenfeld, and James Saunders to investigate different strategies for creating openness and the types of creative participation open scores can afford.

Special Program

with Matthew Shlomowitz

and Dimitrios Polisoidis

 

for composers

and performers

This project draws on Matthew Shlomowitz’s experience as a composer of open scored work such as his "Letter Piece"-series, where players create their own content within guidelines. He has recently co-composed two works with composers/performers Jennifer Walshe and Mariam Rezaei respectively. In "It’s Not About You: do we still need to have an 'artistic voice'", a talk he wrote that has now been published in Tempo journal, he argues that the emphasis classical music and new music places on composers developing an "artistic voice" (which in turn gives precedence to sole-authored composition), has made us slow to see the benefits of composing in other ways.

The PPCM ensemble, formed by students of the class for "Performance Practice in Contemporary Music" of Klangforum Wien at KUG, will perform the selected projects/compositions. Dimitrios Polisoidis is the coordinator of the PPCM course and will assist in the realization of the "Team Composition"-project with his experience in conceptual music and improvisation projects with artists such as Peter Ablinger, Bernhard Lang and others.

In addition to the PPCM ensemble, other impuls participants can also take part in the "Team Composition" project as performers. They can either register as a team with a composer or apply as individual performer to join the ensemble.

 

How to apply:

1.) As to composer: You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2025 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Team Composition) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration.

As to performers: PPCM-musicians must not apply individually. All other performers, who have not applied as a team with a composer anyway, but are interested to join, please send a short message to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) – please note that we might only inform you at a late stage, if we can actually include you as an individual performer. As additional information for performers, who have applied as team with a composers or individually: It depends on the instrument you play, if we can also include you and offer you individual coaching in an instrumental class at the impuls Academy 2025 or not (thus please check info on our website about the offers and coaches for instrumentalists). If no integration in an instrumental class is possible or you only wish to take part in the Special Team Composition anyway, you can still profit from impuls as general platform for exchange, dive into the Festival program and join discourse programs e.g (however please do get in touch with us for special agreements in that case, depending also on the length of your stay).

2.) As to composer: Hand in the following informations to office@impuls.cc until September 20th, 2024 at the latest:

a) Write a 300-word statement: 1.) outlining the collaborative model you wish to pursue; 2.) describing the work you would like to make; and 3.) detailing previous experience in collaboration and openness, OR why you are interested in participating in this project. Indicate whether you wish to apply as an individual or within a pre-defined group (with another composer, composer/performer) – in that case name the other person(s) and please make sure, that they also have registered and have been accepted as participant(s) of the Academy 2025 and that they agree to work in a group with you for this project.

b) Submit a score as PDF (and ideally a recording, as link) of one of your compositions (this composition does not need to feature collaborative or open aspects). 

3.) As to performers participating: at this very stage we cannot forsee about the instruments available. Composers of course are welcome to mention their wishes as to size of formation (solo up to a maximum of 4-6 players) and instruments preferred, but (as the specific instruments available will only be announced quite shortly before impuls) we suggest to create collaborative models with the option of an open instrumentation and open line-up, which can, for example, also use performance, movement, improvisation and visual elements, objects, voice or other possibilities that go beyond the classical instrumental setting. Furthermore, if technical support is necessary, it must be realized with simple or self-provided resources. Event-related technical conditions must also be considered, in order to ensure realizability (also in terms of performance, duration or setting).

4.) Please be aware, that taking part in this Special Program will ask for some preparation in advance. A first online-meeting for applicants selected (notification about selection will be given by first week of October) is scheduled for October 23rd, 2024 at 6 to maximum 10 pm (CET)save the date and make sure you can join, as this meeting is essential for further preparation. It will be followed by further individual online-meetings for each project/group in December and January.

5.) The participation in this workshop also implies a time-consuming commitment and may make it impossible to actively participate in many of the other projects of the Academy. Thus composers will receive only two additional individual lessons with a composition tutor (instead of three).

18.-24.2.2025

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24.2.2025

Presentation of Special Program

 

 

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Realization:

Participating composers,

PPCM-Ensemble

and further selected performers

Carola Bauckholt . Instant Composing

 

Carola Bauckholt's imaginative further development of "New Music Theater" - founded by her teacher Mauricio Kagel - occupies a very special aesthetic position in contemporary music. The boundaries between visual arts, musical theater and concert music are often dissolved, the everyday and the incidental are brought into focus, comedy elements, the bizarre and unexpected as well as noisy sounds from the environment and nature are not excluded, perception and understanding are questioned.

During her workshop at impuls, musical, intermedial and music-theatrical ideas will be developed for open-air sites, followed by collective realization and reflection of site-specific short compositions.

Special Program

with Carola Bauckholt

 

for composers,

musicians,

performers a.o.

