Academy

Planning:

- 10:00-13:00: daily group sessions (attendance obliged!) in which (first part of the week) each participant presents/contextualizes his/her project, taking part in a dialogue and feedback process with the entire group and (last part of the week) developing and curating an overall dramaturgy/concept for the final concert, in which all works are presented/performed

- afternoon until +- 6 pm: working on your project in the gallery space + individual sessions with Stefan Prins (time slots will be filled in the course of the week)

- first presentation planned within the impuls Festival

 

Who can apply?

Hybrid Music In Situ is an open call, thus you may, but must not necessarily already be accepted as participant of the impuls Academy 2027. If selected for "Hybrid Music" (which will be communicated by October 1^st, 2026), also applicants, who have not been guaranteed a place as regular Academy participant so far, are granted a place at the impuls Academy, and the conditions for Academy participants apply (thus the Registration fee is binding and needs to be covered right away). We are looking particularly for adventurous composer-performer-sound artists, computer musicians and others engaged in electronics working in the fields of composition/performance/sound art/installation/…, who want to develop a project of their own AND are willing to fully engage in a project, in which collaboration is central.

The applicants are responsible for performing/presenting their work, for which they can draw on help from the other participants. In extremis it’s theoretically also possible to collaborate with other performers from the Academy, though it would be your own responsibility to get them interested and work along their main schedules (thus please be aware that the performers of the Academy are already heavily leaned on to participate in the other Academy activities, so their availability is limited).

Taking part in this workshop implies a big engagement and might make it impossible to actively participate in other projects of the Academy. This also implies that the participants will not be granted the same amount of individual lessons with other coaches as regular participants, but only one additional individual lesson with another composition coach.

The workshop will be open to a maximum of 12 participants.

 

How to apply?

Announce your interest to the impuls office as soon as possible and send the following information to office@impuls.cc until September 1^st, 2026 at the latest: 

- CV & bio

- short letter including the following information:

a.) at least one and maximum 3 links to online audio/video documentation of works of yours (direct links preferred, unblocked/accessable dropbox/other cloudservers are also possible), that represent your current work best, and ideally also show work on similar collaborative/transdisciplinary work.

b.) short description of the project you want to work on at the workshop and a preliminary technical rider of the needed material (check tech rider of the esc mkl, that constitutes the basis of infrastructure given / please be aware that the available equipment might have to be shared amongst the participants and for special needs or equipment and material that is not available at esc mkl or cannot be supplied by impuls additionally you will have to provide it yourself! Thus for example, if you need mics or a small mixing table etc., you will have to provide it yourself, just like your own computer, soundcards etc.) Your project should not be "ready" to be implemented, but is rather a starting point that will grow/transform through the offered feedback process.

 

Info on the Gallery Space: esc medien kunst labor:

esc mkl is positioned in the very centre of Graz and at three sides is opening up to the city through its frontlines made out of glass. With this specific architectural feature the esc mkl herefore encourage to open up, explore and include the city with its sounds, architecture, population and social, geopolitical … conditionalities in the new works to be developed during the workshop. Also the mission statement of the esc mkl could serve as additional source of inspiration and as starting point (esc mkl: "the central endeavor of the esc mkl is the production of art; a central focus hereby lies on the exact observation and seismographic understanding of artistic processes, which capture socio-political developments (information and biotechnology, socioeconomic systems …) and new technologies (hard- and software)").

Pictures, floor plans

The program is designed as a group activity; the work and the entire process will culminate in a final presentation, which does not necessarily have to take the form of a concert, but will rather emerge over the course of the process. Daily attendance is mandatory, particularly for the daily group work (10.00-13.00), which leads into a general work session lasting until 18.00. The workshop is open to approximately 8 musicians and performers from zone expérimentale basel, as well as a maximum of 6 composers, electronic, sound and multimedia artists selected through the call for applications.

Participation in this workshop requires a high level of commitment and may also mean that participants are unable to take advantage of many other offerings at the Academy. Additionally, the selected composers, electronic, sound and multimedia artists will receive only one additional individual lesson with another composition coach.

 

How to apply:

1.) As composer you have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (concern: Expanded Music) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration.

