2025 Portugal
May 30, 2025 – Jun 7, 2025
Lisbon, Porto
Festival info
Start: May 30, 2025
End: Jun 7, 2025
Locations: Lisbon, Porto
Hosting member(s)
The ISCM World New Music Days, which has been occurring annually since 1923, has never previously occurred in Portugal. Considering Portugal’s current prosperous and evolving contemporary music landscape, Miso Music Portugal, the Portuguese Section of the International Society for Contemporary Music since 1999, is excited to be hosting the ISCM World New Music Days in the Spring of 2025. For almost 40 years, Miso Music Portugal and dozens of other Portuguese music and art institutions and organizations have contributed to this present exceptional moment for classical and contemporary music in Portugal, which some have already declared as the “Second Renaissance of Portuguese Music”.
In addition to the new music context, we aim to give the ISCM World New Music Days 2025 in Portugal an environmental dimension, emphasized through the subtitle “Thirst for Change”, evoking the significant dilemma that our “blue planet” is facing – growth or life? Water is a crucial element in this equation, especially in Portugal, where its lack and evaporation increasingly threaten the population. How can humanity tackle this pressing issue?
The ISCM World New Music Days festival, with its rich history and global reach, can encourage this reflection, and the WNMD 2025 in Portugal is the perfect opportunity to dedicate space and time to the water issue and agenda. Music is not just sound and silence. It reflects the pulse of the societies, carrying our deepest concerns, fears, and aspirations. The climate crisis needs more than mere political changes or technological solutions. It requires a universal emotional understanding – a call to collective consciousness. Here, artistic and musical creation can make a difference.
For further details, please visit the 2025 ISCM WNMD festival page on the Miso Music Portugal website.
Below is a list of all the chosen repertoire from the official submissions of ISCM member organizations as well as from independent submissions arranged alphabetically by the composers’ surnames with details about each of the works and how they were submitted.
Omri Abram (b. 1986, Israel): Time passes Time (2019) for 14 instrumentalists: fl, ob, cl, bn, hn, tp, tbn, perc, pf, 2vn, va, vc, db (Large Ensemble) [10’], submitted by the ISCM Israeli Section;
Nguyễn Hông Anh (b. 2005, Vietnam): Quiet Moment (2023) for piano solo (Solos) [10’30”], submitted by the Vietnam Contemporary Music Centre;
Krists Auznieks (b. 1992, Latvia): Turning the Wheel (Small Ensemble) [13’], submitted by the ISCM Latvian Section;
Alexis Bacon (b. 1975, USA): In the Foreign Land (2018) for solo clarinet (Solos) [7’], Individual Submission;
Natasha Barrett (b. 1972, England; currently based in Norway): Impossible Moments from Venice 3 / The Other Side of the Lagoon (2023) for ambisonics in 3D or 2D (Electroacoustic) [10’], submitted by the ISCM Norwegian Section;
Dániel Péter Biró (b. 1969 USA; currently based in Norway): Kilkul (Breakdown) (2009) for solo alto saxophone (Solos) [10’], Individual Submission;
Manuella Blackburn (b. 1984, England): Home Truths (2023) for fixed media (Electroacoustic) [7’], Individual Submission;
Sonia Bo (b. 1960, Italy): Variazioni di Luci (2022) for orchestra (Orchestra) [11’30”], Individual Submission;
Silvia Borzelli (b. 1978, Italy; currently based in the Netherlands): A Self-portrait (with Anatsui in the background) (2022) for prepared piano (Solos) [11’], submitted by the ISCM Netherlands Section;
Chris Cree Brown (b. 1953, New Zealand): Evanesce (2023) for 13 strings (4,3,3,2,1) (String Ensemble) [9’], submitted by the ISCM New Zealand Section;
