The Composition Courses will give participants an opportunity to work closely with distinguished composers and internationally acclaimed musicians during many workshops, composition lessons, lectures, and master classes.

During the two weeks of courses, participants will enjoy individual lessons with different tutors. Additionally, participants are also welcome to attend other lessons and workshops to learn and observe from different course teachers, when time allows. Each participant will have the opportunity to be present at and listen to the final performance of her/his composition at a concert or workshop that will be open to large audiences. Course participants will also be able to discuss the composition and execution aspects of his/her work with the course teachers and the ensemble’s directors or individual instrumentalists.

Dates
The program will run from May 23rd — June 5th, 2025.

Tutors
Mark Andre (France/Germany), Fernando Garnero (Argentina), Vladimir Gorlinsky (Russia), Mehdi Hosseini (Iran/Russia), Panayiotis Kokoras (Greece), Lucia Ronchetti (Italy), Elena Rykova (Russia), Vladimir Tarnopolsky (Russia), Deqing Wen (China/Switzerland).

Eligibility
All composers age 18 and over.

All applications must be submitted online. Applications are reviewed by a panel comprised of distinguished proponents of contemporary music, including reMusik.org’s esteemed faculty, professional musicians, and composers. The committee reserves the right to request additional information from the candidates or to make changes to the rules if circumstances require.

The jury will select composers for several different groups*: Groups A1-A4, Groups B1-B2, and Group C. In each group participants will have the opportunity to advance their musical skills throughout each of the courses.

The offered courses will provide the participants with the following opportunities:

● Access to online lessons of other online course participants;
● Access to invited ensembles’ online workshops and reading sessions and that of other online course participants;
● Access to online lectures of tutors and festival guests;
● Access to online events;
● 45-minutes presentation of their work online.

Additionally participants of various groups will be provided with:

Group A1 (Participation fee: €750)
● Minimum of 3 hours of individual online lessons with 3 different tutors** (Each lesson is 1 hour);
● Premiere performance and professional recording of their new composition for ensemble at one of the festival concerts;

Group A2 (Participation fee: €680)
● Minimum of 3 hours of individual online lessons with 3 different tutors** (Each lesson is 1 hour);
● Performance and professional recording of their existing work for ensemble at one of the festival concerts;

Group A3 (Participation fee: €340)
● At least one individual online lesson with a tutor of their choice** (Each lesson is 1 hour);
● Premiere performance and professional recording of their new work for solo instrument at one of the festival concerts;

Group A4 (Participation fee: €320)
● At least one individual online lesson with a tutor of their choice** (Each lesson is 1 hour);
● Performance and professional recording of their existing work for solo instrument at one of the festival concerts;

Group B1 (Participation fee: €310)
● Minimum of 2 hours of individual online lessons with 2 different tutors** (Each lesson is 1 hour);
● Performance of part of participants’ work during online reading session with ensemble-in-residence;

Group B2 (Participation fee: €250)
● At least one individual online lesson with a tutor of their choice** (Each lesson is 1 hour);
● Performance of part of participants’ work during online reading session with a soloist-in-residence;

Group C (Participation fee: €190)
● Minimum of 2 hours of individual online lessons with 2 different tutors** (Each lesson is 1 hour);

Free Auditors
● Auditors will have access to all educational events online. Preliminary registration is obligatory.

*Interested applicants may apply for up to 7 different groups (A1, A2, A3, A4, B1, B2 or C). However, reMusik.org reserves the right to accept applicants based on its guidelines.
** If you wish to have more individual lessons, please make an appropriate note in the application form.

Still have questions? Please check out our FAQ for more information.

In addition to the application form, please submit the following information for each of the groups:

● 2-3 scores;
● Recordings of 1-2 works;
● Biography.

The conditions for each group are as follows:

Group A1
The composer agrees to write a new work for one of the ensembles invited to the festival (the lineup distribution will be made by reMusik.org, but participants wishes will be taken into account):
– improvisers orchestra (up to 10 performers, text or graphic score only);
– chamber choir (up to 9 vocalists and conductor)
– flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano (2-5 performers);
– string quartet (2-4 performers);
– violin, cello, piano (2-3 performers);
– flute, clarinet, piano (2-3 performers);
– violin, cello (2 performers);
– flute, cello (2 performers);
– electronic music composition (2-8 channels).

Group A2
The composer should submit existing pieces for ensemble which have previously never been performed in Russia. At least one of the scores in the application must be submitted for one of the following lineups:
– improvisers orchestra (up to 10 performers, text or graphic score only);
– chamber choir (up to 9 vocalists and conductor)
– flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano (2-5 performers);
– string quartet (2-4 performers);
– violin, cello, piano (2-3 performers);
– flute, clarinet, piano (2-3 performers);
– violin, cello (2 performers);
– flute, cello (2 performers);
– electronic music composition (2-8 channels).

