UCIMR: ForestAria – an international tour

The Romanian Association of Music Performers (UCIMR) announces the launch of ForestAria, a series of multimedia concerts that bring together contemporary music, visual
art, and the expressive power of natural and cultural landscapes.

Taking place between November 7 and 24, 2025, the international tour includes five concerts in the United Kingdom, Romania, and Ireland, performed by the renowned
ConTempo Quartet, a Romanian – Irish ensemble with an international career spanning more than three decades.

Four composers — Rucsandra Popescu (Romania–Germany), Oana Vardianu (Romania), Sarah Marze (USA/England), and Crea Sullivan (Ireland) — were selected through an
international call and bring together four distinct perspectives on today’s musical world, from poetic introspection to vibrant and visionary soundscapes.

Each composer is also portrayed by visual artist Mihai Benea, in a visual dialogue with nature where light and texture become part of her artistic identity, evoking a natural fusion between human presence and landscape.

ForestARIA explores the balance between nature and creation, between feminine energyand the regenerative power of the forest, through an interdisciplinary dialogue between contemporary music and visual art.

 — Dr. Diana Gheorghiu, curator

Programme & Composers

Rucsandra Popescu (Germany) – Natural Distorsion
A Romanian-German composer with a strong European presence, recognized for her expressive and refined musical language. Her works have been featured at major festivals
such as ISCM World New Music Days (South Africa, 2023) and Donaueschinger Musiktage, and awarded in numerous European competitions.

Oana Vardianu (Romania) – Where the Meadows Fall Silent
One of Romania’s most promising young composers, with an impressive portfolio of chamber, choral, and orchestral works. A graduate of the National University of Music
Bucharest, and laureate of the Ștefan Niculescu Prize and the George Enescu Scholarship. Also an active double bassist, she explores the intersection between Romanian tradition and contemporary expression.

Sarah Marze (USA/UK) – Strange Terrain
Composer and soprano based in London, Marshall Scholar and student at the Royal Academy of Music. Her music, noted for emotional intensity and bold colour, has been
performed by ensembles including The Riot Ensemble and CHROMA Ensemble. She explores the interaction between text, voice, and musical dramaturgy in a poetic and theatrical manner.

Crea Sullivan (Ireland) – Awakenings
Composer and orchestrator specializing in film music, graduate of Berklee College of Music (Summa Cum Laude) and Trinity College Dublin. Her works have been recorded by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Budapest Art Orchestra, standing out through a refined orchestral language and cinematic sensibility.

Dates & Cities

London, November 7

Brașov, November 20

Bucharest, November 21

Galway, November 23

Dublin, November 24

Information about the full programme and concert access conditions is available on www.ucimr.ro

Organization & Partners

Curated by Dr. Diana Gheorghiu
Organized by UCIMR – The Romanian Union of Musical Performers
Co-funded by The Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN)

Partners: Romanian Cultural Institute in London, The Contemporary Music Centre Ireland, ICon Arts Partnership (Ireland), Asociația Mioritics (Romania), Brașov County Museum of History - The Museum of Sports and Mountain Tourism, Olimpia, National Museum of Maps and Old Books (Romania).

Disclaimer: The project does not necessarily represent the views of AFCN. The institution is not responsible for the content of the project or the way its results may be used.