Sound, electronic and multimedia artists may submit an application even if they have not yet registered and been accepted as participants of the impuls Academy 2027. However, a registration form must be submitted along with the application for this Special Program, and applicants must indicate whether they are interested in participating in the Academy only if accepted for this Special Program, or whether they wish to participate in the Academy in any case. If selected for the program (which will be communicated by November 18^th, 2026), a place at the impuls Academy is then guaranteed also to these applicants for sure, and their participation is therefore binding (the Academy registration fee has to be transferred within 1,5 weeks, unless already covered on general acceptance as Academy participant before. Also please be aware that the same conditions then apply, just like for all other Academy participants.)
2.) Further details on the musicians and performers of zone expérimentale basel (including the specific instruments they play) will be announced by July at the latest. In total, eight ensemble members are expected to be an integral part of the program, either as ensemble or, depending on the project components, in smaller line-ups. They are all characterized by a keen interest in and openness to exploring different possibilities of musical expression in contemporary music. Not only do they bring in a high level of skills as instrumentalists, but they are also to be involved in this program as co-creators and performers beyond their classical instruments.

3.) Please hand in - as soon as possible, but no later than November 1^st, 2026, to office@impuls.cc (as a PDF) - your ideas, sketches, concepts (or existing or newly conceived works for this occasion, which you would like to further develop together with the musicians and performers during the Academy), as well as a short letter of motivation (maximum 1 page) explaining why you specifically wish to participate in this program. The selection will then be announced by November 18^th, 2026.

4.) A first online meeting with zone expérimentale basel, represented by Sarah Maria Sun, the selected composers, sound, electronic and multimedia artists, as well as Simon-Steen-Andersen and impuls, is scheduled for Monday, November 30^th, 2026, 10.00-13.00 CET—please be sure to keep this date open. Any additional online meetings prior to the Academy will then be scheduled individually, should they prove necessary based on the project proposals.

5.) The ideas, sketches, concepts, and any resulting works will be made available free of charge to impuls 2027 for performances, recordings for documentary purposes, and, if there is interest, to other impuls participants for study purposes.

The workshop will be based on several principles and objectives:

• to develop a collective project, learning to work as a group by defining new methods of interaction and collaboration between composers and performers
• to integrate technological tools—sound, image, lighting, sensors—into the creative process, with an emphasis on their integration into musical gesture
• to address musical composition through interdisciplinary vectors (texts, films, political, philosophical or social approaches, etc.)
• to consider the stage space as an operative element in the process of developing the collective project

The workshop will include daily warm-up sessions, collective or small-group improvisations, more specific work on certain technologies used in the project, and practical work addressing scenography and lighting.

Ultimately, the goal of the workshop is to provide a collective working framework in order to explore new methodologies for developing creative projects involving composers and performers.

Please consider: Not only classical instruments will hereby play a central role, but also the inclusion of objects, body, surfaces and video and electroacoustic elements. The projects can be conceived for duo, trio or flexible groups of performers and must include an interdisciplinary approach (electronic sounds, video, gestures and theatrical approach).

Before you develop your ideas, concepts, description of projects, please also consider the 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.

As to instruments available: A more concrete line-up of musicians and their instruments available will be given by end of summer (at this first stage we count on about 8 musicians with various instrumental backgrounds). 

 

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as composer for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please pre-announce your interest in this special program (subject: Intermedia Collaboration) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration. Musicians of PPCM Ensemble participating in this workshop, do not need to sign up for this program, unless they intend to hand in an application (see point 2) themselves. The musicians however are asked to fill in and return (to office@impuls.cc until October 5^th 2026) the Instrumentalists Skills Template (docx).

2.) In sequence applicants are asked to then hand in until October 5^th, 2026 at the latest (as PDF to office@impuls.cc) the following material: a.) score sketches or musical materials to explore (rhythmic structures, chords or harmonic contexts, graphic notation, etc.), b.) technological modules to be developed (real-time sound processing, visual processing, sensors, etc.), c.) referential elements (texts, films, musics…, and 2-3 scores/projects relevant in this context d.) a short letter of intention and expectation, e.) a description, concept, more precise idea to be developed together with the musicians during impuls (thus no filly written scores are asked for).

Musicians participanting are also welcome to bring in ideas or prepared instruments or any elements that they wish to share in this context. In any case they are asked to fill in and the Instrumentalists Skills Template.

