We are delighted to announce the winners of the following open calls:
Emerging Voices: Ukrainian Composer
Gaudeamus, Internationale Ensemble Modern Akademie, and the Ukrainian Institute in The Netherlands have come together for a special project: offering the opportunity to an emerging Ukrainian composer to write a new composition for the IEMA-Ensemble which will be presented at this year’s festival. At Gaudeamus Festival 2026 you will have the chance to hear the work of Akim Zvarych.
Emerging String players for Ulysses Musician Journey
Within the framework of the Ulysses Journeys programme, Gaudeamus and Het Muziek team up for a special project: assembling a string orchestra for the Gaudeamus Festival 2026. The string orchestra will be tutored by 5 dedicated musicians from Het Muziek and conducted and guided by Leslie Pérez-Canto Azaf. The following musicians have been selected: Zofia Debska (viola), Svetlana Riger (violin), Tiag Yi Tan (violin), Nicolò Bottasso (2nd violin), Vivian Giesbertz (violin), Hortense Airault (violoncello) and Hesce Mourits (violoncello).
Resisting Waters
This project aims to explore new ways of relating to water’s agency: in the context of floods and drought, within intimate and spiritual relations with water, or by resisting neoliberal and colonial exploitation of (ground)water resources. Gaudeamus Festival, in collaboration with Residenties in Utrecht and University Museum Utrecht, invites artists Nischal Khadka and Merel Maan Galama to develop a site-specific response to one of the greenhouses of the Oude Hortus of the University Museum Utrecht.
New notes for Hamraaz
Hamraaz is the duo of Lucie Lelaurain and Khorshid Dadbeh who, through the expressive depth of the duduk and flute paired with the rhythmic resonance of the tanbour and tar, weave a contemporary tapestry rooted in the modal traditions of Iran and Armenia. The three composers selected to write a piece for the duo and whose work will be premiered during Gaudeamus Festival, and subsequently performed at November Music, Oranjewoud Festival and Wonderfeel are: Arefeh Hekmatpanah, Igor Iofe and Yiorgos Bereris.