Call for compositions

The Ink Still Wet workshop is led by Olga Neuwirth, composer in residence of the Grafenegg Festival 2026. The workshop will be accompanied by the Tonkünstler Orchestra, one of the orchestras in residence of the Grafenegg Festival. Composer and conductor Brad Lubman will work as conducting coach with the participants.

The workshop takes place in two work phases. Part 1 of the workshop allows the participating composers the opportunity to work on and complete their work with the workshop leaders and section leaders of the Orchestra. In Part 2, taking place during the Grafenegg Festival, the workshop’s focus is on the preparation of the world premiere: participants will have the unique opportunity to rehearse their own compositions as conductors with the Tonkünstler Orchestra and present their works in concert.

Olga Neuwirth and Brad Lubman will work with the participating composers on the fine-tuning of their works and support them in the preparation of conducting their pieces. The experience of performing one’s own composition from the conductor’s desk allows to gain a new perspective on one’s own work. Overcoming possible barriers between composers and the musicians in charge of executing the piece as well as the promotion of creative exchange are at the heart of the workshop.

All orchestra rehearsals are documented in detail, so that the participants and workshop leaders can continuously work on the realisation of the pieces and the fulfilment of the participants’ musical ideas.

The compositions of all participating composers will be presented in a final concert in the Auditorium Grafenegg on 21 August 2026, 7.30 pm.

• Composers and students of composition etc.
• Experience in conducting is an advantage but not required
• No age limit
• Course language: English

Successful applicants will be highly talented composers at the beginning of their professional careers with a keen interest in gaining a new perspective on their own work in the practical execution with orchestra and who want to get an insight into possible tensions between one’s own imagination of sound during the composition process and the actual sound experience in the concert hall.

The schedule will include daily rehearsals, Music Lab lectures and workshops, discussions, open rehearsals and other social gatherings.

Completed applications to be submitted online require the following:

1. A completed application form
2. Curriculum vitae in German or English (maximum of two pages) including name and contact of the current composition teacher (if available)
3. Full scores of 3 works of reference for various instrumentation and ensembles including recordings (if available)
4. An application video (max. 3 minutes duration) or a motivation letter (max. 3.000 characters) including answers to: 
   - What do you expect from participating in the workshop?
   - What would you wish for if participating?
   - Why is it important for you to attend the Ink Still Wet composer conductor workshop?
5. Composition: a new, unpublished, unperformed orchestral work with a duration of minimum 5 minutes and maximum 7 minutes.

Required is only the elaborated score of at least two minutes of this new composition and a description of the concept or idea behind it (max. 3.000 characters) as well as possibly a sketch for the further composition.

For information on the orchestral instrumentation and layout please refer to the «Guidelines for Instrumentation and Layout».

Applications will be accepted electronically only (in PDF format) on MUVAC.

The Workshop Leader will choose the participants after the application deadline. Only complete applications will be accepted. Successful applicants will be contacted for more information by Wednesday,  21 January 2026.

If admitted to the Ink Still Wet composer conductor workshop, the composition must be further developed until workshop part 1 in April 2026.

The conducting score and all instrumental parts as PDF must be submitted by 2 June 2026.

Number of participants: max. 5 persons

Each position in the Ink Still Wet composer conductor workshop is fully funded by the Grafenegg Festival:

• Accommodation (in single rooms in the Grafenegg Cottages)
• International travel expenses (fully reimbursed up to a given amount depending on the origin of your trip)
• All local transport to and from Vienna
• Subsistence costs during the duration of the workshop
• Tickets to any available concerts of the Grafenegg Festival during part 2 of the workshop will be provided free of charge

Ink Still Wet is part of the Grafenegg Festival

Matias Alzola 
email: isw@grafenegg.com
Apply on MUVAC

Venue
3485 Grafenegg 10
Austria
Europe