NEWS

rainy days 2025

A Look Back

**United Instruments of Lucilin at rainy days 2025**

This year’s edition of the rainy days festival, whose theme was “Bodies”, once again offered us the opportunity to explore new musical ground — and to present two projects that reflect both our long-term commitments and our passion for sonic discovery.

For several years now, we have had the pleasure of organising the Luxembourg Composition Academy, a programme dedicated to supporting emerging composers and creating a space for experimentation, exchange, and artistic growth. A warm thank-you goes to the Academy’s faculty composers Jessie Marino and Steven Daverson.

As every year, the Academy’s Closing Concert presented eight brand-new works by the participants — a true rollercoaster of action and calm, mystery and joy, from trios to pieces for eight players, with surprises ranging from bananas to candy.

Conducted by Julien Leroy and moderated by Bastian Zimmermann, the concert showcased the creativity of the young composers and the openness of our musicians.

The day after, In A Large, Open Space invited audiences into a completely different sound environment. Spread throughout the Grand Foyer of the Philharmonie Luxembourg, musical and gestural actions unfolded in continuous motion: from the pulse of a djembe trio to the intimacy of a violin duo, from the interplay of flute and voice to tactile explorations on the timpani, and finally to expressive contributions in sign language — all gradually converging into a collective soundscape shaped by 12 musicians playing and moving together.

Many visitors described the experience as moving, a response that resonated deeply with us.

We are grateful to everyone who joined us across these two days and shared their impressions and enthusiasm:

André Pons-Valdès & Winnie Cheng, violins
Danielle Hennicot, viola
Anna Killy Morin, flute
Olivier Sliepen, saxophone
Max Mausen, clarinet
Pascal Meyer, piano
Guy Frisch & Galdric Subirana & Victor Kraus, percussion
Rosie Middleton, voice
Helmut Oerhing, guitar & SignMimoChoreography
Julien Leroy, conductor
Jessie Marino & Steven Daverson, faculty composers of the Academy

Participants of the Luxembourg Composition Academy 2025:
Raphaëlle Aoun
Nien Chin Chai
Ignacio Escobar Gutiérrez
Nolan Hildebrand
James Preller
Edward Mascall-Robson
Özkan Umutcan Bapbaci
Gloria Xia

Our thanks also extend to Catherine Kontz, to the rainy days festival and the Philharmonie Luxembourg for their continued collaboration and support.

We look back with joy — and forward with excitement!