Academy

After vocal ensemble coaching with Cantando Admont at the impuls Academy back in 2023, and solo vocal coaching with Sarah Maria Sun in 2025, impuls is combining the two approaches for the Academy in 2027. In general, all vocalists participating are part of a vocal ensemble program (running from 14.-19.2. / arrival day 13.2. or 14.2. until noon at the latest, departure day 20.2.2027). However, if of interest to the applicants, they can also sign up for the full Academy length (8.-20.2.), and up to eight vocalists selected will then be included also for individual lessons and the participation in several special programs (9.-14.2 / arrival day 8.2.2027, departure day after the vocal ensemble program, 20.2.2027). In both cases, vocalist will of course also have the chance to perform and present the results of their work at the impuls Festival. 

Cantando Admont has brought together outstanding voices over the last 10 years, all of them dedicated to reassert the richness of the historical vocal heritage within contemporary musical creation and foster nuanced vocal culture and interpretative excellence. It has performed internationally at many leading festivals, renowned venues and opera houses, as vocal ensemble as well as with famed orchestras and ensembles. Of particular importance is the long-standing artistic collaboration with Beat Furrer (resulting in numerous new works, including the opera "Das große Feuer"), who will give support also to the vocalists at rehearsals during impuls. Depending still a bit on the types of voices, the vocalists actually signing up, artistic director Cordula Bürgi, alto Cornelia Sonnleithner and bassist Piotr Pieron intend to focus on a pool of compositions such as Heinz Holliger´s "Die Jahreszeiten", Rebecca Saunder´s "Soliloquy", Luigi Nono´s "¿Dónde estás hermano?", Elisabeth Harnik´s "belem" and, last but not least, Beat Furrer´s "A Sei Voci" for the vocal ensemble program with the impuls participants (14.2.-19.2.2027), and present the results together with further contributions of other members of Cantando Admont at the final concert of the impuls Festival on February 19th.

With Sarah Maria Sun again, one of the foremost and most extraordinary performers in the contemporary music scene (with a repertoire spanning more than 2000 compositions from the 16th to the 21st century, including 400 world premieres) is part of the impuls vocal coaching team once again (9.-14.2.2027). In individual and group meetings she will follow the interests, profiles and needs of the vocalists selected, and support them in the realization of solo or duo literature brought along and/or pieces suggested by her, as well as compositions coming in through various calls (such as Call for Scores for Voices . Solo-Duo and Call for Scores . Liedduo), that will connect the vocal participants with young composers on site as well as with other instrumentalists for rehearsals. All of that will partly also lead to a final presentation at the impuls Festival on February 14th at a matinee concert (aside from contributions to be presented already at the impuls MinuteConcerts the day before).

As an important aspect of the impuls Academy's concept has always been to interconnect composer and performer, the young vocalists are also offered to make use of the rare possibility to work with the renowned composition coaches on a selection of their pieces on spot (Beat Furrer only being one of them). And, as already indicated, impuls of course also encourages the cooperation with the many international young composition participants by several Special Programs for 2027, that also include vocal participants (aside from Call for Scores for Voices . Solo-Duo and Call for Scores . Liedduo please also check Call for Duos . Saxophone plus for example).

Also, where desired, a cooperation of the young vocalists with individual musicians, chamber music formations and ensembles participating in the impuls Academy, can be established to work on compositions of interest for both parties.

Like all other participants of the impuls Academy 2027, also the young musicians are welcome to take advantage of the many discourse programs* impuls holds (from daily group lectures to discussions, talks etc.) and enjoy the impuls Festival program*.

And furthermore, they will find slots within the impuls Festival to present themselves as well, be it with repertoire or pieces developed during impuls (one of the various possibilities hereby being also the impuls MinuteConcerts on February 13th, 2027, presenting mainly solo and small chamber music pieces throughout the City of Graz).

Last but not least, the Academy will function as vivid meeting point and platform for interaction, exchange, knowledge-transfer, and networking.

Please check general Conditions for impuls 2027 and proceed with Registration, if interested to join.

In case of further questions, please contact the impuls office at office@impuls.cc

* As the Festival and discourse programs are still in preparation for 2027, you may want to check last year´s edition to get a general idea about the scope and nature of the various offers.