3.) The announcement of selected applications will be made by November 1^st, 2026.

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 Dimitrios Polisoidis for both the composers selected and musicians before the start of impuls. Please reserve the following date for a first, binding online-meeting: December 21^st, 2026, 17.00-21.00 CET. This first meeting might be followed up by another online-meetings for composers and musicians, if still needed: December 22^nd, 2026, 17.00-21.00 CET.

On top, Pierre Jodlowski will meet composers only in individual 30 minute sessions on December 23^rd, 2026, 18.00-21.00 CET – thus please do mark all these dates in your calendar.

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 another composition coach (instead of three).

How to apply:

1.) As composer you have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Special Program for Composers and Percussionists) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration. Percussion participants of the Academy do not need to specifically sign up for this program.

2.) Composers then need to send a short cv, a short letter of motivation with an idea for this workshop, any score (PDF file!), and a recording of a solo or chamber music piece (not necessarily for percussion, direct link on Soundcloud, unblocked/accessable dropbox/other cloud servers are also possible/no youtube-links will be accepted!) to office@impuls.cc. Deadline: October 1^st, 2026.

3.) Composers will be selected and given notification by November 1^st, 2026. Selected composers shall then prepare a short sketch with a focus on a sound or musical gesture for a piece, they would like to develop together with the percussionists at impuls – which then needs to be sent to office@impuls.cc until January 15^th, 2027.

4.) A first online meeting for both the selected composers and percussion participants with Carola Bauckholt, Christian Dierstein and impuls is scheduled for Tuesday, December 1^st, 2026, 13.00-15.00 CET—please be sure to keep this date open.

5.) Taking part in this workshop implies a big engagement and might make it impossible to actively participate in many of the other projects of the Academy. This also implies that the selected composer participants will not be granted the same amount of individual lessons, but only two additional individual lesson with other composition coaches (instead of three).

6.) The sketches and further on developed scores will be made available to impuls and the participants for the Academy and the Festival without charge for rehearsals and presentation, recordings made for archiving reasons, and if of interest also to other impuls Academy participants for reasons of studies. 

How to apply:

1.) Applicants have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Analogue Electronics Workshop) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration.

2.) Hand in a short letter of motivation, explaining why you would like to take part in this specific program. List your experience with analogue electronics so far (links to recordings and projects welcome). Send a link to at least one work including analogue electronics (notated score/ concept and documentation of performance, improvisation or installation), specify if you would like one of these pieces to be included in the workshop for demonstration. If wishing to demonstrate, please include a technical rider with a detailed list of the equipment you will need, also specifying equipment you can provide yourself. If you have a personal analogue electronic instrument you wish to bring with you and demonstrate with, please give detailed technical specifications of this instrument. On-site technology available includes: multichannel mixing board + multichannel loudspeaker system, no-input mixer, a variety of analogue synthesizers, turntables. More information provided upon request. Deadline: October 15^th,2026. A selection of applicants will then be announced by November 15^th,2026, the workshop is limited to a maximum of 12 participants, who are expected to take part in all three sessions as a constant group.

3.) The scores, if any involved, will be made available to impuls and the impuls Academy participants for the Academy without charge for try-outs and any further usage at this workshop. Please also note, that this program is a rather time-consuming one, and thus only two more individual lessons with other composition coaches will be granted.

How to apply:

1.) Applicants have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Bodypercussion + ad hoc instruments Workshop) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration.

2.) Hand in a short letter of motivation, why you would like to actively take part in this specific program, bring up your experience with bodypercussion and ad hoc instruments so far, if any (links to recordings and projects welcome), and, as additional option, add an idea, concept or existing piece including bodypercussion and ad hoc instruments you would suggest to be included in the workshop. Deadline: October 15^th, 2026. A selection of applications will then be announced by November 15^th, 2026. Maximum size of group: 25 participants.

3.) The ideas, concepts, scores, if any involved, will be made available to impuls and the impuls Academy participants for the Academy without charge for rehearsals and presentation, if any, recordings made for archiving reasons, and if of interest also to other impuls participants for reasons of studies. 