"Instant Composing" is a one-day workshop open to all impuls Academy participants (be it composers, musicians, performer or others), no matter whether with already active improvisation experience and practice or newcomer. Instruments can be brought along, but are not obligatory.

Please note, that the workshop is limited to a maximum of 30 participants, so sign up quickly by sending a short email to office@impuls.cc (subject: Instant Composing). First come, first serve. No further application material or preconceived concepts needed.

25.2.2025

10.00-13.00

developing site-specific short compositions

14:00-17.00

performances and feedback/reflection

 

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Digital Dialogues

 

In today's digital landscape, the ability to share data seamlessly across devices opens new horizons for creative expression. Digital sound, at its core, is data: waveforms encoded and manipulated within digital environments. This fundamental understanding invites artists to explore the intrinsic relationship between sound and data, blurring the lines between musical composition and digital information processing.

Musicians can interpret the interconnected nature of networked data as a metaphor for building relationships between sound, gesture and technology, facilitating reciprocal interaction between the performer and a digital instrument. Whether through real-time sound analysis exchange between performer and electronic instruments, interactive performance environments driven by networked objects (sensors, lights, video), or algorithmic improvisation, participants are invited to work on pieces that foster dynamic and responsive interactions between human expression and digital systems. This paradigm offers insight into creating new musical relationships, where digital and acoustic elements coexist and influence each other, akin to an expression of augmented reality where digital instruments maybe be driven by real-time data inputs and partially autonomous in decision-making.

Special Program

with Davide Gagliardi

 

for composers,

computer musicians

and sound artists

Selected participants will develop a live electronic solo piece (less than 10 minutes) in collaboration with Davide Gagliardi, Professor of Multimedia at the Conservatory of Milan, composer, performer and sound director of the Schallfeld Ensemble, who will accompany and support the development of the selected projects from a performative and technical point of view, i.e. providing assistance during the software development process, discussing about notation, and the staging of the piece. The selected piece might be either performed by the tutor or by the participant himself/herself.

The call is particularly welcoming composers who have so far focused on instrumental music and who are not necessarily familiarised with music software development yet. But of course also composers already familiar with electronic music are welcome to join.

 

Timeframe and Workshop-structure:

The selected participants will discuss the project with Davide Gagliardi as both tutor and partly also performer of the pieces at impuls in private online sessions several months before the beginning of the Academy, where the main aesthetic idea and the development of the performance will be discussed also from a technical point of view.

During the impuls Academy, the pieces of the selected composers will then be rehearsed and discussed together with Davide Gagliardi, in both solo and group sessions, resulting in a workshop presentation. The number of participants is subject to the time available and thus the number of places is limited. However all composers applying are welcome to follow the rehearsals and process on spot.

 

Provided technical equipment:

See attachment (PDF)

 

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2025 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Digital Dialogues) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration.

2.) Then submit until September 1st, 2024 at the latest to both office@impuls.cc and info@davidegagliardi.eu:

a) a short bio with links to your website or pieces that you consider representative for you and your work

b) a short exposé explaining your idea and experience (whether you have experience in Electronic Music, Multimedia programming or not) and your concept for a new piece you would like to develop and work on with Davide Gagliardi

c) sketches or software for your proposed piece, if already available

3.) Notification about selection will be given by the end of September 2024. Please note that composers selected will be granted only two additional individual lessons with a composition tutor (instead of three).

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Questions around Electroacoustic and Electronic Works

 

Participants of the impuls Academy have the chance to meet up with Davide Gagliardi, Professor of Multimedia at the Conservatory of Milan, composer, performer and sound director of the Schallfeld Ensemble, for a one hour 1:1 Meeting to discuss any questions they might have in relation to Electroacoustic and Electronic Works.

Special Program

with Davide Gagliardi

 

for composers,

computer musicians

and sound artists

These questions might touch a review of electroacoustic and electronic works from a compositional and technical point of view, or how to notate the electronics in a score, or to get a guidance on how to set up multimedia environment from a software and hardware point of view, or a guidance on everything, which is related to performing electronic music in chamber music, orchestral and solo instrument setup. Questions might of course as well relate to amplification strategies and techniques, or reviews of Max, PureData and Supercollider patches ...

 

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant of the impuls Academy 2025 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: 1:1 Meeting with Davide Gagliardi) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration.

2.) Please hand in a short info on the topic you want to discuss to both office@impuls.cc and info@davidegagliardi.eu. In case scores etc. are involved, please do send them along as well (PDF). There is no selection procedure coming along with this workshop, but, in case of space problems, the order of registration is relevant. Please sign up until December 31st, 2024 at the latest.

3.) Please note, that this meeting is equivalent to one lesson with a tutor.