Carmen Cârneci (b. 1957, Romania): HESPER(Í)A (2016) for solo piano (Solos) [9’], submitted by ARFA;
Marta Cerqueira (b. 1983, Portugal) & Simão Costa (b. 1979, Portugal): #6 Propagação video installation (Small-size Audio/Video), Individual Submission;
Youngjae Cho (b. 1990, South Korea): mirrored: ceilings, floors, walls (2023) for mixed media 3-D audio (Electroacoustic) [9’], Individual Submission;
George Christofi (b. 1983, Cyprus): Reflect (Solos), Individual Submission;
Erik Dæhlin (b. 1976, Norway): Flickering Sites (2023) for single-channel video and stereo sound (Small-size Audio/Video) [13’ loop], submitted by the ISCM Norwegian Section;
Cecilia Damström (b. 1988, Finland): Ice (2021) for orchestra (Orchestra) [10’], Individual Submission;
Cláudio de Pina (b. 1977. Portugal): Neurotransmits (2023) for fixed media (Electroacoustic) [10’], Individual Submission;
Yuri Demetz (b. 1995, Italy): All Encompassing Snapshots (2022/2023) for orchestra (Orchestra) [9’], Individual Submission;
Emily Doolittle (b. 1972, Canada; currently based in Scotland): Gannetry (2021) for clarinet and live electronics (Solos), submitted by the Scottish Music Centre;
Jan Dušek (b. 1985, Czech Republic): Unsent Letter (2019) for solo clarinet (Solos) [7’], submitted by the Prague Spring Festival;
Anna Katrin Egilstrød (b. 1981, Faroe Islands; currently based in Denmark): VITI (2021) for fixed media (Small-size Audio/Video) [13’], submitted by the ISCM Faroe Islands Section;
Fátima Fonte (b. 1983, Portugal): Cartas Portuguesas (2020) for voice and piano (Duos), submitted by the ISCM Portuguese Section;
Gonçalo Gato (b. 1979, Portugal): Elementos (2018) for piano trio (piano, violin, violoncello) (Trios) [9’], submitted by the ISCM Portuguese Section;
Gilles Gobeil (b. 1954, Canada): Un cercle hors de l’arbre (2014) for fixed media (Electroacoustic) [10’], Individual Submission;
Guo Yuan (b. 1968, China): Chilly River and Snow (2022) for 8 instruments (fl, cl, vbs, pf, vn, va, vc, db) (Medium Ensemble) [12’], submitted by the ISCM Chengdu Section;
Leontios Hadjileontiadis (b. 1966, Greece): Platonic Solids (2022) for alto flute, alto saxophone, trombone, vibraphone, and double bass (Medium Ensemble) [5’], submitted by the ISCM Greek Section;
Hanna Hartman (b. 1961, Sweden): The Navigators (2023) for multi-channel fixed media (Electroacoustic) [11’], submitted by the ISCM Gotland Section;
Sam Hayden (b. 1968, England): Die Abkehr (Turning Away) (2017) for 11 players (fl/afl,picc, ob/eh, cbcl, tpt, btbn, perc, pf, vn, va, vc, db) (Large Ensemble) [12’], submitted by the ISCM British Section;
Jianing He (b. 1996, China): Fluttering with the wind (2024) for Portuguese guitar and electronics 9Traditional Portuguese Instruments) [8’], submitted by the ISCM Shanghai Section;
Eloain Lovis Hübner (b. 1993, Germany): crunch modes 1.0 (2023) for 10 instrumentalists (bfl, cl, ssx, perc, pf, egt, vn, va, vc, db) plus sound objects and live electronics (Medium Ensemble) [10’], submitted by the ISCM German Section;
Komei Itoh (b. 1961, Japan): OBJECTs253 (2023) for solo clarinet (Solos) [8’], submitted by the ISCM Japanese Section;
Mirela Ivičević (b. 1980, Croatia; currently based in Austria): Innate Heaven (Music for Religious Institutions, Chapter I) (2023) for unaccompanied choir (Youth Choir) [6’30”], submitted by the ISCM Croatian Section;
Barbara Jazwinski (b. 1950, Poland; based in the United States): Soliloquy (2021) for solo clarinet (Solos) [8’], submitted by the ISCM USA Section;
Jinwook Jung (b. 1994, South Korea, currently based in Belgium): unerasing (2016/18) for orchestra (Orchestra) [10’], submitted by the ISCM Wallonia Brussels Section;
Ji-Hyang Kim (b. 1970, South Korea): Nachtmusik (2012/13) for string orchestra (String Ensemble) [11′], Individual Submission;