Anna Kornbluh, in "The Order of Forms" (2019), argues that form is not the enemy of freedom but its condition of possibility. Drawing on mathematical formalism, Marxist theory, and literary realism, she makes a case for building, instituting, and composing collective life — against a contemporary intellectual culture that romanticizes formlessness as liberation. Fred Moten, in his essay "Jurisgenerative Grammar (for Alto)" (2016), moves through an entirely different landscape: improvisation, the black radical tradition, and Anthony Braxton's solo practice. For Moten, the generative force of music lies not in the absence of form, but in a making of form that is inseparable from breaking given orders — what he calls "proliferative, generative form."

The tension between these two positions — building and flight, structure and improvisation, institution and escape — is precisely the terrain on which compositional practice operates. Over four sessions, we will read and discuss selected passages from both texts, bringing them into dialogue with questions from our own compositional work: How do we make formal decisions — and what is at stake when we set a form? What is the relationship between composition and improvisation, between preparation and the unforeseen? What do the formal systems we work with — notation, algorithms, tuning systems — make possible, and what do they foreclose? And what kinds of relations does a piece compose — between performers, between score and interpretation, between stage and audience?

 

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please preannounce your interest in this seminar (subject: Composing Relations) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration.

2.) As part of the application – to be handed in to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) until November 1^st, 2026 at the latest – a short statement of interest is required, including a question, a piece, or a reference from your own practice that you would like to bring into the discussion.

3.) The seminar is restricted to a maximum of 15 participants. Notification about the selection will be given by November 30^th, 2026 at the latest. Participants are expected to read selected passages from the assigned texts in advance and engage in all four meetings. The seminar is held in English.

4.) Please note that taking a place in the seminar corresponds to one individual lesson with a composition coach, thus only two additional individual lessons with a composition tutor can be assigned.

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Klangforum Wien) 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 parts of works can be handed in. Of course your work 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) + 1x clarinet (A cl., Bb cl., Eb cl., bass cl., double bass cl.) + 1x bassoon (doubling contraforte) + 1x saxophone (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone sax) or, alternatively, 1x harp (= either-or option, thus sax and harp cannot be used together) + 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 piano (doubling celesta, harmonium) + 1x percussion + 1x 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 15th, 2026 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 10th, 2026 and might be asked to also deliver the parts until January 5th, 2027 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 9^th, 2027. 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.

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027  first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Trio Abstrakt – Aufbrüche / Departures) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration.
2.) As a first step, please hand in a very brief CV (max 1.000 characters), 2 chamber music samples of your work (score as PDF, and if possible recordings as links) and a brief abstract of a planned new work for Trio Abstrakt (this could include a score sketch and/or a description of the work project. Please keep in mind that only applications for the trio-line-up will be considered, thus neither applications for solo nor duo will be taken into consideration. Please send the material to both the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) and info@trioabstrakt.com until October 1^st, 2026 at the latest.
3.) Based on these abstracts and material handed in, the trio will choose 5 composers, who will be informed by October 20^th, 2026 at the latest about the selection to then compose either a miniature piece or a “first part” for a new composition for the trio; in both cases the length should not exceed 5 minutes. Deadline for handing in the miniature piece or a “first part” for a new composition (score: well readable on tablets / transposed for saxophone): January 10^th, 2027.
4.) Ad instrumentation: Possible instruments include: various saxophones (baritone, tenor, alto, soprano, even sopranino if you dare). As to percussion: Vibraphone, Crotales (both octaves), Concert Bass Drum, Tom-Toms, Timpani (29” & 26”), Snare Drum, Bongos, Tam-Tam, Cymbals, Thunder Sheet, Bell Plates (G, C4, C#4, D4, D#), Japanese Rins (G♯3 - D3 - F5 - G5 - A♭5 - B5 - C♯6). Small instruments such as Triangles, Woodblocks, and Spring Coils are possible. For any instruments not listed here, composers should provide and bring their own or talk with the percussionist, if available as well. As to grand piano: Any inside piano techniques must be greenlit by pianist Marlies Debacker before being employed in the score and must not harm the piano in any case. Specific objects required for the performance need to be provided by the composers.
5.) The miniature pieces or “first part” for a new composition for the trio will then be worked on in a first 1:1 meeting with the composer, followed up by an open rehearsal and a presentation at a Workshop-Concert.
6.) The miniature pieces or “first part” for a new composition will be made available to impuls, Trio Abstrakt and the impuls coaches without charge during impuls 2027 for the open rehearsals and the Workshop-Concert, recordings made for archiv reasons, and if of interest, also to other impuls participants for reasons of studies.

