cresc... Fadenspiele • 16 – 25 Feb 2O24

The International Composer & Conductor Seminars (ICCS) are a mentoring programme providing highly focused support for young artists composing and conducting in the field of contemporary music. The project was initiated by Ensemble Modern (EM), the International Ensemble Modern Academy (IEMA) and the Aventis Foundation in 2021. Three modules for composers and conductors between the ages of 20 and 30 have been conceived, providing a comprehensive and ongoing mentoring programme. The module ICCS young_professionals focuses on composers (up to the age of 32) and conductors (up to the age of 30) from all over the world. The composers and conductors will be mentored by EM members and renowned coaches in composition and conducting.

young_professionals covers nine months and has three sections: there will be a Conception Session, during which first ideas and approaches are formulated and discussed, a Reading Session to try out first sketches and fragments, and finally a Performance Session. During this phase, the new pieces are rehearsed, refined, and given their world premieres. Additionally, a dramaturge gets the chance to accompany the development of the new compositions within a format of their choice, which reflects the creative musical process and communicates it to the public.

2023/24 young_professional is led by Ensemble Modern and three coaches: composer Brigitta Muntendorf, conductor Brad Lubman, as well as dramaturge Beate Schüler. The five new compositions concern themselves with the festival theme STRING FIGURES and will be premiered during cresc… 2024.