Open Call for New Musical Composition

 Open Call for New Musical Composition

6th Kournos Music Festival | Lemnos, Greece

Category: Commission / Residency / New Work

Deadline: TBA

Location: Lemnos, Greece

Audience: Children / Young audiences

Description

The 6th Kournos Music Festival launches an international open call for the commissioning and presentation of a new musical work, to be premiered on the island of Lemnos in summer 2026.

The selected composer will be invited to participate in a one-week artistic residency on Lemnos in spring 2026, providing time for research, immersion in the local context, and preparation of the final work.

The commissioned piece should be a 35-minute composition for young audiences, inspired by the first archaeological excavation of the ancient city of Hephaistia (1926–1936) — a landmark decade that shaped the modern understanding of the island’s cultural heritage.

Fees & Support

The selected composer will receive a commission fee, covering the creation of the new work.

In addition, the one-week residency on the island of Lemnos (spring 2026) includes:

Accommodation

Local transportation

Per diem / hospitality support

Travel costs to and from Lemnos will be covered

Details regarding the exact fee amount, payment schedule, and contractual terms will be communicated upon request

Artistic Framework

The project invites composers to reflect on themes of excavation, memory, discovery, and historical imagination, translating archaeological research into a contemporary musical narrative accessible to children.

Instrumentation

Accordion

Percussion

Voice (Tenor)

Presentation

Premiere: Summer 2026

Location: Lemnos, Greece

Context: 6th Kournos Music Festival

Audience: Children / Young audiences

Selection Committee

Stefanos Thomopoulos – pianist

Chara Kotsali – dancer / choreographer

Kristia Michael – vocal artist / composer

Michalis Paraskevakis – composer, President of the Greek Composers’ Union

Kristin Sofroniou – pianist / researcher

Practical Information

Details regarding eligibility, application requirements, fees, deadline, selection criteria, and residency conditions will be provided upon request.

Contact: kournosmusicfestival@gmail.com

Kournos Music Festival