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Fabrik Quartet) 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 1^st, 2026 at the latest.

3.) Works may be newly written or already existing ones. The duration should however not exceed 15 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 31^st, 2026 at the latest. The scores will be made available to Fabrik Quartet and impuls without charge during impuls 2027 for rehearsals, possibly also performances, recordings made for archive reasons, and if of interest, also to other impuls participants for reasons of studies.

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Fabrik Quartet – Sketches/Miniatures) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration.

2.) Please then hand in your sketch and/or miniature per email as PDF to office@impuls.cc until October 1^st, 2026 at the latest.

3.) Please note that only sketches and/or miniatures invisioned for string quartet pieces will be accepted (thus neither submissions for solos, duos nor trios will be taken into consideration).

4.) Notification of a selection of sketches and/or miniatures will be announced by October 31^st, 2026 at the latest. All composers, who are selected for this program, please note, that working with the composition coach on this Special Program with Fabrik Quartet is equivalent to a single lesson with a composition coach. Please also note, that the sketches/miniatures/scores developed furtheron on spot will be made available to Fabrik Quartet, the composition coach and impuls as well as, if of interest, also to other impuls participants for reasons of studies, without charge during impuls 2027 for development, rehearsals and possibly also presentation as well as for recordings made for archive reasons.

How to apply:

1.) As composer you have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: K!ART . Call for Concepts, Sketches, Bits & Pieces) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration. Any other creative artists, who are interested to work with K!ART, be it adventurous sound artists, computer and electronic artists, multimedia artist, performers, dancers, writers … must not necessarily already be accepted as participant of the impuls Academy 2027. If selected for this “K!ART”-program (which will be communicated by November 1^st, 2026), also applicants, who have not been guaranteed a place as regular Academy participant so far, are granted a place at the impuls Academy, and the conditions for Academy participants apply (thus also the Registration fee is binding and needs to be covered right away).

2.) Ad instrumentation and performer profiles:
Please note that works or ideas don’t necessarily have to be based on the listed instruments. The ensemble’s musicians have extensive experience with, and an interest in performative works, new media works, multimedia, site-specific and contextual based practices that explore alternative ways to work with performers within an experimental music context. Applicants, for whom their practice involves performing alongside the ensemble or otherwise involving the ensemble in a co-creative role are also encouraged to apply should they be interested.
Possible instruments include:

Mikkel Schou: acoustic guitar, steel-string acoustic guitar, el. guitar, el. bass (note: not really able to do slap bass), 10-string pedal steel guitar (note: must be tab notated), effects: helix line 6, freeze pedal, gamechanged audio plus sustain pedal (Particularities of f.x. pedal steel, specific effects or similar, can be explored together before impuls online.) | untrained voice with inaccurate pitch | experienced with scored theatrical pieces and performance art

Rob Durnin: piano, midi-keyboard | untrained voice with very accurate pitch | experienced with scored theatrical pieces and performance art

Joss Smith: B flat clarinet | secondary keyboard player of up to intermediate complexity scores | untrained voice with very accurate pitch | very experienced with scored theatrical pieces and performance art

Ida Nørby: cello | semi-trained voice with very accurate pitch | very experienced with scored theatrical pieces and performance art

Hsiao-Tung Yuan: percussion as follows: drums: snare, hihat 14", 2 kick drum (16" and 22"). 2 tomtom (small, medium), 2 fl. tom, splash 8", crash 17", ride 20" | 5 wood planks (Jatoba) | Bongo | Waterphone | small instruments: cowbell, kalimba (17 keys), 2 Chinese singing bowls, 2 Chinese opera gong (high and low), triangle, vibratone, flexatone, wine glasses | marimba | vibraphone | as to other percussion instruments and specially also objects: please be aware, that applicant would need to bring along | untrained voice with very accurate pitch | very experienced with scored theatrical pieces and performance art

Additional equipment that can be offered by K!ART if required: up to 8 smaller speakers, that can also be used site-specifically | up to 4 medium sized PA speakers (note: no sub) | projection screen, projector | digital mixer and stagebox (MIDAS M32R) | miscellaneous equipment such as cables (xlr, jack, usb extensions), mics (mainly vocal mics, 2x wireless headset mics, some small condenser mics + contact mics), a binaural mic, media player, soundcard, wireless click track on separate channels for up to 6 performers (up to full ensemble + composer/performer).