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Speculative Sound Synthesis

 

The Speculative Sound Synthesis workshop is intended for sound artists, computer music composers and performers who are committed to critical, speculative approaches at the intersection of art and technology, and who are engaged in practices that question, challenge, criticize, deconstruct, recompose, reformulate, shift, dislocate, endanger or reject established standards of sound synthesis and (music) technology.

This workshop is part of the artistic research project "Speculative Sound Synthesis". The aim of the project is to rethink and recompose the relationship between technology and artistic practice in an attempt to unleash aesthetic potentials of sound synthesis that would otherwise remain unknown or hidden within the technological apparatus. In this aesthetic destabilization of analog and digital sound technologies, speculation is the primary method.

Special Program

 with Luc Döbereiner,

Ji Youn Kang,

David Pirrò

and Leonie Strecker

 

for computer musicians,

sound artists

and composers

This call for participation invites computer musicians, sound artists and composers by providing a platform for exchange and reflection on their personal approaches. Participants (Group A, see below) are asked to bring a small Speculative Synth: this can be an instrument, a small piece of software, hardware, code, a program description, or an idea. However, these Speculative Synths must be translatable and open. "Translatable" means that it can be partly or entirely transposed or recomposed into different frameworks. "Open" refers to the capacity to be affected by external signals. (Applicants may find examples on the project’s webpage: https://speculative.iem.at)

The workshop will begin with an internal presentation by the tutors and all participants of their work and their Speculative Synths. Each Speculative Synth will then be the focus of an extended session. Participants will work with the synths, translating it into their environments, re-composing it, juxtaposing it with others, and collectively exploring their musical, compositional and performative possibilities. Participants will be invited to develop and share in an atmosphere of collaboration and experimentation. The tutors will take an active part in this process, not only guiding and suggesting, but also each offering a synth for the group to experiment with.

The workshop will mainly take place in the CUBE, the largest studio of the Institute for Electronic Music and Acoustics (IEM). The workshop will make use of the technical infrastructure of the IEM, including a 48-channel sound system and a selection of sensors, as well as a number of small loudspeakers and audio interfaces for flexible and mobile setups. On the last day of the workshop, the space will be used for an exhibition or performance open to the general public of the impuls Festival.

Workshop participants will be able to choose between two modalities: Group A is for participants who actively participate in the workshop by presenting their work, experimenting, developing and sharing, and who are willing to be present at all times (daily 10.00 - 18.00). Group B is for "listening" participants who are interested in listening and experiencing. Participants in the latter group are not required to attend all sessions, will not have a presentation slot, and will not be required to actively participate in group activities. In addition, participants in Group B must give priority to other commitments they may have in other impuls Academy programs.

 

How to apply:

1.) You have to register for the impuls Academy 2025 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Speculative Sound Synthesis) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration and clearly indicate in which group (A or B) you would like to participate.

Please note the different registration modalities for composers and computer musicians/sound artists: If you register as a composer, you must be accepted as a participant in the Academy before you can actually submit your application for Speculative Sound Synthesis. If you register as a computer musician or sound artist with the intention to only apply for the Speculative Sound Synthesis and attend the impuls Festival from February 17th – 23rd, you can do so (please use the registration form for computer musicians or sound artists and mark that you only want to apply for the Speculative Sound Synthesis running from February 17th to 23rd).

2.) You must then submit your Speculative Sound Synthesis application to both office@impuls.cc and speculative@iem.at. Deadline: October 1st, 2024 at the latest. Along with this application, you must submit a statement of your specific interest in participating in the Speculative Sound Synthesis workshop. Applicants for Group A must also send a description of their personal work in relation to the theme of the workshop, a letter of intent (max. 500 words), and an additional description of the Speculative Synth (max. 500 words, audio and code examples may be attached, see above).

3.) A number of participants will be selected and contacted by late October 2024. Please note that the number of participants in Group A as well as in Group B is limited to 10. Applicants should also be aware that the workshop activities will be recorded (audio and video) and published as part of the "Speculative Sound Synthesis" online project documentation. If workshop participants agree, their works can also be featured as part of the project.

4.) Please also note that participation in this special program in Group A is a time-consuming commitment. Thus, composers will receive only one additional individual lesson with a composition tutor (instead of three) and active participation in many of the Academy's other projects may not be possible. As composers in Group B are not required to attend all sessions, will not have a presentation slot and will not need to actively participate in group activities, this will not affect other engagements and two additional individual lessons with a composition tutor (instead of three) will be granted.

Application and participation as an electronic musician or sound artist only in this Special Program is possible (if selected), but does not include individual lessons or the possibility to apply for any other Special Program; concerts and discourse programs from February 17th – 23rd can of course be attended if time permits (and a special rate is also given for this shorter stay). If electronic musicians or sound artists wish to have more possibilities, individual lessons and a stay for the whole Academy and Festival, we recommend to apply as a composer from the beginning (if applicable) and if accepted as an impuls participant, all options and conditions for composers will apply, even if they are not selected for Speculative Sound Synthesis.