Shin Kim (b.1994, South Korea): KALEIDOSCOPE (2022/23) (Large Ensemble) [11’30”], submitted by the ISCM South Korean Section;
Jana Kmiťová (b. 1976, Slovakia): Sie fuhr in die nacht (2023) for 12 instruments (Large Ensemble) [15’], submitted by Music Centre Slovakia;
Panayiotis Kokoras (b. 1974, Greece; currently based in the U.S.A.): Useless Box for stereo fixed media (2023) (Electroacoustic) [12’], submitted by Stephen F. Austin State University (Texas);
Tatjana Kozlova Johannes (b. 1977, Estonia): Ainult õhk (Just Air) (2023) for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion (Small Ensemble) [13’], submitted by the ISCM Estonian Section;
Bence Kutrik (b. 1976, Hungary): Chorale Machine (2022) for solo piano (Solos) [4’], submitted by the ISCM Hungarian Section;
Tilen Lebar (b. 1993, Slovenia; currently based in the Netherlands): Hassan (2022) for alto saxophone and fixed media (Solos) [11’], submitted by the ISCM Slovenian Section;
Murielle Lemay (b. 1990, Belgium): Augur for orchestra (Orchestra) [6’], submitted by the ISCM Flemish Section;
Samuel Hong-yu Leung (b. 1999, Hong Kong SAR, China): Variations (2023) for string quartet (String Quartet) [5’], submitted by the ISCM Hong Kong Section;
Liu Rui (b. 1989, China): The other shore flower (2021) for string quartet (String Quartet) [8′], submitted by the ISCM Nanning Section;
Ashley John Long (b. 1986, Wales): Beyond the Haze of Winter’s Edge (2020) for piano trio: vn, vc, pf (Trios) [4’], submitted by the ISCM Welsh Section;
María Eugenia Luc (b. 1958, Argentina; currently based in the Basque Country): Forest (2019) for flute, clarinet, saxophone, piano, violin, and violoncello (Medium Ensemble) [8’], submitted by Musikagileak (Basque Country);
Jug Marković (b. 1987, Serbia): [new work] (Large Ensemble), commissioned winner of ISCM Young Composer Award (2019);
Rytis Mažulis (b. 1961, Lithuania): Timeless (2024) for 13 strings (4,3,3,2,1) (String Ensemble) [7’], submitted by the ISCM Lithuanian Section;
Robert McIntyre (b. 1976, Australia): A Sea Spray of Ash (2019) for soprano and piano (Duos) [4’30”], submitted by the ISCM Australian Section;
Alexandru Murariu (b. 1989, Romania): Knots III (2024) for solo clarinet (Solos) [4’], submitted by the ISCM Romanian Section;
Jonathan Nangle (b. 1981, Ireland): Artificial Blissful State (2016) for baritone saxophone and electronics (Solos) [6’], submitted by the ISCM Irish Section;
Veljko Nenadić (b. 1998, Serbia): Gorgons – Three Mythical Creatures (2022) for orchestra (Orchestra) [10’], submitted by the ISCM Serbian Section;
Lenka Novosedlíková (b. 1989, Slovakia): VPD (2021) for viola, doublebass, and piano (Trios) [10’], submitted by the ISCM Slovak Section;
Jim O’Leary (b. 1971, Canada): Susan Pennefather Gray (2014) for soprano and piano (Duos) [7’], Individual Submission;
Daniel Osorio (b. 1971, Chile; currently based in Germany): … y no me toques (2014) for string quartet (String Quartet) [12’], submitted by the ISCM Chile Section;
José Luis Perdigón de Paz (b. 1990, Spain; currently based in Germany): Torque (2019) for piano trio (vn, vc, pf) (Trios) [14’], submitted by the ISCM Spanish Section;
Ville Aslak Raasakka (b. 1977, Finland): The Harvest (2021) for sinfonietta (fl, ob, cl, bcl, bsn, hn, trp, trb, 2perc, pno, 2vln, vla vlc, db) (Large Ensemble) [10’], submitted by the ISCM Finnish Section;
Leevi Räsänen (b. 1997, Finland): the two childhoods (2022) for string quartet (String Quartet) [12’], submitted by the ISCM Finnish Section;
Alfredo Santa Ana (b. 1980, Canada): The River of Hellos and Goodbyes (2019) for unaccompanied chorus (Youth Choir) [9’], submitted by Music on Main;
Bekah Simms (b. 1990, Canada; currently based in Scotland): spore wind ii: swamp thing (2023) (Electroacoustic), Individual Submission;
