2026 Romania

The following works have been selected for performance during the 2026 ISCM World New Music Days 2026 in Bucharest (23-31 May 2026). All in all, 58 works were selected from the official submissions and an additional 12 works were selected from individual submissions. Of these works, 17 composers are eligible for the 2026 ISCM Young Composer Award, which will be determined by a jury during the festival. Works are listed below alphabetically by composers’ surnames. For each selection, the composer’s year and place of birth are listed as well as where the composer is currently based, if different from place of birth, composition title, instrumentation, date of composition, and duration, plus information about the submitter.

Louis Franz Aguirre (b. 1968 in Cuba; currently based in Denmark): Bembé a Obbatalá y Oddúa for large ensemble (2017) [10’] (submitted by the ISCM Danish Section);

Cecilia Arditto Delsoglio (b. 1966 in Argentina; currently based in the Netherlands): Anatomy of a jar for children’s choir (2020) [3’] (submitted by the ISCM Netherlands Section);

Tytti Arola (b. 1990, Finland): Helmi for flute and electronics (2024) [8’] (submitted by the ISCM Finnish Section);

Aleksandra Bajde (b. 1987, Slovenia): A Clockwork Duo for violin and violoncello (2023) [6’] (submitted by the ISCM Slovenian Section);

Richard Barrett (b. 1959 in Wales; currently based in the Netherlands): Luminous for fixed media (2019) [14’] (submitted by the ISCM Welsh Section);

Kolbeinn Bjarnason (b. 1958, Iceland): Nocturnes for solo flute (2025) [13’] (submitted by the ISCM Icelandic Section);

Diana Čemerytė (b. 1974 in Lithuania; currently based in Germany): „Meine Seele wartet…“, after listening to Bach for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, and piano (2020) [8’] (submitted by the ISCM Lithuanian Section);

Yun-Chen Chang (b. 1994, Taiwan): Towards (homage to Brancusi) for percussion trio (2025) [9’] (submitted by the ISCM Taipei Section);

Paul Clift (b. 1978 in Australia; currently based in Switzerland): On the celestial hierarchy for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, and percussion (2014) [9’] (submitted by the ISCM Swiss Section)

Ziv Cojocaru (b. 1977, Israel): Whence Comest Thou for chamber orchestra (2023) [10’] (submitted by the ISCM Israeli Section);

Cătălin Crețu (b. 1971, Romania): Richblick – electronic work (4 channels fixed media) (2017) [6’] (submitted by the ISCM Romanian Section);

George De Decker (b. 1951, Belgium [Flanders]): Coro: Versa Est In Luctum for fixed media (2022) [13’] (submitted by the ISCM Flemish Section);

Zosha Di Castri (b. 1985 in Canada; currently based in the United States): Sprung Testament for flute (or violin) and piano (2023) [14’] (submitted by Le Vivier, Canada);

Đỗ Hoàng Linh (b. 1979, Vietnam): Horse riding long distances for piano trio (2025) [4’] (submitted by the Vietnam Contemporary Music Centre [VCMC]);

Jan Ryant Dřízal (b. 1986, Czech Republic): Morphing Amadeus for chamber orchestra (2025) [5’] (submitted by the Prague Spring Festival);

Núria Giménez-Comas (b. 1980 in Spain; currently based in France): Lluor. Désir des étoiles for violin and cello (2024) [11’] (submitted by the ISCM Spanish Section);

Michael Hannan (b. 1949, Australia): Reaching to the Stars for solo piano (2025) [7’] (independent submission);

Louise Harris (b. 1983, Scotland): Eira for audio-video fixed media (2025) [4’] (submitted by the Scottish Music Centre);

Paweł Hendrich (b. 1979, Poland): Tenebrilis for audio-video fixed media (Video by Barnaba Mikułowski) (2025) [4’] (submitted by the ISCM Polish Section);

Heather Hindman (b. 1976, Canada): Seule for solo flute (2024) [7’] (independent submission);