17.2.-23.2.2025

daily 10.00-18.00

23.3.2025

Final Presentation

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KUG . IEM CUBE

 

 

 

The project "Speculative Sound Synthesis" is funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) within the program for arts-based research (PEEK) - PEEK AR 713-G. It is hosted by the Institute for Electronic Music and Acoustics (IEM) at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Graz.

Klangforum Wien + Vimbayi Kaziboni . Reading Sessions

 

On top of premiering 5 new impuls commissions on February 25th, 2025, Klangforum Wien and its conductor Vimbayi Kaziboni offer a full day with Reading Sessions for young composer participants of the impuls Academy on February 26th, 2024, where, amongst others, questions on formal and aesthetic aspects, notation and instrumentation are discussed.

Special Program

with Klangforum Wien

and Vimbayi Kaziboni

 

for composers

and other participants (as listeners)

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2025 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Klangforum) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration.

2.) The works can, but must not necessarily be written for this specific occasion. Also sketches or even part of works can be handed in. Of course your work also does not have to include all instruments mentioned in paragraph 3, but can be written for a smaller instrumentation. However it needs to convey the character of an ensemble piece – thus no small (chamber) music pieces will be accepted.

3.) The instruments available for the reading sessions are as follows: 1x flute (doubling piccolo, alto, bass), 1x oboe (doubling English horn, heckelphone, oboe d'amore), 2x clarinet (A cl., Bb cl., Eb cl., bass cl., double bass cl.), 1x bassoon (doubling contraforte), 1x saxophone (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone sax), 1x horn (doubling Wagner tuba), 1x trumpet (doubling piccolo trumpet, flugelhorn), 1x trombone (doubling tenor horn, bass trumpet, alto trombone, tenor trombone), 1x accordion (button accordion), 1x harp, 1x piano (doubling celesta, harmonium), 2x percussion, 2x violin, 1x viola, 1x cello, 1x double bass (5-string)

4.) As to percussion: only a small percussion set will be made available by Klangforum Wien and impuls. In case your piece should really require any other percussion instruments, you need to supply them yourself; same holds true for specific sound objects or other devices.

5.) Please also note that neither electronic equipment nor amplification is available.

6.) Scores (printed or well readable hand writing) must be sent as PDF to office@impuls.cc until October 31st, 2024 at the latest.

7.) A commission, consisting of members of Klangforum Wien, will then choose some of the works handed in. The composers selected will be given notification by December 20th, 2024 and might be asked to also deliver the parts until January 15th, 2025 as PDF to office@impuls.cc. In any case the composers selected will have to bring along both score and parts as printed version to impuls, and agree, that the score will be made available to the other participants attending.

8.) The impuls Reading Sessions with Klangforum Wien and its conductor will take place on February 26th, 2025. In addition to that, if possible, a lunch for further discussions is planned during the break that day. All impuls participants, be it composers or instrumentalists, are invited and welcome to attend the Reading Sessions, profit from this program and participate in the discussions coming along with it.

26.2.2025

11.00-13.30

13.30-15.00: lunch break

15.00-17.30

 

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Quatuor Diotima . Call for Scores + Reading Sessions + Feedback

 

With Quatuor Diotima impuls is once more hosting one of the most prestigious string quartets dedicated to contemporary music. Quatuor Diotima is calling for scores amongst the composer participants of impuls 2025. From the pieces handed in Quatuor Diotima will then make a selection for a) intense rehearsals with composers leading to a public performance at the impuls Festival, b) short readings and c) feedback-rounds for some more composers on their works as submitted. Should there be any string quartets amongst the Academy participants, the programme can also partly be taken over by these young formations under the guidance of Quatuor Diotima.

Special Program

with Quatuor Diotima

Yun-Peng Zhao violin
Léo Marillier violin
Franck Chevalier viola
Alexis Descharmes cello

 

for composers

and string quartets

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2025 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Quatuor Diotima) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration.

2.) Please then hand in the score per email as PDF to office@impuls.cc until October 10th, 2024 at the latest. On selection please also supply again both score and all parts in a printed and well readable version until December 1st, 2024 to both Quatuor Diotima (leo@quatuordiotima.fr) and office@impuls.cc, and bring along one more printed copy to impuls in February.

3.) Works may be newly written or already existing ones. Also excerpts / not yet ready pieces are welcome to be considered then for feedback-rounds. The duration however should not exceed 10 minutes. Please note that only string quartet pieces will be accepted (thus neither solos, duos nor trios will be taken into consideration).

4.) A selection of pieces will be announced by October 31st, 2024 at the latest. The scores will be made available to Quatuor Diotima, other string quartets participating at the Academy and impuls without charge during impuls 2025 for rehearsals, possibly also performances, recordings made for archive reasons, and if of interest, also to other impuls participants for reasons of studies.