Chris Sivak (b. 1982, Canada): Alouette Meets Her Maker (2018/21) for SATB chorus (Youth Choir) [6’], submitted by the ISCM Canadian Section;
Helena Skljarov (b. 1993, Croatia): The Portrait of Dora P. (2023) for orchestra and electronics (Orchestra) [11’], submitted by the ISCM Croatian Section;
Tomasz Skweres (b. 1984, Poland: currently based in Austria: Suite Macabre (2021) for solo violoncello (Solos) [9’], submitted by the ISCM Austrian Section;
Hawar Tawfiq (b 1982 Iraqi Kurdistan; currently based in the Netherlands): M.C. Escher’s Imagination (2022) for orchestra (Orchestra) [11’], submitted by the ISCM Netherlands Section;
Todor Todoroff (b. 1963, Belgium): Voices Part IV Hallucinations (2024) for 16-Channel, 12-Channel, 8-Channel (Octophonic) or Stereophonic Media (Electroacoustic) [11’], Individual Submission;
Haukur Tómasson (b. 1960, Iceland): Air Sculptured (2022) for 9 strings (2,2,2,2,1) (String Ensemble) [11’], submitted by the ISCM Icelandic Section;
Barry Truax (b. 1947, Canada): What the Waters Told Me (2022) for fixed media (Electroacoustic) [12’], Individual Submission;
Roxanne Turcotte (b. 1960, Canada): Masques et dichotomies (2021) for synthesizer and 16-channel fixed media (Electroacoustic) [10’], submitted by the ISCM Canadian Section;
Annette Vande Gorne (b. 1946, Wallonia, Belgium): VOX ALIA IV: Vox Populi (2023) for 16-channel fixed media (Electroacoustic) [9’], Individual Submission;
Mauro Godoy Villalobos (b. 1967, Chile; currently based in Sweden): MOODS (2016) for 9 strings (4vn, 4va, 1vc) (String Ensemble) [8’30”], submitted by the ISCM Swedish Section;
Dan Walker (b. 1978, Australia): Listen. Are you breathing just a little and calling it a life? (2022) for SATBarB chorus (Youth Choir) [5’], submitted by the ISCM Australian Section;
Tsu-Yao Yang (b. 1991, Taiwan): Bleu II (2020) for string quartet (String Quartet) [9’], submitted by the ISCM Taipei Section;
Agata Zemla (b. 1994, Poland): To bee or not to bee (2021) for flute, clarinet, viola, violoncello, and live electronics (Small Ensemble) [12’], submitted by the ISCM Polish Section;
Aske Zidore (b. 1984, Denmark): Livets Midte (Center of Life) for digital touchscreen (2024) (Small-size Audio/Video), submitted by the ISCM Danish Section.
For OFFICIAL SUBMISSIONS, the ISCM Sections and Members must use the ISCM WNMD 2025 Form, which will be available on the ISCM website from 15 February 2024 until 25 April 2024 at 11:59 P.M. CET, after logging into the ISCM intranet (Members Area). Please note that Miso Music Portugal can only consider submissions from Sections and Members in good standing (an annual report for the year 2022 must be completed and the annual membership fee for 2023 must be paid). An Official Submission cannot include a work by any composer who had music performed at the ISCM World New Music Days 2024 in the Faroe Islands.
In the case of ISCM Sections and Full Associate Members, each Official Submission must include six works across at least four different Categories in the Call for Works. It is possible to submit only one work per composer.
Considering that the festival’s organizer provides a unique instrument and device for electroacoustic music performance and diffusion, which is the Miso Music Portugal’s Loudspeaker Orchestra, we strongly invite and encourage all the ISCM Sections and Members to submit at least one work in the 13th Category – Electroacoustic Music (with or without video).
For these Official Submissions to be valid, each submitted work must be eligible, the durations specified for each piece must be accurate, and the submitted works must be correctly aligned with the relevant category. Assuming the submission is eligible, and the ISCM Section or Full Associate Member is in good standing, at least one submitted work will be presented during the ISCM World New Music Days 2025 in Portugal.
