Shortlist announced for the New Geneco Fair Practice Award 2025
Nieuw Geneco, the Dutch professional association of composers, today announces the shortlist for the Nieuw Geneco Fair Practice Award 2025 on behalf of the jury. The winners in two categories, ‘large’ and ‘small’, will be announced during the award ceremony, which will take place on Friday afternoon, September 12, during the Gaudeamus Festival at Club Nine, TivoliVredenburg Utrecht. .
With this award, Nieuw Geneco draws attention to fair practice, fee guidelines, and good commissioning practices in contemporary music. Good examples are honored. The Nieuw Geneco Fair Practice Award was created to draw positive attention to the importance of fair practice in the contemporary music sector, and is now being presented for the sixth time.
“Since the first presentation of the Award in 2019, much has improved,” says Esther Gottschalk, initiator and director of Nieuw Geneco. “The Nieuw Geneco Fee Table has become the widely recognized guideline for composition commissions. Clients are also becoming increasingly aware of what good commissioning entails. The Dutch initiative has now been replicated in Denmark.”
This year’s expert jury consists of Huba de Graaff (composer, board member of Nieuw Geneco, and jury chair), Anthony Fiumara (composer), and Davo van Peursen (director of the Dutch Music Publishers Association). Composers from Nieuw Geneco submitted a reasoned nomination for their client, based on a recent composition commission. The jury selected a shortlist from the submissions.
The jury considered the fair practice criteria for composition commissions, in line with the Nieuw Geneco Fair Practice Code, namely:
– fair remuneration for commissions
– respect for rights
– clear communication and agreements
– artistic freedom for composers
– sustainable development of audiences, repertoire, and performance opportunities
– significant impact on Dutch musical life and composers
The shortlist of nominees consists of both large and small organizations, with both private and public funding. Each and every one of these organizations, regardless of their organizational form or size, cherishes good commissioning in accordance with the Nieuw Geneco Fair Practice Code. Each in their own way, they make an important contribution to a healthy, sustainable, and vibrant musical ecosystem.
The shortlist of nominees for 2025 (in alphabetical order):
Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest – for the composition assignments and first composer workshop with the orchestra, nominated by composers Catharina Clement, Thomas van Dun, Primo Ish Hurwitz, and Annija Anna Zarina.
Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest – for the composition assignment Confessions of the Mulberry Tree for orchestra, nominated by composer Ramin Amin Tafreshi.
Nederlands Vioolconcours – for the composition assignment Dialogos for the Oskar Back Prize, nominated by composer Hawar Tawfiq.
New European Ensemble – for the composition assignments for the Seasonal Quartet project with Ali Smith, in particular the compositions In Spring: Echoes of a Silent Cry, nominated by composer Seung Won Oh, and Hymn to timeless melancholy, Hymn to an English Summer, nominated by composer Sara Zamboni. Still to be seen on September 25.
Stichting Perforator – for the composition assignment Lijf!, the latest production by music theater company Perforator, run by Kayva van Gangelen together with sound artist Akim Moiseenkov, nominated by composer Bec Plexus. Tour starting August 30.
Wishful Singing – for the composition assignment for the musical theater piece Charlotte Salomon – Leben? Oder theater?, nominated by composer Steven Kamperman. Tour starting September 18.
The winner(s) of the Nieuw Geneco Fair Practice Award 2025 will be announced on Friday afternoon, September 12, at 4:30 p.m. at TivoliVredenburg Utrecht.
Location: Club 9 Tivolivredenburg Utrecht (during Gaudeamus)
Doors open at 4:15 p.m.
Start: 4:30 p.m.
Drinks: 6:00 p.m.
End: 7:00 p.m.
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