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Trio Accanto . Call for Scores + Reading Sessions + Feedback

 

With Trio Accanto impuls is hosting one of the most prestigious chamber music formations dedicated to contemporary music. The trio has premiered more than 100 works and now offers the rare chance to composition participants of impuls 2025 to work with them.

As first step Trio Accanto is calling for scores amongst the composer participants of impuls 2025. From the pieces handed in Trio Accanto will then make a selection to a) work on one or more pieces with the composer during the impuls Academy, leading possibly also to a performance at the impuls Festival and b) offer readings respectively giving feedback also to the other composers on their works as submitted.

Furthermore compositions handed in might also be considered for being worked on by young musicians respectively formations participating in the Academy under the guidance of Trio Accanto.

Special Program

with Trio Accanto

Marcus Weiss saxophone

Nicolas Hodges piano

Christian Dierstein percussion

 

for composers

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2025 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (concern: Trio Accanto) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration.

2.) Hand in your piece per e-mail (score as PDF/transposed for saxophone) to office@impuls.cc until October 1st, 2024 at the latest. Please then bring along three printed copies in February.

3.) As to instrumentation: Please note that there is no electronics nor amplification available. As to percussion: please point out all instruments needed beforehand to us in case you intend to write a new piece. Please note that in case your piece should require specific sound objects or other specific devices you will have to supply them yourself. As to saxophone: soprano, alto and baritone saxophone are available. Please also note that in case any piano preparation is planned, you have to make sure, it will by no means harm the piano. 

4.) Pieces may be newly written or already existing ones. The duration however should not exceed 15 minutes. Only trio pieces written for the specific line-up of Trio Accanto will be accepted (thus neither solos nor duos will be taken into consideration). 

5.) A selection of pieces to be actually worked on by Trio Accanto respectively by impuls Academy participants will be announced by December 2024 at the latest. The scores will be made available to Trio Accanto, impuls Academy participants and impuls without charge during impuls 2025 for rehearsals, possibly also performances, recordings made for archiv reasons, and if of interest also to other impuls participants for reasons of studies.

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Call for Scores for Saxophone . Solo

 

The impuls Academy offers composition participants the possibility to exchange and work together with young musicians on spot. Thus impuls is calling for pieces (either newly written or already existing ones) for solo saxophone. Under the guidance of Marcus Weiss selected pieces will then be read, discussed and possibly also worked on more intensively.

Special Program

with Marcus Weiss

 

for composers

and saxophonists

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2025 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Call for Scores for Saxophone Solo) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration.

2.) Hand in your piece (preferably not much longer than 10 minutes) per e-mail (score as PDF) to office@impuls.cc until October 15th, 2024 at the latest.

3.) As to availability of instruments: We trust that soprano, alto and tenor saxophone as well as baritone will be available. Please note that neither electronics nor amplification is available, unless completely provided and taken care of by the composers themselves.

4.) A selection of pieces considered to be read and possibly also worked on by impuls Academy participants more in detail, will be announced by November 15th, 2024 at the latest. The scores will be made available to impuls and the impuls Academy participants for the Academy without charge for rehearsals, possibly also performances, recordings made for archiving reasons, and if of interest also to other impuls participants for reasons of studies.

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Call for Sketches and/or Scores for Saxophone . Trio up to Quintet

 

Composer participants of the impuls Academy 2025 are welcome to meet up and collaborate with young musicians on spot – such as with the participants of Marcus Weiss' saxophone class. With regard to the developement of a collaborative work, impuls thus calls above all for the submission of sketches for saxophone trio up to saxophone quintet, however also already existing or newly written pieces may be handed in. On basis of the sketches and pieces submitted, Marcus Weiss will then get the cooperation of composers and musicians rolling on spot by introducing both the composers and musicians to the specifics of writing for saxophone, the technical possibilities and implications of the instrument and principles on notation amongst others. Of course, also the process of development and elaboration of the sketches as well as the realization of the pieces will be supervised by him.

Special Program

with Marcus Weiss

 

for composers

and saxophonists

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2025 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Call for Sketches and/or Scores for Saxophone . Trio up to Quintet) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration.

2.) Hand in your sketch or piece per e-mail (score as PDF/score transposed for saxophone) to office@impuls.cc until October 5th, 2024 at the latest.

3.) As to availability of instruments: We trust that soprano, alto and tenor saxophone will be available as well as one baritone. However as we cannot fully predict the enrolment development of the participants and the instruments brought along, it is advisable to plan for a certain degree of flexibility in the line-up, specially when handing in sketches. Please also note that there is no electronics nor amplification available, unless completely provided and taken care of by the composers themselves.

4.) In case you hand in pieces, be it newly written or already existing ones, the duration however should not exceed 15 minutes. Also sketches for new works should already take this limit into consideration.

