Wonderfeel and Bauwien van der Meer winners Nieuw Geneco Fair Practice Award 2024
Nieuw Geneco presented the Nieuw Geneco Fair Practice Award 2024 to Wonderfeel Festival and Bauwien van der Meer on Sept. 6 during the Gaudeamus Festival for their tireless efforts and commitment to fair and sustainable practice in new music.
With the presentation of the Nieuw Geneco Fair Practice Award, the professional association Nieuw Geneco (Genootschap Nederlandse Componisten) focuses attention on fair practice, fee guidelines and good commissioning practices in new music. “Fair Practice is not only Fair Pay, but also working together throughout the chain on new music, composition commissions, performances, tours, media and new audiences,” said Esther Gottschalk, director of Nieuw Geneco.
The award is being presented for the fifth time this year. New Geneco composers made a reasoned nomination, based on their recent experiences and tested it against the New Geneco Fair Practice Code. The jury consisting of Karmit Fadael (composer), Aart Strootman (composer) and Davo van Peursen (publisher) earlier announced the seven nominees. From these, the jury chose no less than two winners. The two awards are equal and honor the fact that both large and smaller players can adopt a fair practice policy.
The proud winners. From the left: Bauwien van der Meer (soprano/commissioner), Monique Krüs (composer), Tamar Brüggemann (Wonderfeel), Catharina Clement (composer). Photo Foppe Schut
From the jury report:
“Bauwien van der Meer was chosen as the winner in the category, smaller private initiatives because of her significant contribution to music, with a focus on women composers and fair practice. She entrusted the special instrumentation of a work by Lili Boulanger to composers Monique Krüs, Ig Henneman and Annelies van Parys. The project, which resulted in concerts and the CD La Lumière, is an example of fair practice with clear agreements on rights and fees, in accordance with the fee table. Van der Meer not only commissioned new works, but also sang the soprano part herself, showing her commitment. Her efforts led to rave reviews and increased visibility for women composers. This is a testament to her commitment to collaboration and innovation in music with an eye to all aspects of fair practice.”
In the larger organizations category, the judges declared Wonderfeel Festival the winner. “Wonderfeel is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year with the project “10 x 10 composers,” initiated by Tamar Brüggemann. For this occasion, ten young composers, mostly under the age of 30, were invited to write for ensembles of their choice, with artistic freedom within the theme “How can we be good ancestors?” The composers are Catharina Clement, Arefeh Hekmatpanah, Camiel Jansen, Apollon Kalamenios, Martín Francisco Mayo, Simon van Prooijen, Noëmi Schermann, Julian Tjon Sack Kie, Lisa Weyrauther, Annija Anna Zarina. This project not only promotes fair practice, but also creates a bridge between conservatories and the professional music world. The ensembles were introduced to new talent, leading to positive impressions and possibly new commissions. The involvement of Tamar Brüggemann, who offered guidance and was open to ideas, was greatly appreciated by the composers. The artistic freedom given to the composers encourages diversity in the music industry. The jury recognizes Wonderfeel’s value in promoting fair commissioning. That is exactly what the New Geneco Fair Practice Award is for.”
The New Geneco Fair Practice Award consists of the composition/video “Side by side” with music, text and images created by composer David Dramm. Performed by Diamanda La Berge Dramm and Nora Fischer. The winners received the composition in the form of a large LP music card, from the hands of the composers who nominated them, Monique Krüs and Catharina Clement respectively.
Previous winners of the New Geneco Fair Practice Award were:
2019: Orgelpark & Fie Schouten
2021: Orkest de Ereprijs & mecenas Marcia
2022: Opera Zuid & Toonzetters van Oranjewoud festival
2023: November Music & Black Pencil Ensemble
New Standard Agreement and Terms and Conditions
During a well-attended meeting in TivoliVredenburg on fair practice, fee guidelines and good commissioning practices, Nieuw Geneco introduced the standard agreement and general terms and conditions. These have been drawn up in line with the Fair Practice Code and model contracts of the Belastingdienst and are from today online and open for consultation.
The Nieuw Geneco Fee Table is accepted industry-wide as a calculation tool for composition commissions, is co-sponsored by the Professional Association of Improvising Musicians (BIMpro), BAM!Popauteurs, Kunstenbond, Vereniging Componisten en Tekstdichters (VCTN) and the Netherlands Music Publishers Association (NMUV), and serves as the reference for fund applications.
More info and downloads:
Fair practice and honorariumtabel – Nieuw Geneco
Side by Side Nieuw Geneco Fair Practice Award
Link to Juryrapport (Dutch)