Please note that preliminary tech-riders should be provided with sketches, scores or similar, to ensure that they’re possible to realize! K!ART won’t be able to bring all equipment and instruments and will need to make a selection based on space in the van.

3.) As a first step, please send (to office@impuls.cc) a very brief CV (max 1.000 characters), your concept, sketch, part of a piece or a finished composition, and on top a short text, why you would want to work with K!ART and in which way you specifically would want to work with the musicians. Priority will not be given to finished works over interesting ideas or sketches. The proposals can be for 1 up to 5 performers or can also include ideas where you perform with the ensemble. Please include a preliminary technical rider (include technical equipment required and if there’s anything else to note). Note that the final selection of proposals will be done in such a way that all performers are at least somewhat equally involved in the workshops and concerts. Deadline: October 15^th, 2026.

4.) A selection will be communicated by November 1^st, 2026 and at least one online meeting per selected applicant will be set up by K!ART directly for further preparation.

5.) All sketches, concepts, parts of composition and finalized pieces will be made available to impuls, K!ART and the impuls coaches without charge during impuls 2027 for rehearsals and the final presentation, recordings made for archiv reasons, and if of interest, also to other impuls participants for reasons of studies.

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: IEMA-Ensemble 2026/27) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc ) or already with your initial Academy registration.

2.) Please then send your compositions as PDF (a score including percussion list and technical rider is sufficient at this stage) to both office@impuls.cc and akademie@ensemble-modern.com by October 10^th, 2026 at the latest. A selection will be made by November 10^th, 2026, which will then be rehearsed on site in collaboration with the composers, or worked on at readings, and, depending on the progress of rehearsals, will also be presented in public at the impuls Festival in individual cases.

3.) On selection, composers are asked to send the individual parts until November 28^th, 2026 as PDF to office@impuls.cc and, at the same time, to akademie@ensemble-modern.com, and also bring along both score and parts in a printed version to the impuls Academy in February. All material must be made available to the ensemble and impuls free of charge. The selected composers also agree that recordings may be made for documentation purposes.

How to apply:
1.) As composer, you have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: zone experiméntale basel) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration.

2.) The pool of instruments available will be announced by July 2026. Please note that for these meeting no PA or amplification will be available. In case percussion is included, the following instruments will be available: 1 vibraphone + 3 cymbals + 1 bass drum + 2 tom-toms + small instruments, that can easily be transported and placed on a table. Please also note, that in case any piano preparation is planned, you need to make sure, that it will by no means harm the piano.

3.) Please hand in your sketches or compositions as PDF until October 30^th, 2026 at the latest to office@impuls.cc (a score is sufficient for the application. Only on selection, and if needed, all parts have then to be supplied until December 20^th, 2026).

4.) A selection of pieces and sketches will be announced until November 30^th, 2026, which then will be the basis for meetings with the musicians and possibily also short readings. All material must be made available to the ensemble and impuls free of charge at the impuls Academy 2027. The selected composers also agree that recordings may be made for documentation purposes.

How to apply:

1.) As composer, you have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 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. Vocalists donnot have to sign up separately for this program.

2.) Hand in your piece (up to 10 minutes maximum) per e-mail (score as PDF) to office@impuls.cc until October 1^st, 2026 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 5^th, 2026 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 vocalists participating in impuls 2027 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. A first coordinative meeting for all involved in this program is scheduled for February 9^th, 2027, 10.00-11.30.

How to apply:

1.) As composer, you have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Call for Scores . Liedduo) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration. Vocalists and musicians donnot have to sign up separately for this program.

2.) Hand in your piece (preferably up to 8 minutes maximum) per e-mail (score as PDF) to office@impuls.cc until October 1^st, 2026 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 October 31^st, 2026 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 vocalists participating in impuls 2027 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. A first coordinative meeting for all involved in this program is scheduled for February 9^th, 2027, 10.00-11.30.