5.) A selection of sketches respectively also pieces to be actually worked on by impuls Academy participants will be announced by end of October 2024 at the latest. The sketches and scores will be made available to impuls and the impuls Academy participants without charge for the Academy for rehearsals, possibly also performances, recordings made for archiving reasons, and if of interest also to other impuls participants for reasons of studies.

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Ernst Kovacic . Composing for violin solo and chamber music formations

 

Ernst Kovacic, violinist, conductor, curator, pedagogue and founding member of impuls, invites composer participants of impuls 2025 to bring along solo pieces for violin as well as works for chamber music, that include one or more string instruments. In several group-meetings he will not only give feedback from a musician´s, conductor´s and curator´s point of view. Depending on the submissions, some of the violin parts might also be read from the sheet, others analyzed and discussed in terms of, amongst others, notation and readability, sound-creation, technical subtleties, instrumentation, interplay of parts. Furthermore, Ernst Kovacic will also share his chamber music experiences, e.g as former violinist of the Zebra Trio.

Special Program

with Ernst Kovacic

 

for composers

How to apply:
1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant of the impuls Academy 2025.
2.) Please announce your interest in this program to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc, concern: Ernst Kovacic - Composing for violin) either already with your initial registration or until December 15th, 2024 at the latest, if you have one or more pieces written for violin solo or chamber music formations including at least one string instrument you would like to be discussed. Please mention the pieces' title, length, instrumentation and year of origin. You may, but must not necessarily send the actual score(s) or any other material beyond your general registration material. If you wish to do so nevertheless, the material has to be sent to office@impuls.cc (subject: Ernst Kovacic . Composing for violin) as PDF until the deadline given.
3.) Notification of selection will be given by end of January 2025 at the latest. Composers selected are asked to bring along the score(s) both as printed version for Ernst Kovacic and as digital version to impuls.

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Call for Scores . Violin Duet

 

Composer participants of impuls 2025 are invited to hand in scores for two violins, that will be discussed in a feedback group meeting and partly also worked on and possibly also performed by impuls participants under the guidance of violinist Ernst Kovacic.

Special Program

with Ernst Kovacic

 

for composers

and violinists

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant of the impuls Academy 2025.

2.) Please pre-announce your interest in this special program (subject: Violin Duets) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration, and hand in your piece(s) until November 30th, 2024 (as PDF). A maximum length per piece of 8 minutes should not be exceeded, multiple submission is possible, new works, written specifically for this occasion, are welcome, and so are already existing ones. Violinists donnot have to sign up for this program separately.

3.) A selection, as made by December 20th, 2024, will then be worked on during the Academy.

4.) The scores will be made available to impuls and the impuls Academy participants for the Academy without charge for rehearsals, possibly also performances, recordings made for archiving reasons, and if of interest also to other impuls participants for reasons of studies.

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Viola Combined

 

All registered composer participants of the impuls Academy 2025 are welcome to hand in compositions (new or already existing ones, length up to a maximum of 8 minutes) for either two violas or viola plus one more string instrument. A selection of pieces will be discussed and rehearsed by Dimitrios Polisoidis and string participants of the Academy. A performance of some pieces is envisaged, but of course still depending on the submissions and time availability.

Special Program

with Dimitrios Polisoidis

 

for composers

and strings

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2025 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Viola Combined) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration. Strings do not have to register separately for this program.

2.) Please hand in your piece per e-mail (score as PDF) to office@impuls.cc until October 31st, 2024 at the latest.

3.) If your piece is selected (notification will be given by beginning of December at the latest), please bring along 2 printed copies to Graz in February. All scores will be made available to impuls, its coaches and the impuls Academy participants without charge for rehearsals, possibly also performances, recordings made for archiving reasons, and if of interest also to other impuls participants for reasons of studies.

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Call for Scores . Double Bass in Dialogue

 

Composer participants of impuls 2025 are invited to hand in scores either for one double bass, two double basses or for double bass and electronics. impuls will provide a small PA with 2 speakers and a DPA microphone. The computer however will have to be brought along by the composers, who will also be responsible for the technical realisations on spot.

Special Program

with Uli Fussenegger

 

for composers

How to apply:

Please announce your interest in this Workshop (office@impuls.cc; subject: Double Bass in Dialogue) and hand in your pieces until November 15h, 2024 (as PDF). A selection, as made by December 15th, 2024, will then be worked on during the Academy in the class of Uli Fussenegger. Please note: only new pieces (maximum length 8 minutes) will be accepted.

The scores will be made available to impuls and the impuls Academy participants for the Academy without charge for rehearsals, possibly also performances, recordings made for archiving reasons, and if of interest also to other impuls participants for reasons of studies.