In the case of ISCM Affiliated Associate Members, an Official Submission can only include up to three pieces, and the selection of at least one of the works is not guaranteed.
Independent composers or their authorized representatives can make INDIVIDUAL SUBMISSIONS for the ISCM World New Music Days 2025 in Portugal. It is possible to submit only one work per composer.
The works should be submitted via the ISCM WNMD 2025 Individual Submission Form, prepared by Miso Music Portugal, which will be available on the organizer’s website from 15 February 2024 until 25 April 2024 at 11:59 P.M. CET.
An entry fee of €55.00 applies to Individual Submissions, payable via PayPal using the link available on the ISCM website from 15 February. A PDF of the PayPal receipt must be included in the submission.
Individual submissions are not guaranteed a performance. The international jury will consider and evaluate all submitted works. The ones selected by the jury will be included in the ISCM WNMD 2025 programme and performed during the festival.
Miso Music Portugal has constructed the Call for Works for the ISCM World New Music Days 2025, considering a selection of the established and most renowned and talented Portuguese musicians, groups, ensembles, and orchestras. Each Call Category includes their names. In this manner, we guarantee the highest performance quality of all the works selected by an international jury of contemporary music experts.
In the selection process, the jury will give preference to pieces that are up to 10 minutes long, apart from the Youth Choir Category (no. 11), where the duration can be no more than five minutes. Preference will also be given to works created after 2015 and works created after 2020 will receive the highest priority. Moreover, the jury will particularly favour compositions that resonate with or contribute to the ISCM WNMD 2025 theme, “Thirst for Change”. Please follow the link for more information about the festival’s theme: LINK.
The submissions can include already premiered, performed, and yet-to-be-premiered works; the submitted pieces can be published or unpublished.
By submitting works in response to the ISCM WNMD 2025 Call for Works, composers agree that if their work is selected for performance/ presentation, then they grant automatic permission for recording, broadcasting, and streaming the ISCM performance/ presentation of their work without additional financial liability to the ISCM or the ISCM WNMD 2025 organisers.
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ORCHESTRA (with or without electronics **)
a) Concert 1 · Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra (max: 2.2.2.2 – 2.2.0.0 – 2 perc – 7.6.5.4.2) *
b) Concert 2 · Porto Symphony Orchestra Casa da Música (max: 4.4.4.3 – 4.4.3.1 – timp + 3 perc – hp – 14.12.10.8.6) *
c) Concert 3 · Gulbenkian Orchestra (max: 3.3.3.3 – 4.3.3.1 – timp + 2 perc – hp – 10.8.6.5.4) *
* Flute – can double Piccolo and Alto Flute · Clarinet – can double Bb Bass Clarinet · Oboe – can double English Horn.
** The works submitted in this category can include live or “tape” electronics for an up-to-four-channel loudspeaker system. For more details, please see the note below.
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LARGE ENSEMBLE – 10-15 musicians (with or without electronics **)
a) Remix Ensemble Casa da Música (max: 1.1.1.1 – 1.1.1.0 – 2 perc – pf – 2.1.1.1) *
b) Ensemble MPMP (max: 1.1.1.1 – 1.1.1.0 – 2 perc – pf – 2.1.1.1) *
* Flute – can double Piccolo and Alto Flute · Clarinet – can double Bb Bass Clarinet · Oboe – can double English Horn.
** The works submitted in this category can include live or “tape” electronics for an up-to-four-channel loudspeaker system. For more details, please see the note below.
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MEDIUM ENSEMBLE – 8-13 musicians (with or without electronics **)
· Concrète [Lab] Ensemble (fl, ob, cl, sax, hn, tbn, perc, pf, egtr, vn, va, vc, db) *
* Flute – can double Piccolo and Alto Flute · Clarinet – can double Bb Bass Clarinet · Oboe – can double English Horn · Saxophone – can double Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Baritone Saxophones.
** The works submitted in this category can include live or “tape” electronics for an up-to-four-channel loudspeaker system. For more details, please see the note below.
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SMALL ENSEMBLE – 5-8 musicians (with or without electronics **)
· Sond’Ar-te Electric Ensemble (sop, fl, cl, perc, pf, vn, va, vc) *
* Flute – can double Piccolo and Alto Flute · Clarinet – can double Bb Bass Clarinet.