How to apply:

1.) As composer you have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Writing for Accordion) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration. Accordion participants of the Academy do not need to specifically sign up for this program.

2.) Hand in your piece or sketch per e-mail (score as PDF) to office@impuls.cc until October 10^th, 2026 at the latest.

3.) The pieces or sketches can be limited to a solo work for accordion or a duo for two accordions as maximum. As to the instruments: button accordions are anticipated for right now.

4.) Aside from sketches, handed in pieces may be newly written or already existing ones. Especially when a new piece is written or a sketch is drafted specifically for this purpose, the intended duration should not exceed 10 minutes.

5.) A selection of pieces will be announced by middle of November 2026, a selection of sketches will be decided on on spot. In case of selection, please bring along three printed copies in February. The scores will be made available to impuls, the impuls Academy participants and coaches without charge during impuls 2027 for rehearsals, possibly also performances, recordings made for archiving reasons, and if of interest, also to other impuls participants for reasons of studies.

How to apply:

1.) As composer, you have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Call for Scores and Sketches for Piano . Solo + Duo) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration. Pianists donnot have to sign up separately for this program.

2.) Hand in your pieces or sketches per e-mail (as PDF) to office@impuls.cc until October 10^th, 2026 at the latest.

3.) A selection of sketches to be further developed and pieces considered to be discussed, read or further developed, and possibly also worked on more in detail and presented by impuls Academy participants and Nicolas Hodges, will be announced by November 10^th, 2026 at the latest.

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.

5.) Pianists involved in this program will get a selection of scores or sketches for preparation beforehand and are welcome to exchange with composers already before coming to impuls.

How to apply:

1.) As Composer, you have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Call for Scores and Sketches for Piano + Violin) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration. Pianists and violinists donnot have to sign up separately for this program.

2.) Hand in your pieces or sketches per e-mail (as PDF) to office@impuls.cc until October 10^th, 2026 at the latest.

3.) A selection of sketches and pieces, considered to be discussed, read or further developed, and possibly also worked on more in detail and presented by impuls Academy participants, Nicolas Hodges and Léo Marillier, will be announced by November 10^th, 2026 at the latest.

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.

5.) Pianists and violinists involved in this program will get a selection of scores or sketches for preparation beforehand and are welcome to exchange with composers already before coming to the impuls Academy 2027.

How to apply:

1.) As composer, you have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Call for Scores . Piano Trio) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration. Pianists,  violinists and cellists donnot have to sign up separately for this program.

2.) Hand in your pieces per e-mail (as PDF) to office@impuls.cc until October 20^th, 2026 at the latest.

3.) A selection of pieces considered to be discussed, read, or worked on more in depth – and possibly also be presented by the Academy participants – will be announced no later than November 20^th, 2026. In case that individual parts are required, they have to be sent to office@impuls.cc by December 15^th, 2026 at the latest.

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.

5.) Pianists, violinists and cellists involved in this program will get a selection of scores for preparation beforehand and are welcome to exchange with composers already before coming to the impuls Academy 2027.

How to apply:

1.) As composer, you have to register and be accepted as participant of the impuls Academy 2027. Violinists do not have to apply seperately for this Special Program.

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 10^th, 2026 (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.

3.) A selection, as made by December 10^th, 2026, 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.

How to apply:

1.) As composer you have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Call for Scores . Cello solo – Cello duo) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration. Cellists donnot have to sign up separately for this program.

2.) Hand in your pieces for cello solo or for two cellos per E-Mail (as PDF) to office@impuls.cc until November 15^th, 2026.

3.) A selection of pieces will be announced until November 30^th, 2026 at the latest.

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.

5.) Cellists involved in this program will get a selection of scores for preparation beforehand and are welcome to exchange with composers already before coming to the impuls Academy 2027.

How to apply:

1.) Composers have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027  first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Double Bass in Dialogue) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration. Musicians do not need to register separately for this program.

2.) Hand in your pieces until November 1^st, 2026 (as PDF). A selection, as made by December 1^st, 2026, 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.

3.) 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.

How to apply:

1.) Composers have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Call for Sketches and/or Scores for Saxophone . Solo up to Quartet) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration. Musicians do not need to register separately for this program.

