Four Composition Commissions: Milica Djordjević, Younghi Pagh-Paan, Martin Smolka, Unsuk Chin

ARD International Music Competition, Munich, Germany

Every September sees the holding of the ARD International Music Competition featuring four alternating categories. Every year since 2001 four composers have been commissioned to write a composition for each of the categories that is generally performed by the candidates in the semi-final. This is recorded and the video is streamed live. Composers often travel to the competition to hear the performances of their work and exchange ideas with the young musicians. The best performance of the commissioned composition is awarded a special prize in each instrument category. The candidates are called upon to show how they deal with contemporary composition practices as well as unfamiliar sound worlds within a specific time limit.

Once again in 2019 the EvS Music Foundation is supporting four composers to whom commissions have been issued. Milica Djordjević has been commissioned with a work for bassoon and Younghi Pagh-Paan will write a piece for percussion. Martin Smolka will create a new composition for violoncello and Unsuk Chin one for clarinet. The aim of the competition is firstly to support contemporary composers. Secondly, it is to push contemporary music overall more to the forefront as a result – for the participating young musicians, for the jury dealing with the works and, not least, for the audience listening to the composition commissions in the hall itself as well as via live stream and later on the radio.

September 8, 10 & 11, 2019
Prinzregententheater München, Germany

September 12, 2019
Large Concert Hall, University of Music and Performing Arts Munich, Germany

Further information:
ard-musikwettbewerb.de