Satoru Ikeda (b. 1961, Japan): Dicotyledon for string quartet (2020) [11’] (submitted by the ISCM Japanese Section);

Mikel Iturregi (b. 1997 in the Basque Region of Spain; currently based in France): Isila bezain ilun for bass flute, bass clarinet, violin, cello, prepared piano, and percussion (2024) [6’] (submitted by Musikagileak);

Lina Järnegard (b. 1979, Sweden): Inside Voices for clarinet and electronics (2025) [7’] (submitted by the ISCM Swedish Section);

Peter Javorka (b. 1993, Slovakia): sans Marteau et sans Maître for large ensemble (2024) [16’] (submitted by Music Centre Slovakia);

Maciej Kabza (b. 1990, Poland): asc / desc – (no) ending for orchestra (2024) [12’] (submitted by the ISCM Polish Section);

Jong-woo Kim (b. 1968, South Korea): Sammulnori for piano trio (2024) [9’] (submitted by the ISCM South Korean Section);

Steven Layton (b. 1956 in the United States): The Memory Room for fixed media (2016) [7’] (independent submission);

Jessie Leov (b. 1994 in New Zealand, based in Australia): Convergency for piano trio (2021) [5’] (submitted by the ISCM Australian Section);

James Hamilton Lowrie (b. 1990 in Canada): On Endless Hold for string quartet (2022) [8’] (independent submission);

Ida Lundén (b. 1971 in Sweden): Tyskamossarnas sugluft for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and fixed media (2024) [12’] (submitted by the ISCM Gotland Section);

Asher Lurie (b. 2003 in the United States): Time Breach 8̶0̶7̶B̶   for bass clarinet, violin, cello, and piano (2024) [6’] (submitted by Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas);

Sanda Majurec (b. 1971 in Croatia): Citywalk for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion (2019) [8’] (submitted by the ISCM Croatian Section);

Mao Zhu (b. 1981 in China): Fishes’ Tears for choir (2025) [5’] (submitted by the ISCM Chengdu Section)

Anthony Marasco (b. 1986 in the United States): Migration Script for fixed media (2022) [11’] (submitted by Michigan Technological University);

Leandro A. Martin (b. 1974 in Argentina; based in the Canary Islands, Spain): Juego de Roles for children’s choir (2022) [4’] (submitted by COSIMTE);

Mark Micchelli (b. 1991 in the United States): A Difference of Sixty-Eight Days for string quartet (2021) [11’] (independent submission);

Cristian Morales Ossio (b. 1967 in Chile): Draft for Extinct Birds for solo contrabass clarinet (2018) [5’] (submitted by the ISCM Chilean Section};

Daniel Moreira (b. 1983 in Portugal): Curta-metragem n.º 2 (Brumas de outono) for solo cimbalom (2025) [9’] (submitted by the ISCM Portuguese Section);

Hisataka Nishimori (b. 1986 in Japan): Souten no Raika (Lightning in Azure) for violin and piano (2024) [6’] (submitted by the Japan Federation of Composers [JFC]);

Myrtó Nizami (b. 1994 in Greece): Gone in No Time for solo cello (2022) [7’] (submitted by the ISCM Greek Section);

Tomislav Oliver (b. 1987 in Croatia): Mixordia IV “transmitting” for solo flute (2021) [7’] (independent submission);

Paul Pankert (b. 1965 in Belgium): Partita Ritardata for piano and live electronics (2021) [15’] (submitted by the ISCM Wallonia-Brussels Federation Section);

Charles Peck (b. 1988 in the United States): Arcade for string quartet (2021) [8’] (submitted by the ISCM USA Section);

Anna Pidgorna (b. 1985 in Ukraine; currently based in Canada): The Stockhausen Menagerie for flute and clarinet (2022) [9’] (submitted by the ISCM Canadian Section);

Yurii Pikush (b. 1998 in Ukraine): Escape Velocity for chamber orchestra (2024) [14’] (submitted by the ISCM Ukraine Section);