2.) Hand in your sketch or piece per e-mail (score as pdf / score transposed for saxophone) to office@impuls.cc until October 5^th, 2026 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 10 minutes. Also sketches for new works should already take this limit into consideration.

5.) A selection of sketches or possibly also pieces to be actually worked on by impuls Academy participants will be announced by end of October 2026 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.

How to apply:

1.) Composers have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Call for Duos . Saxophone plus) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration. Voices and musicians do not need to register separately.

2.) Hand in your piece (score as PDF / score transposed for saxophone) per e-mail to office@impuls.cc until October 10^th, 2026 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. Please also note that there is no electronics nor amplification available, unless completely provided and taken care of by the composers themselves. As to voices: 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.) The pieces should not exceed 10 minutes.

5.) A selection of pieces will be announced by November 1^st, 2026 at the latest – parts will then have to be sent to office@impuls.cc until November 20^th, 2026. The scores will be made available to impuls and the impuls Academy participants without charge for the Academy 2027 for rehearsals, possibly also performances, recordings made for archiving reasons, and if of interest also to other impuls participants for reasons of studies.

How to apply:

1.) Composers have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: Junge Stücke) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) or already with your initial Academy registration. Musicians do not need to register separately for this program.

2.) Hand in your piece per e-mail (score as PDF/transposed for saxophone) to office@impuls.cc until October 15^th, 2026 at the latest.

3.) As to instrumentation: Please note that there is no electronics nor amplification available. As to saxophone: soprano, alto and baritone saxophone are available. As to accordion: button accordion is anticipated. As to double bass: both 4- and 5-string double basses should be availble.

4.) Pieces may be newly written or already existing ones. Especially when a new piece is written specifically for this purpose, the duration should not exceed 10 minutes. Only quartet pieces written for the specific line-up will be accepted with this call.

5.) A selection of pieces will be announced by end of November 2026 at the latest. In case of selection, please deliver also the parts to office@impuls.cc until December 18^th, 2026 at the latest and bring along three printed copies in February. The scores will be made available to impuls, the impuls Academy participants and coaches without charge during impuls 2027 for rehearsals, possibly also performances, recordings made for archive reasons, and if of interest, also to other impuls participants for reasons of studies.

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant of the impuls Academy 2027.
2.) Please announce your interest in this program to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc, subject: Ernst Kovacic - Composing for violin) either already with your initial registration or until December 10^th, 2026 at the latest, if you have one or more pieces written for violin solo or chamber music formations including at least one string instrument, that 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 middle 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.

How to apply:

Please do sign up quickly (office@impuls.cc, subject: Kovacic Conductor Meeting) and hand in your questions/info on your wishes and expectations until December 10^th, 2026 at the latest. Depending on the number of applications, a selection might have to be made.

How to apply:
1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please announce your interest in this special program (subject: Jack Sheen's Feedback on Scores) to the impuls office (office@impuls.cc) already with your initial Academy registration or until November 5^th, 2026 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 and/or orchestra, including concertos. Please mention the pieces' names, lengths, instrumentations and years of origin.

2.) The actual scores have to be submitted until December 20^th, 2026 at the latest as PDF to office@impuls.cc.

3.) Depending on the number of applications, a selection might have to be made. Notification of selection will be given by end of January 2027 at the latest and selected composers are asked, to then bring along a printed version of the scores and, if available, also recordings of the pieces, for the meeting in Graz.

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).

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first. Please preannounce your interest in this special program (subject: On Cello) 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.

3.) If you wish, you’re welcome to submit own cello solo pieces as well as specific questions you might have in relation to the instrument cello—please send them as PDF files already when registrating for this Special Program, or until December 15^th, 2026 at the latest, to office@impuls.cc.

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 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.

 

How to apply:

1.) You have to register and be accepted as participant for the impuls Academy 2027 first.

2.) No specific application for this offer is necessary, however you are welcome to preannounce your interest to office@impuls.cc (subject: Fussenegger . Careers in a fluid environment).

No specific application for this offer necessary, but please preannounce your interest to office@impuls.cc (Subject: Trio Abstrakt . Meet the ensemble)

No specific application for this offer necessary, but please preannounce your interest to office@impuls.cc (Concern: Meet K!ART and Mikkel Schou).