La Luxembourg Composition Academy fait naître huit nouvelles pièces
The event is unique of its kind in Luxembourg. From November 20 to 25, 2023, eight student composers had the opportunity to work with the musicians of the ensemble in the exceptional setting of neimënster and to present their work at the rainy days festival.
The event is one of a kind in Luxembourg. Since 2015, the Luxembourg Composition Academy has provided student composers with the rare opportunity to work in real-time with musicians from the United Instruments of Lucilin ensemble and renowned composers in the exceptional setting of neimënster. For a week, they collaboratively develop new pieces that they will present during the rainy rays festival. Let’s revisit the last edition that took place from November 20 to 25, 2023.
They were carefully selected to participate in the eighth edition of the Luxembourg Composition Academy. Tzu-Hsuan Chen, Henri Colombat, Ed Cooper, Eluned Davies, Liam Dougherty, Chi-Yen Huang, Sohui Jeong, and Jasmine Morris are young composers from around the globe, but it’s here in Luxembourg that they have chosen to bring their brand-new compositions to life, commissioned by the United Instruments of Lucilin.
« The Luxembourg Composition Academy is at the heart of our mission: it combines repertoire creation, promotion of contemporary music, education, and encounters. We strive to provide an environment conducive to work, creation, and artistic expression during this exceptional week. » – Florence Martin, General Director of United Instruments of Lucilin.
In the rehearsal rooms of neumünster, the week for student composers was filled with workshops, tutorials, and lectures, led by renowned composers. This year, composers Ed Bennett and Annea Lockwood accompanied the students.
« The days were full but well-balanced, allowing plenty of time for further work and reflection. The individual lessons were wonderful and met all my expectations. Rehearsals were very well-organized. I want to express my gratitude for bringing together such a wonderful group of people from across the academy. I felt a very warm atmosphere and made lasting connections for which I am very grateful. » – Liam Dougherty – participant in the Luxembourg Composition Academy 2023
Ed Bennett and Annea Lockwood join the long list of composers who have immersed themselves in this adventure in previous years, such as Georges Aperghis, Clara Lannotta, Philippe Leroux, Elena Mendoza, Joanna Baillie, Frank Bedrossian, Chaya Czernowin, Mauro Lanza, Marcel Reuter, Isabel Mundry, and Evangelia Rigaki.
« I enjoyed all of the sessions a lot and learned a great deal. It was amazing to have ample time for rehearsal to really go into detail, which made a significant difference, and I’m very thankful for that. » – Eluned Davies, participante à la Luxembourg Composition Academy 2023
At the end of this wonderful creation week, the eight new pieces by these young composers were presented in a unique concert on November 25, 2023, at neumünster. On stage, the musicians of the United Instruments of Lucilin ensemble performed these works for the first time in front of the Luxembourg audience, pieces they had helped shape.
« Collaborating directly with composers at the dawn of their careers is an important moment. If you have this chance, you have to seize it to understand the intention behind the works. This exchange often opens the door to new possibilities. » – Guy Frisch, percussionist of the United Instruments of Lucilin ensemble.
Once brought to life, the compositions of the Luxembourg Composition Academy can continue their journey and, hopefully, meet their audience on the stages that will welcome them.
Program of November 25, 2023:
Liam Dougherty
Atraktor (Oscillators) (2023)
for violin, viola, and tape
Jasmine Morris
Dark Stormy Night With Laughter (2023)
for piano and percussion
Tzu-Hsuan Chen
Ember (2023)
for bass flute, bass clarinet, and percussion
Chi-Yen Huang
…here was one (2023)
for cello, clarinet, and piano
Ed Bennett
Slow Down (2010)
for violin, cello, and piano
Ed Cooper
Undoing (2023)
for two violins, bass flute, bass clarinet, piano, and tape
Eluned Davies
and the land let out a wheeze (2023)
for two violins, cello, bass flute with double piccolo, clarinet, and percussion
Sohui Jeong
Because of You (2023)
for violin, cello, flute, percussion, and tape
Annea Lockwood
Immersion (1998)
for two percussionists
Henri Colombat
Zoetrope VI: Draw and Blow (2023)
for violin, cello, flute, clarinet, piano, and percussion
Musicians
United Instruments of Lucilin
André Pons-Valdès | violin
Winnie Cheng | violin
Ingrid Schoenlaub | cello
Max Mausen | clarinet
Sophie Deshayes | flute
Pascal Meyer | piano
Guy Frisch | percussion
Galdric Subirana | percussion
Julien Leroy | conductor
About the Luxembourg Composition Academy: Since 2015, United Instruments of Lucilin has partnered with neimënster to present a unique composition academy in Luxembourg, offering eight student composers the opportunity to work for a week on composing a piece. They also attend workshops, lectures, and individual tutorials in an inspiring environment conducive to exchange, the neimënster abbey. The Luxembourg Composition Academy is part of the rainy rays festival program, the international festival of contemporary music at the Philharmonie Luxembourg.
Photos: © Alfonso Salgueiro