Jakub Polaczyk (b. 1983 in Poland; based in the United States): Get some sleep, darling for children’s choir with toy glockenspiel (2024) [3’] (independent submission);

lucky pollock (b. 2000 in New Zealand): resilience (pluto trine saturn) for string orchestra (2024) [6’] (submitted by the ISCM New Zealand Section);

Gerhard Praesent (b. 1957 in Austria): The Little Vampire for children’s choir (2017) [4’] (independent submission)

Predrag Radisaveljvić (b. 1993 in Serbia): Buds and Petals for orchestra (2023) [11’] (submitted by the ISCM Serbian Section);

Agita Reke (b. 1992 in Latvia): Uninhibited for fixed media (2024) [6’] (submitted by the ISCM Latvian Section);

Clemens von Reusner (b. 1957 in Germany): fleeting experience for fixed media (2025) [8’] (submitted by the ISCM German Section);

Matic Romih (b. 1996 in Slovenia): Transcendence for solo clarinet in Bb (2020) [3’] (submitted by the ISCM Slovenian Section);

Will Rowe (b. 1992 in the United States): Rituals for solo violin (2021) [6’] (independent submission);

Evis Sammoutis (b. 1979 in Cyprus): Secret Garden for flute/alto flute/piccolo, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion (2018) [6’] (independent submission);

Caterina Schembri (b. 1993 in Colombia; currently based in Ireland): Ode to Psyche for choir (2025) [7’] (submitted by the ISCM Irish Section);

Evelin Seppar (b. 1986 in Estonia): Iris for choir (2024) [7’] (submitted by the ISCM Estonian Section);

Tian Songfeng (b. 1994 in China): Winter solstice for srting quartet (2021) [6’] (independent submission);

Petra Stump-Linshalm (b. 1975 in Austria): Touching Sound for clarinet and piano (2020) [10’] (submitted by the ISCM Austrian Section);

Iris Szeghy (b. 1956 in Slovakia; currently based in Switzerland): Elegies and Arabesques for solo violin (2025) [10’] (submitted by the ISCM Slovak Section);

Fred Szymanski (b. 1950 in the United States): Tor for audio-video fixed media (2022) [7’] (independent submission);

Eli Tausen á Lava (b. 1997 in the Faroe Islands): let me cry for orchestra (2022) [10’] (submitted by the ISCM Faroe Islands Section);

Livia Teodorescu-Ciocănea (b. 1959 in Romania): Au Café Momus for violin and piano (2025) [11’] (submitted by ARFA);

Bente Leiknes Thorsen (b. 1980 in Norway): Laughing my head off / Singing your heart in for choir (2024) [10’] (submitted by the ISCM Norwegian Section);

Helena Tulve (b. 1972 in Estonia): Wand’ring Bark for orchestra (2024) [10’] (submitted by the ISCM Estonian Section);

Anna Veismane (b. 1976 in Latvia): Versus for string orchestra (2024) [11’] (submitted by the ISCM Latvian Section);

Jixue Wu (b. 1973 in China): Soliloquy for orchestra (2021) [10’] (submitted by the ISCM Shanghai Section);

Huichun Yang (b. 1999 in Taiwan; currently based in the United States): Touch Improv for live electronics (2025) [15’] (submitted by Florida International University);

Jiajing Zhao (b. 1996 in China; based in the United Kingdom): FOMO for fixed media (2025) [7’] (submitted by the ISCM British Section);

Enzhe Zheng (b. 1996 in Hong Kong S.A.R.): Beyond the Sky for piano trio with fixed media (2022) [6’] (submitted by the ISCM Hong Kong Section);

Péter Zombola (b. 1983 in Hungary): Nunc Dimittis for choir (2024) [4’] (submitted by the ISCM Hungarian Section).

The Union of Composers and Musicologists from Romania (UCMR) and ISCM Romania invite the ISCM Sections, Members, and Individual Applicants to submit works for the festival. Please note, the ISCM has pledged to realize equitable representation in the programming of the WNMD, including of nationality, ethnicity, gender, and age of composers and musicians. Young composers (under 35) whose works are selected for performance in the WNMD could also be eligible for the ISCM Young Composer Award.