** The works submitted in this category can include live or “tape” electronics for an up-to-four-channel loudspeaker system. For more details, please see the note below.
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STRING ENSEMBLE – 10-13 musicians (with or without electronics *)
· Camerata Alma Mater (max: 4.3.3.2.1)
* The works submitted in this category can include live or “tape” electronics for an up-to-four-channel loudspeaker system. For more details, please see the note below.
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STRING QUARTET (with or without electronics *)
· Matosinhos String Quartet (2 vn, va, vc)
* The works submitted in this category can include live or “tape” electronics for an up-to-four-channel loudspeaker system. For more details, please see the note below.
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TRIO (with or without electronics *)
· Sond’Ar-te Trio (pf, vn, vc)
* The works submitted in this category can include live or “tape” electronics for an up-to-four-channel loudspeaker system. For more details, please see the note below.
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DUOS (with or without electronics **)
a) Komorebi Duo – Camila Mandillo and João Casimiro Almeida (sop, pf)
b) Nuno Pinto and Elsa Silva (cl *, pf)
* Clarinet – can double Bb Bass Clarinet.
** The works submitted in this category can include live or “tape” electronics for an up-to-four-channel loudspeaker system. For more details, please see the note below.
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PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE – 4-6 keyboard percussion instruments * (with or without electronics **)
· Percussion Ensemble of the OCP (soloists of the Portuguese Chamber Orchestra)
* Available instrumental set: 3 five-octave marimbas (C2 to C7) · 1 five-and-half octave marimba (C2 to F7) · 3 three-octave vibraphones (F3 to F6) · 1 four-octave vibraphone (C3 to C6) · 1 four-octave xylophone (C4 – C8).
** The works submitted in this category can include live or “tape” electronics for an up-to-four-channel loudspeaker system. For more details, please see the note below.
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SOLO WORKS (with or without electronics **)
a) Camila Mandillo (sop)
b) Nuno Pinto (cl *)
c) Henrique Portovedo (sax *)
d) Elsa Silva (pf)
e) Filipe Quaresma (vc)
* Clarinet – can double Bb Bass Clarinet · Saxophone – can double Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Baritone Saxophones.
** The works submitted in this category can include live or “tape” electronics for an up-to-four-channel loudspeaker system. For more details, please see the note below.
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YOUTH CHOIR *
· Youth Choir of the Lisbon University
– Four voices (SATB) with a divisi option for each voice (approximately 40 singers).
– A cappella or with piano accompaniment.
– Possible small percussion instruments and/ or body used as percussion.
– Duration: no more than 5 minutes.
* This category does not provide the possibility of electronics.
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SOLO PORTUGUESE GUITAR (with or without electronics *)
· Miguel Amaral (Portuguese Guitar)
This category aims to encourage the creation of new works for this unique and virtuoso Portuguese instrument. Miguel Amaral provides a Brief Portuguese Guitar Writing Manual, and interested composers are welcome to contact the soloist via the e-mail: [email protected].
* The works submitted in this category can include live or “tape” electronics for an up-to-four-channel loudspeaker system. For more details, please see the note below.
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ELECTROACOUSTIC MUSIC (with or without video)
· Miso Music Portugal’s Loudspeaker Orchestra (40-loudspeaker system)
Electroacoustic Works (up to 16 channels)
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SMALL-SIZE AUDIO/ VISUAL INSTALLATIONS *
In collaboration with the MAAT – Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology in Lisbon.
* Image file formats: png, jpg · Video file formats: mp4 (normal quality), mov (Apple ProRes 422; high quality) · Sound file formats: m4a, mp3, mp4, flac, wav, aiff. Please provide a stereo version for multi-channel works (up to 6 channels).
NOTE for works with electronics
- The electronics of the submitted compositions for instruments and “tape”/ live electronics can use an up-to-four-channel loudspeaker system.
- The following DAWs are recommended: Digital Performer, Reaper, Ableton Live, and Max/ MSP or Supercollider for interactive applications.
- All above-mentioned software and any additional software or plug-ins must run on Mac OS (plug-ins should be freeware and/ or be supplied by the composer).