
Pilot Laboratory for Contemporary Music of the Athens State Orchestra, season 2025
August 18– August 28, 2025, Spetses Island, Greece
APPLY TO THE MASTERCLASS: https://aso-summerlab.eu/
Application form for composers available from: 13-01-2025
Application form for conductors available from: March 2025 (Update will follow)
Composer’s Laboratory with composer Yannis Kyriakides and the Athens State Orchestra
Composers are invited to submit a piece for 8-15 instruments from the instruments below. The piece should be a new work OR a piece never performed.
In the initial application a 1 to 2-minute sketch of the proposed piece should be submitted. This can be one complete section or different parts of the piece. [Application deadline: 24th February 2025]
The selection committee will conclude the selection of the participants on the 3rd of March. Successful participants will be contacted via email the following day.
Successful applicants will have 1 week to accept the offer and will be asked to reserve accommodation. There will be 10 places given and 2 places as reserve.
For new works:
The complete work (full score) should be finished by the 30th of June with parts ready by the 14th July.
Instrumentation: flute, oboe, clarinet (bass clarinet), bassoon, trumpet, horn, trombone, percussion (1 player) , piano, harp, 2 violins, viola, cello, contrabass.
Duration: 5 to 7 minutes.
Application should include:
- Application form
- 1-2 minute sketch of proposed piece.
- a portfolio of 3 recent works (score and link to audio)
- a motivation letter which includes the proposed idea and instrumentation
- Curriculum vitae
- 2 reference letters
Application is open to all under the age of 40.
Offer
- 10 successful applicants will be offered a total of 120 min. session with the ensemble (incl. conductor).
- Seminars and masterclasses will be held throughout the week with participants and composers Yannis Kyriakides and Michalis Paraskakis.
- All masterclasses, sessions, and rehearsals are open to all other participants.
- All works will be performed at the final concert.
- The Athens State Orchestra will not charge a participation fee. The successful participants will have to cover accommodation fees, airplane and ferry transportation fees. Kindly note that special prices have been secured for accommodation.
- The masterclass will be held in English.
- There will be video recordings offered to the composers for all sessions plus the general rehearsal and the concert.
Orchestral conducting masterclass with Maestro Lukas Karytinos and the Athens State Orchestra
Conductors are invited to participate in an orchestral conducting masterclass held by the Artistic Director of the Athens State Orchestra Mtro Lukas Karytinos.
Application form will be available from March 2025
An Athens State Orchestra selection committee will conclude the selection of the participants on 31.03.2025. Successful applicants will be contacted via email the following day and will have 1 week to accept the offer. Kindly note that by accepting, they will be asked to reserve their accommodation. Successful participants will be contacted via email the following day.
Repertoire:
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Egmont, Op. 84
Ouverture: Sostenuto, ma non troppo – Allegro
Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92 (1812)
I. Poco sostenuto – Vivace
II. Allegretto
III. Scherzo: Presto/Trio: Assai meno presto
IV. Allegro con brio
Georges Bizet (1838 – 1875)
Carmen (1875)
- Parle-moi de ma mère - Don José / Micaëla (Tenor / Soprano)
- Près des remparts de Séville (Seguidilla) – Carmen (Mezzo-Soprano)
- La fleur que tu m'avais jetée – Don José (Tenor)
- Je dis que rien ne m' epouvante – Micaëla (Soprano)
- C'est toi C'est moi - Carmen / Don José (Mezzo-Soprano / Tenor)
Conductors are required to prepare all the above repertoire.
Application should include:
- Application form
- applicant’s video recording
- Curriculum vitae
- 2 reference letters
Application is open to all under the age of 40.
Offer
- 10 participants will receive each 120 min. podium time with the orchestra plus 120 min. conducting two pianos.
- Participants attend all rehearsals and lessons
- There will be video recordings offered to the conductors for all the orchestra sessions plus the general rehearsal and the concert.
- All conductors will participate in the dress rehearsal and the final concert.
- The Athens State Orchestra will be covering all costs for each participant. That does NOT include accommodation fees, airplane and ferry transportation fees. Kindly note that special prices have been secured for accommodation.
- The masterclass will be taught in English.
- Each conductor is invited to conduct a new piece in the frame of the composer’s laboratory. This work will also be recorded and offered to the conductors.
Co-founded by the European Union and the Regional Program "Attica"