The works’ submission process will open on 30 May 2025. Submissions should be made via the relevant forms available on the ISCM website no later than 11:59 p.m. CET on 1 October 2025. Works submitted after the deadline will not be considered. The official announcement of the selected works will occur in January 2026.

There are two ways for composers to submit works for consideration:

1. 1. Official Submissions. The ISCM Sections or Member organisations will issue a Call and invitations for the composers to present their works for potential inclusion in the Official Submissions.

1. 1. Composers can make Individual Submissions. Details about the submission process and a link to the submission form can be found below the list of Categories. For additional information, please contact the organiser by e-mail: [email protected].

CATEGORIES

1. SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (with or without soloist[s])
Possible soloists from the following instruments: flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, cimbalom
The Romanian National Radio Orchestra (max. 3.3.3.3. – 4.3.3.1. – 3 perc. – piano – harp – 14.12.10.8.6)
The „George Enescu” Philharmonic Orchestra (max. 3.3.3.3. – 4.3.3.1. – 3 perc. – piano – harp – 14.12.10.8.6)
Doubling possibilities: 1 piccolo flute, 1 cor anglais, 1 bass clarinet, 1 contrabassoon
For this category, no electronic/fixed media is possible.

2. CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
The Romanian Chamber Radio Orchestra
(max. 2.2.2.2. – 2.2.0.0. – timpani (1 player) – piano – 6.5.4.2.1)
For this category, no electronic/fixed media is possible.

3. STRING ORCHESTRA (with or without stereo fixed media – “tape music”)
The „Concerto” Orchestra of the National University of Music in Bucharest (max. 8.6.5.4.2)

4. LARGE ENSEMBLE – 10-16 musicians (with or without stereo fixed media – “tape music”)
PROFIL Sinfonietta (max. 1.1.1.1. – 1.1.1.1. – piano – harp – 1 perc – 2.1.1.1.)

5. MEDIUM ENSEMBLE – 6-8 musicians (with or without stereo fixed media – „tape music”)
Ensemble Couleurs (fl, cl, 2 vn, vla, cello, pno, 1 perc)

6. SMALL ENSEMBLE (with or without stereo fixed media – „tape music”)
6.a. ATEM Ensemble – 5 musicians (fl, cl, vn, cello, pno)
6.b. LARSON Trio – 3 musicians (vn, cello, pno)

7. SMALL PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE
Ensemble PULSAR(T) – 2-4 musicians
List of instruments: 2 Bass Marimbas (C2-C7), 2 Vibraphones (F3-F6, tuning 442), 2 Concert Bass Drums, 2 Xylophones (F3-C7), 2 Glockenspiel (G3-C6), 1 set of chromatic Crotales, 1 pair of Congas, 2 pairs of Bongos, 2 pair of Tom-Toms, Tamn-Tam, unpitched gongs, small percussions
For this category, no electronic/fixed media is possible.

8. STRING QUARTET (2vn, vla, cello)
Arcadia String Quartet
Gaudeamus String Quartet
For this category, no electronic/fixed media is possible.

9. DUO (with or without stereo fixed media – „tape music”)
9.a. Viola and clarinet
9.b. Any duo combination between: flute (can double Piccolo, Alto, Bass Flute), clarinet
(can double Bb Bass Clarinet), violin, cello, piano

10. SOLO WORKS (with or without live electronics* / stereo fixed media – „tape music”)
From: flute (can double Piccolo, Alto, Bass Flute), clarinet (can double Bb Bass Clarinet),
violin, cello, piano
*Recommended DAWs: Reaper, Ableton Live or Max/MSP and an up-to-four-channel loudspeaker
system. Any additional plug-ins should be freeware and/ or be supplied by the composer.