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Call for Scores for Voices

 

With Sarah Maria Sun one of the foremost and most extraordinary performers in the contemporary music scene is coaching vocalists at the impuls Academy 2025. In order to interconnect the young vocalists and young composers present, impuls is calling for scores amongst its participants. Both already existing and newly written ones are welcome and so are compositions for voice solo up to vocal quintet. A selection of pieces handed in will then be included in the vocal program, discussed, read, studied and possibly also included in a concert presentation at the impuls Festival.

Special Program

with Sarah Maria Sun

 

for composers

and vocalists

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2025 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Call for Scores for Voices) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration.

2.) Hand in your piece (preferably up to 10 minutes maximum) per e-mail (score as PDF) to office@impuls.cc until October 1st, 2024 at the latest.

3.) As for the vocalists on site: At this stage we cannot really forsee, who will actually sign up, but experience tells, that it is mainly female singers applying and hereby primarily sopranos. Thus in case you intend to actually write a new piece for this call, please take this fact into consideration. You may of course also consider compositions, that are not written for a specific vocal range, write without the necessity of a specific pitch, or consider adapting the score if necessary without artistic loss. Nevertheless please feel free to hand in scores as you wish.

4.) A selection of pieces considered to be integrated in the Academy program will be announced by November 5th, 2024 at the latest. All scores will be made available to impuls, its coaches and the impuls Academy participants without charge for rehearsals, possibly also performances, recordings made for archiving reasons, and if of interest also to other impuls participants for reasons of studies.

5.) For the rehearsals all composers and voalists participating in impuls 2025 are of course invited to attend, learn more about the specifics and possibilities of writing for voice, and enrich the discussion and mutual learning through their perspectives. No extra registration necessary for those, who will not write a new piece themselves, but want to attend anyway. Also singers do not have to register separately. A first meeting for all, be it actively involved in this specials and just interested to join, will be scheduled for February 18th, 2025.

18.-24.2.2025

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18.2.2025

first meeting

Call for Duos for Voice + Piano or Saxophone or Double bass

 

With this call, Sarah Maria Sun, Nicolas Hodges, Marcus Weiss and Uli Fussenegger invite young composition participants to hand in compositions for duos to be included in the Academy program and their classes. Sought for are duos for one vocalist plus either piano, saxophone, or double bass. Recently written pieces are preferred, the length should not exceed 5-8 minutes. Selected pieces will partly be read or studied (and possibly also included in a concert presentation at the impuls Festival) by the young musicians, respectively will get some personal feedback by the coaches.

Special Program

with Sarah Maria Sun,

Nicolas Hodges,

Marcus Weiss

and Uli Fussenegger

 

for composers

and vocalists

as well as pianists,

saxophonists

and double bassists

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2025 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (concern: Call for Duos for Voice + Piano or Saxophone or Double bass) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration. Musicians donnot need to sign up for this program.

2.) Hand in your piece per e-mail (score as PDF/ transposed for saxophone) to office@impuls.cc until October 15th, 2024 at the latest.

3.) As for the vocalists on site: At this stage we cannot really forsee, who will actually sign up, but experience tells, that it is mainly female singers applying and hereby primarily sopranos. You may of course also consider compositions, that are not written for a specific vocal range, written without the necessity of a specific pitch, or offer adapting the score if necessary and if without artistic loss. As for saxophonists: We trust that specially soprano, alto and tenor saxophone as well as one baritone will be available. As for piano: if any kind of preparation is intended, it must by all means be taken into account, that the piano by no means my be damaged. Please also note that neither electronics nor amplification is available, unless completely provided and taken care of by the composers themselves.

4.) A selection of pieces considered to be integrated in the Academy program will be announced by November 5th, 2024 at the latest. Where necessary the composers will be asked to then hand in parts as well until December 10th, 2024 at the latest. All scores will be made available to impuls, its coaches and the impuls Academy participants without charge for rehearsals, possibly also performances, recordings made for archiving reasons, and if of interest also to other impuls participants for reasons of studies.

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Call for Scores for Voice+Saxophone+Double bass

 

impuls 2025 welcomes Sun-Weiss-Fussenegger as performing trio as well as chamber music and individual masterclass coaches. Thus a call for scores for this specific trio line-up is issued, looking for already existing or newly written compositions by young Academy composers, that can then be integrated in the Academy program and worked on by participating vocalists and musicians under the guidance of these experienced coaches. In any case Sun-Weiss-Fussenegger will meet all selected composers of this call for a feedback session on their scores.

Special Program

with Trio Sun-Weiss-Fussenegger

Sarah Maria Sun voice

Marcus Weiss saxophone

Uli Fussenegger double bass

 

for composers

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2025 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Call for Scores for Voice+Saxophone+Double bass) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration.

2.) Hand in your piece (preferably not longer than 10 minutes) per e-mail (score as PDF) to office@impuls.cc until October 1st, 2024 at the latest.