Group A3
The composer agrees to write a new work for one of the soloists invited to the festival (the lineup distribution will be made by reMusik.org, but participants wishes will be taken into account):
– flute
– clarinet
– saxophone
– trombone
– electric guitar
– vocal
– piano
– accordion
– violin
– cello

Group A4
The composer should submit existing pieces for solo instruments which have previously never been performed in Russia. At least one of the scores in the application must be submitted for one of the following lineups:
– flute
– clarinet
– saxophone
– trombone
– electric guitar
– vocal
– piano
– accordion
– violin
– cello

General notes for Groups A1-A4:
● Please note that compositions with electronics are possible only with lineups where it’s indicated.
● Course participants that are admitted to the composition course (Groups A1-A4) must send the relevant score and instrumental parts of the piece no later than March 15th, 2025.
● If the performance of the piece requires additional/unconventional objects or devices, the participating composer undertakes to provide them in advance for both rehearsals and the concert.

Group B1
Group B1 applicants are required to choose at least 2 instrumental lineups from the list below for participation in the workshops/reading sessions (the jury will accept 1 of them):
– flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano (1-5 performers);
– string quartet (1-4 performers);
– flute, clarinet, piano (1-3 performers);
– violin, cello (1-2 performers).

Group B2
Group B2 applicants are required to choose at least 2 solo instruments from the list below for participation in the workshops/reading sessions (the jury will accept 1 of them):
– flute solo;
– saxophone solo;
– violin solo.

General notes for Groups B1-B2:
● Reading sessions are acoustical only. If your piece involves electronics, musicians will play only the acoustical part.
● Composers admitted to the workshop (Group B1-B2) must send the score and instrumental parts of the piece no later than March 15th, 2025, so that it can be used for participation in the workshop.

Group A1
Participation Fee*: €750
To be paid no later than 7 days after acceptance notification of course participation.

Group A2
Participation Fee*: €680
To be paid no later than 7 days after acceptance notification of course participation.

Group A3
Participation Fee*: €340
To be paid no later than 7 days after acceptance notification of course participation.

Group A4
Participation Fee*: €320
To be paid no later than 7 days after acceptance notification of course participation.

Group B1
Participation Fee*: €310
To be paid no later than 7 days after acceptance notification of course participation.

Group B2
Participation Fee*: €250
To be paid no later than 7 days after acceptance notification of course participation.

Group C
Participation Fee*: €190
To be paid no later than 7 days after acceptance notification of course participation.

Free Auditors
Free

*A few fully paid or partial scholarships may be offered by a reMusik.org committee. Interested applicants in course fee aid must write a cover letter with compelling reasons for applying for a scholarship.

Payment Options
● If a sponsor agrees to pay your fees, reMusik.org will invoice your sponsor directly. Applicants need to provide reMusik.org Office with a sponsor letter that is written on an official letterhead;
● Paid course fees are non-refundable once reMusik.org has received the paid fees;
● The course fee needs to be paid in full up-front. Applicants who are accepted need to pay the entire course fee in advance, otherwise they will not be able to partake in any course activities.

● Proficient oral English Language skills are an asset, as the course teachers will teach in English.
● Course participants are expected to attend their classes, lectures and workshops throughout the course. Course teachers may take attendance into account in assessing a student’s learning and performance. High level of attendance may be required to complete the course successfully.
● For students who wish to visit Saint Petersburg, they may receive an official invitation to the festival from the Saint Petersburg Contemporary Music Center “reMusik.org”. Students living in countries that have visa services with the Russian Federation, must apply for their own visa at the nearest embassy or consulate of the Russian Federation.

Please note that an invitation letter by reMusik.org does not guarantee that you will receive a visa. The decision to accept our invitation letter or to grant visas is at the sole discretion of the embassy/consulate/visa center who will process your application for a visa.

It is our aim to support course applicants’ visa application in the best way possible. However, each country may ask for and require slightly different documentation. reMusik.org’s invitation letter generally covers the majority required information that a visa office requests. – Advance travel planning and early visa application will ensure that the application will be processed in due time.

● Travel, housing, living costs, and visa expenses are the sole responsibility of the course participants.
● Incomplete applications or applications which do not include all the requested information will not be accepted.
● If you have any questions or concerns that need to be clarified, please write an email to reMusik.org.

At the end of the 2025 Festival at least one, but up to three of the most talented composers will be selected to compose a new piece of music for the next Festival in 2026. Additionally their compositions will be published online in one of the ‘reMusik.org’s publishing house editions.

reMusik.org is not only a festival and an educational course; The St. Petersburg Contemporary Music Center ‘reMusik.org’ takes an active role in the organization of innovative projects and supports the promotion of new music. Through six previous editions of the course, reMusik.org has provided 25 full or partial scholarships to participants from 11 countries who were unable to afford the full participation fee. reMusik.org actively follows the development and career paths of former participants and frequently feature their works in future festival programs. Since the introduction of the Composition course, 19 compositions by former applicants have been performed in the frames of the festival.

Early application is highly encouraged. Early sent applications with all included information will be viewed, and assessed prior to the application due date. As a result, an application may be approved by the jury before the actual deadline. The applicant, if approved, will then be informed within a few days of his/her acceptance.

● Groups A1, A3, B1: 10 January 2025

● Groups A2, A4, B2, C: 31 January 2025

● Free auditors: 10 May 2025

There’s no application fee.