Nadar Summer School 2025 & Commission Opportunity - Call for Participation
Nadar Ensemble, (Belgium) in partnership with The Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland (CMC) and New Music Dublin invites expressions of interest by composers born or resident on the island of Ireland to participate in the Nadar Summer School 2025.
Nadar Ensemble is an internationally renowned contemporary music ensemble. Nadar Ensemble is not only fascinated by contemporary music but also by film, visual arts, performance, theatre, installation art and all that is contained – or not – by these categories. Nadar Ensemble wishes to develop forms of musical presentation that reflect this world, in an attempt to anchor new music more strongly in today’s world.
Based on these criteria the selected composer will compose a new work for Nadar (3-4 musicians, max 15’, electronics and video possible). The exact instrumentation will be discussed with Nadar.
The selected composer will have the opportunity to participate in the Nadar Summer School in De Singel, Antwerp, from 25/08/2025 – 30/08/2025, and will be commissioned by, CMC and New Music Dublin to create a new work specifically for the ensemble to be developed at the Nadar Summer School.
The commissioned work will be performed at the following festivals in late 2025/2026 in concert by Nadar Ensemble:
- Gaudeamus Festival (11.09-14.09.2025)
- Warsaw Autumn ( (21.09-25.09.2025)
- Transit Festival, Leuven (17.10-19.10.2025)
- New Music Dublin (April 2026 dates TBC)
This is a unique international opportunity to work with an world renowned ensemble open to early career composers only (‘early career’ is defined in this call as a composer with less than 8 years professional experience who have had between 1-5 works commissioned by professional performers/ensembles.)
Timeline
- 21st November 2024: Call opens
- 6th January 2025: Call closes and panel selects the composer. The composer will be informed of the instrumentation for the commission at this stage of the process
- End of January 2025: Zoom call with selected composer and the selected composers from other participating countries with Nadar Ensemble, to discuss possibilities and cohesion
- May 2025: Deadline for score and technical requests
- May/June 2025: Second zoom call with selected composers and Nadar Ensemble to finalise the commission details
- 25/08/2025 – 30/08/2025: Nadar Summer School in De Singel, Antwerp, Belgium
Commission Fee and Expenses
- Travel and accommodation costs for selected composer from Ireland to attend Nadar Summer School 2025
- Commission fee of €5,500 for a new work for 3-4 musicians of 15 minutes duration
- Travel and accommodation costs for the selected composer from Ireland to attend each of the concerts taking place in Dublin, Utrecht, Warsaw and Leuven will also be covered by The Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland as part of the project. All flights/transport must be booked by composers in advance and will be reimbursed by CMC. Accommodation will be arranged directly by CMC on behalf of the composer.
Application criteria
- This opportunity is open to early career composers of all ages and backgrounds currently based on the island of Ireland or holding Irish citizenship (‘early career’ is defined in this call as a composer with less than 8 years professional experience who have had between 1-5 works commissioned by professional performers/ensembles.)
- All applicants will receive equal opportunity irrespective of gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race, ethnicity or indigenous status. We especially encourage those from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to apply.
- Participating composers with disabilities may apply to CMC for bursary support to cover Access Costs (Access costs for participants with disabilities cover requirements you may have in order to remove barriers that might stop you from completing the programme).
- Applicants should submit a up to date one-page CV, including details & examples of previous commissions, in addition to a maximum two-page project proposal outlining the following:
- Personal statement outlining motivation for participation in the Nadar Summer School. This statement should also highlight how your experience aligns with the opportunity.
- Artistic vision for a work of max. 15 minutes duration.
- Demonstrate how the work will be completed to the provisional timeline outlined in the call.
- Links to recent work on recognised platforms such as YouTube, SoundCloud, Vimeo.
Applications will be assessed on the following criteria:
- A compositional approach which reflects the ethos and values of Nadar Ensemble.
- High artistic merit.
- Clear ability to adhere to commission deadlines and deliver commissioned work to an agreed timeframe.
- Track record of composer.
Applications will be reviewed by a panel consisting of representatives from Nadar Ensemble, New Music Dublin and the Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland as well as an independent international adjudicator. The panel chair will also be independent of the three production partners involved in this call.
Please email your submissions to submissions@cmc.ie with the subject line: ‘Application to Nadar Summer School 2025 and Commission Opportunity’.
The closing date for applications is midnight, 6th January 2025.
For further information contact info@cmc.ie
