Composing for Voices and Orchestra is an opportunity for young composers to improve their skills in writing for voices with orchestra. It is a place to discuss and explore new ideas and the creative process, in collaboration with the Orquestra Gulbenkian and professional singers. Distinguished Italian composer Luca Francesconi will lead this workshop, sharing his experience on writing for singers, offering advice to participants, and following their projects.

Over a period of eight months, participants will create new works that will be premiered in a concert by the Orquestra Gulbenkian. The workshop will be lectured in English.

Dates and location

The workshop takes place at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, in Lisbon. It is structured in three phases:

22 and 23 de November 2023

Collective and individual sessions with Luca Francesconi – Participants will be involved in a discussion on the contemporary composition practices and present the initial ideas they would like to develop during the workshop, under the guidance of the tutor.

26 and 27 February 2024

Reading sessions with the Orquestra Gulbenkian – Participants will have the opportunity to listen to their musical sketches played by the orchestra and receive guidance from the tutor regarding their creative process.

24 to 28 June 2024

Rehearsals for the public presentation of new works, which will take place in a concert by the Orquestra Gulbenkian on 28 June 2024.

Application requirements

• This workshop is open to composers under the age of 35 years old with experience in orchestral writing who are either based in Portugal or connected with a member of the ENOA network.
• Composers who are not based in Portugal should contact an ENOA member, which decides whether or not to support their participation.
• The ENOA network is responsible for the costs of the workshop and will cover travel and accommodation expenses of candidates who are not based in Portugal.
• The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation will announce the final list of participants on 2 October 2023.
• Candidates must submit the application form until 15 September 2023 at 23:59 and upload the following documents:
  – CV/Bio (max. 2000 characters)
  – Motivation letter (max. 2000 characters)
  – Full orchestral score of any relevant work
  – Score of a work for voice and orchestra/ensemble (optional)
  – List of works with information regarding the context of creation
  – Link(s) to the audio of up to 3 works

Non-discriminatory policy

All qualified composers are encouraged to apply and will be considered regardless of their personal situation. If for some reason a participant has any constraints regarding his/her full involvement in the workshop activities, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation will try to provide assistance and find solutions.

Specific requirements

Participants should consider the following set up for their work: 3,3,3,3 / 4,3,3,1 / 2 perc. / strings + 1 or 2 singers (weavings to be announced). Participants must be prepared to deliver their scores properly edited and ready to be rehearsed/performed by the singers and the orchestra, including orchestral parts. For any inquiries, please send an e-mail to Luísa Prado  ([email protected]).

Application form