3.) As to available instruments: soprano, alto and baritone saxophone will be available. 4 or 5-string double basses will be in use. As to the availability of vocalists: According to experience, mainly female singers (in particular sopranos) participate in the Academy. So especially if you intend to write a new piece, it might make sense to consider that fact. Please also note that neither electronics nor amplification is available and only acoustic pieces are taken into consideration.

4.) A selection of pieces considered to be integrated in the Academy program with participants will be announced by November 1st, 2024 at the latest, however, the feasibility will still depend on the availability of the Academy participants. In any case Sun-Weiss-Fussenegger will meet the selected composers for a feedback session. All scores will be made available to impuls, its coaches and the impuls Academy participants without charge for rehearsals, possibly also performances, recordings made for archiving reasons, and if of interest also to other impuls participants for reasons of studies.

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A Conductor's and Composer's feedback on Scores

 

Composition participants of the impuls Academy 2025 are offered the possibility to meet conductor and composer Johannes Kalitzke. In the form of one hour 1:1 meetings he will not only give a prima vista feedback on scores brought along in his dual function as conductor and composer, but will also delve much deeper into issues such as notation, layout, technical instructions, tempo and rhythm, viability, rehearsing needs and knowledge about instrumental features amongst others.

Special Program

with Johannes Kalitzke

 

for composers

How to apply:
1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2025 first. Please announce your interest in this special program (subject: Kalitzke's Feedback on Scores) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) until November 10th, 2024 at the latest, and make sure you have at least two pieces you would like to be discussed in this meeting. Please note: The pieces brought along must be written for ensemble respectively orchestra. Hereby however at least one piece brought along needs to be written for ensemble (minimum 8 up to approximatey 15 musicians).

2.) Please mention the pieces´ names, lengths, instrumentations and years of origin. It is not necessary however to hand in the actual scores or any other material.

3.) Depending on the number of applications, selection might have to be made. Notification of selection will be given by end of January 15th, 2025 at the latest. Composers selected must then bring along the scores as printed versions for the meeting with Johannes Kalitzke. Aside from the scores, please also prepare recordings of these pieces, if available.

4.) This one hour 1:1 meeting corresponds to one coaching lesson, thus composers will receive only two more additional individual lessons with other composition tutors (instead of three).

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Meet up with Conductor

 

impuls Academy participants are offered the possibility to meet up with conductor Ernst Kovacic for various questions and needs they might have.

Special Program

with Ernst Kovacic

 

for all impuls participants

How to apply:
Please do sign up quickly (office@impuls.cc, concern: Kovacic Conductor Meeting) and hand in your questions/info on your wishes and expectations until December 10th, 2024 at the latest. Depending on the number of applications, a selection might have to be made.

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Christian Dierstein . On Percussion

 

Aside from his class for percussionists, Christian Dierstein invites composers to an additional Masterclass, that will put a special emphasis on new techniques for percussionists as well as specialities of music-theatrical forms. Specially for composer participants of impuls 2025 he will thematize particular new techniques on percussion-instruments as well as striking applications and tools. A good basis hereby offers the book "The Techniques of Percussion Playing. Mallets, Implements and Applications" by Christian Dierstein, Jens Ruland und Michel Roth, published by Bärenreiter Verlag.

Special Program

with Christian Dierstein

 

for composers

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2025 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: On Percussion) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration.

2.) There is no selection procedure coming along with this workshop, but in case of space problems the order of registration is relevant.

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Uli Fussenegger . On Double Bass

 

In this workshop Uli Fussenegger will give some valuable insight information on writing for double bass (such as specifics on notation or technical features of the instrument) alongside demonstrations. Composer participants of impuls 2025 are welcome to hand in questions beforehand and also add scores serving as basis for their individual topics of interest.

Special Program

with Uli Fussenegger

 

for composers

and double bassists

How to apply:

As participant of the impuls Academy 2025 please announce your interest in this Workshop (subject: On Double Bass) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) and send your questions/scores to the same address until December 10th, 2024 at the latest.

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Piano Preparation Workshop

 

Andreas Orasch is not only a piano maker, but was also a piano tuner at KUG for many years and still works for pianists such as Markus Schirmer. At impuls he will first give an introduction to preparation methods and possibilities on the piano and then answer all your questions. Please bring along your own works that ask for preparation or also works by other composers with similar specific needs.

Everyone intending to use pianos during impuls (be it pianists or for example also composers) are asked to sign up and join the workshop in any case.

 

Special Program

with Andreas Orasch

 

for composers,

pianists

and other impuls participants interested

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2025 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (concern: Piano Preparation) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration.

2.) There is no selection procedure coming along with this workshop, but in case of space problems the order of registration is relevant.

 

18.2.2025

13.00-15.00

 

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