36th Orchestra Workshop Halberstadt
- Course of the workshop
- Guidelines for submitted compositions
- Jury and lecturers
- Conditions for participation
- Application process
- Sponsorship awards
The Halberstadt Orchestra Workshop is a unique workshop programme for young composers from all over Germany and other European countries. Under the guidance of renowned lecturers and in collaboration with the Harz Symphony Orchestra, the participants come together in Halberstadt to rehearse their compositions under professional musical conditions.
As part of the workshop’s final concert, the compositions will be premiered by the Harz Symphony Orchestra under the baton of MD Johannes Rieger.
The 36th edition of the Orchesterwerkstatt will be held from 04-07 May 2025
Course of the workshop
Applications are eligible to composers born after 31 December 1997. Applications are equally open to students from music academies.
Based on the compositions submitted, the jury decides on up to seven works that will be rehearsed and performed during the Orchesterwerkstatt. However, it remains open to the orchestra to present works only partially in the final concert.
Besides the orchestra rehearsals, the participants attend seminars in which the lecturers encourage them to explore the works submitted by all participants from a theoretical perspective.
Associate participation: Applicants whose compositions have not been selected by the jury are cordially invited to follow the orchestra rehearsals and participate in the seminars provided within the framework of the workshop. However, their compositions are neither rehearsed nor performed by the orchestra. Generally, the workshop ist also open to young composers who do not submit compositions.
The final concert will be held on 7 May 2025 at 10.30 a.m. in the main hall of the Harztheater Halberstadt. All premieres will be audio-recorded. Participants will receive a high-quality audio-recording of their composition.
Guidelines for submitted compositions
The composition must not exceed 8 minutes in length.
Compositions must meet a level of complexity that allows for their preparation by the Harz Symphony Orchestra in only three days of rehearsal.
In addition, the compositions submitted must not exceed the following instrumentation:
- 2 flutes (2nd also piccolo)
- 2 oboes (2nd also English horn)
- 2 clarinets (2. also bass clarinet)
- 2 bassoons (2. contrabassoon)
- 3 horns
- 2 trumpets
- 3 trombones
- 1 tuba
- 1 Pauker (auch Schlagzeug)
- 1 Schlagzeuger
Available percussion: bass drum, snare drum, bongos, tambourine, vibraphone, xylophone, chimes, tubular bells, cymbals, tam-tam, gong, triangle, woodblocks, temple blocks, guiro, castanets, whip, maracas, ratchet, vibraslap, 1 double bass bow.
- Strings: 6 Vl 1, 4 Vl 2, 3 Va, 3 Vc, 2 Kb
Compositions that do not comply with the stated guidelines will not be considered.
Jury and lecturers
Johannes Rieger, artistic director and music director of the Harz Theatre, workshop lead
Annette Schlünz, Conservatoire de Strasbourg: juror and lecturer
Prof Martin Christoph Redel, University of Music Detmold: juror and lecturer
Conditions for participation
The participation fee for the orchestra workshop is 125 euros.
Participants agree to provide the State Music Council of Saxony-Anhalt with printed sheet music for all orchestral musicians and a conducting score by 1 April 2025.
Associate participation: The participation fee for composers whose work will not be performed or who have not submitted a work is 100 euros.
All participants will provide five printed copies of the conducting score of their composition for use in the seminars.
The State Music Council of Saxony-Anhalt will cover the costs of accommodation and meals (from 5 May, dinner). Travel expenses will not be reimbursed.
With their application, participants declare their consent to recording and broadcasting by radio and television as well as recording on audio and video media, including their realisation. Any rights are transferred to the State Music Council of Saxony-Anhalt upon registration. Any author’s rights remain unaffected. Works that have already been premiered or honoured in another competition are not eligible for the competition. Unfortunately, published works cannot be considered.
Application
Applications must be submitted online. The complete competition documents must be submitted by 28.02.2025 and include:
- Conducting score in pdf format
- One complete part each of a woodwind, brass and string instrument as well as the parts for timpani and percussion in pdf format
- A self-written and concise introduction to the work
- Short CV with photo
- for minors: a declaration of consent from a parent or legal guardian
The formal preparation of the sheet music is subject to the general minimum requirements for orchestral material:
Please send applications by e-mail to orchesterwerkstatt@lmr-san.de gerichtet.
Sponsorship awards
The Halberstadt Orchestra Workshop offers a number of sponsorship awards to promising young composers in order to promote their personal and artistic development on a longer term. The following prizes may be awarded:
- Andreas Werkmeister Prize of the City of Halberstadt: 500 euros
- Prize of the German Orchestra Foundation: 500 euros
- Prize from the IMPULS festival for new music in Saxony-Anhalt: participation in the IMPULS Campus in the summer of 2025 in the artist town of Kalbe (more information at www.impulsfestival.de)
- Prize of the Kuratorium Stadtkultur: Composition commission from the Harz Symphony Orchestra and 1,000 euros
- Prize of the Sorbian National Ensemble: Public performance of a selected composition within the 2025/2026 season
All of the above prizes may only be awarded to active participants in the Halberstadt Orchestra Workshop. The sponsorship prizes are awarded by the State Music Council of Saxony-Anhalt on the recommendation of the lecturers. There is no entitlement to funding. Prize winners from previous years of the orchestra workshop are not eligible for their respective sponsorship award.