11. SOLO CIMBALOM (with or without stereo fixed media – „tape music”)

12. CHOIR (a cappella or with piano accompaniment; possible small percussions)
12.a. Madrigal Choir – SATB Choir (35 singers, with a division option of 6-12 voices)
12.b. Madrigal Children Choir (24-30 children, with a division option of 3-4 voices)

13. AUDIO-VIDEO WORKS (up-to-eight-channel loudspeaker system)
Video file formats: mp4, mov

14. ELECTRONIC WORKS (up-to-eight-channel loudspeaker system)

MORE ABOUT THE SUBMISSIONS PROCESS

For OFFICIAL SUBMISSIONS, the ISCM Sections and Members must use the ISCM WNMD 2026 Form, which will be available on the ISCM website from 30 May 2025 until 11:59 p.m. CET on 1 October 2025, after logging into the ISCM intranet (Members Area). Please note that ISCM Romania can only consider submissions from Sections and Members in good standing (an annual report for the year 2023 must be completed and the annual membership fee for 2024 must be paid). An Official Submission cannot include a work by any composer who had music performed at the ISCM World New Music Days 2025 in Portugal. 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. 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 2026 in Romania – Bucharest. 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 2026 in Romania – Bucharest. It is possible to submit only one work per composer. The works should be submitted via the ISCM WNMD 2026 Individual Submission Form, which will be available on the ISCM website (https://iscm.org/individual-submissions/) from 30 May 2025 until 11:59 p.m. CET on 1 October 2025. An entry fee of €55.00 applies to Individual Submissions, payable via PayPal using the link available on the ISCM website from 30 May 2005. A PDF of the PayPal receipt must be included in the submission. Individual submissions are not guaranteed a performance. The jury will consider and evaluate all submitted works, and those selected by the jury will be included in the ISCM WNMD 2026 programme and performed during the festival.

The festival director and the artistic team have selected the best musicians (soloists, conductors, orchestras and ensembles) in Romania in order to guarantee the highest level of performance of the selected works for the festival. The selection will be made by the festival director and team, while the conductors, ensemble directors and soloists will also have an input in the final selection.

Jury members:
Dan Dediu – Artistic director
ISCM Romania team – Diana Rotaru (president), Irinel Anghel, Gabriel Mălăncioiu,
Alexandru Murariu, Constantin Basica

In the selection process, the jury will give preference to pieces that are up to 10 minutes long, as well as to works created in the last 10 years, with maximum priority being given to the works created in the last 5 years. 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 the performance, as well as for the recording, broadcasting, and streaming the ISCM performance/presentation of their work without additional financial liability to the ISCM or the ISCM WNMD 2026 organisers.

The information/ materials required for each submitted work, both in Official and Individual Submissions, are:

1. 1. Composer information: given names; family name; name as it should appear in the programme;
      date of birth; gender; full mailing address; phone number; e-mail; website (if applicable).

1. 1. Work information: title; submission category; accurate duration; composition year; information
      about previous performances and/ or if the work has been premiered or not.

1. 1. Programme notes in English – maximum 150 words (possible file formats: odt, doc, docx).

1. 1. Short biography of the composer in English – maximum 150 words (possible file formats: odt,
      doc, docx).

1. 1. High-resolution digital photo of the composer (possible file formats: png or jpg).

1. 1. Technical rider specifying the accurate instrumental set, equipment and means necessary for the
      performance of the submitted work (possible file formats: odt, doc, docx).

1. 1. For categories 1-12: a PDF with the score and an audio file with a recording or a MIDI
      realisation (possible file formats: mp3, mp4, wav, mov). For recordings, please provide the date,
      venue, and names of performers.

1. For category 13-14, please submit sound files with the finished work (possible file formats:
   mp3, mp4, wav, mov). Please provide a stereo version for multi-channel works (up to 8 channels).
   NB1: while submission of a compressed file is acceptable for the selection process, if a work is
   selected then uncompressed files will be required
   NB2: Please ensure all the submitted documents and materials related to each work are labelled
   with the composer’s name and title.

If you have further questions concerning this Call, please e-mail the organizers at [email protected].