International Academy of Musical Praxis

The International Academy of Musical Praxis is an international program created for composers who aspire to write works that are both artistically innovative and widely performable. Its mission is to guide composers in creating percussion music that enters the global repertoire while equipping them with tools to extend their creative voice into chamber, orchestral, and professional contexts.

The first edition of the Academy focuses on solo percussion, a field of vast possibilities yet one that demands precision, clarity, and deep knowledge of praxis – the real-world requirements of instrumental playability and reproducibility. Under the mentorship of David Moliner, renowned composer and percussionist, participants will receive personalized guidance throughout the program. Moliner will also premiere four selected works at the Konzerthaus Berlin, ensuring that the Academy leads to tangible professional outcomes for participants.

A Philosophy Rooted in Praxis and Innovation

Inspired by the vision of Xenakis, the Academy merges extreme musical quality with practical instrumental understanding. Participants are encouraged to innovate, experiment, and push their language forward, but always with the awareness that a composition only becomes truly impactful when it is playable, reproducible, and desired by performers.

At its core, the Academy is structured around five guiding pillars:

1. Praxis First – Every session, project, and feedback moment is centered on the concept of praxis: music that is playable, reproducible, and attractive for performers.
2. Holistic Musical Voice – Percussion is approached not only as an instrument but as a core identity element of the composer’s voice, with strategies to extend it into chamber and orchestral settings.
3. Collective Aesthetic Exchange – Composers from around the world engage in dialogue, exchange, and collaboration, enriching their individual perspectives through global interaction.
4. Professional Projection – Participants gain resources to build sustainable careers: engaging with ensembles, orchestras, publishers, and securing repeat performances.
5. Global Impact – The ultimate goal is for works written in the Academy to resonate internationally, shaping the repertoire of today and tomorrow.

Tangible Outcomes for Composers

The International Academy of Musical Praxis is designed to produce concrete professional results:

• Professional recordings of all works, through reading sessions with expert performers.
• World premieres of four selected works at the Konzerthaus Berlin, performed by David Moliner (based strictly on artistic merit).
• Publication opportunities with Universal Edition, one of the world’s leading publishing houses.
• Exclusive video testimonies by internationally acclaimed composers Jörg Widmann and Fabián Panisello, offering advice on percussion writing and broader strategies for career development.

Structure of the Program

The program consists of 10 monthly online sessions (1 hour each, via Zoom Premium), starting in November 2025. All sessions are recorded and available for later review. The course culminates with a professional recording session of each composer’s work, providing participants with essential portfolio material.

Each session builds progressively, covering artistic, technical, and professional dimensions:

1. Introduction & History of Solo Percussion – Evolution of instruments, cultural context, landmark repertoire, and performer needs.
2. Idiomatic Writing – Notation, articulation, phrasing, and ensuring immediate playability.
3. Standard Techniques & Notation – A deep dive into fundamental techniques and clear, reproducible notation.
4. Extended Techniques I – Harmonics, multiphonics, bowing, plucking, and instrument preparation.
5. Extended Techniques II – Advanced mallet writing, textures, resonance control, balancing challenge with musicality.
6. Rhythm, Pulse & Structure – Polyrhythms, metric modulation, rhythmic clarity as a foundation for reproducibility.
7. Compositional Practicality – Writing that is attractive, efficient in rehearsal, and sustainable in repertoire.
8. Professional Score Preparation – Producing unambiguous scores that minimize rehearsal time and performer uncertainty.
9. Virtuosic & Expressive Writing – Creating technically clear yet expressive passages, connecting solo writing to chamber and orchestral contexts.
10. Personal Voice, Orchestral Integration & Career Tools –

• Part A: Personal Voice & Experimentation – Developing a unique compositional language grounded in praxis.
• Part B: Orchestral Integration – Strategies for using percussion effectively in large ensembles, with case studies of Adès, Widmann, Chin, and Saariaho.
• Part C: Professional Tools – Positioning yourself internationally, securing commissions, building long-term collaborations, entering publishing houses, and preparing portfolios for competitions and residencies.

Program Options & Pricing

The Academy offers three tiers of participation, making it adaptable to different needs and budgets.

Light (€75 / session)

• 10 online sessions (Zoom Premium, 1h each)
• Access to recordings of all sessions
• Professional recordings of participants’ works by David Moliner
• Video testimonies (Widmann & Panisello)
• Comprehensive reference document
• Personalized feedback from David Moliner

Base (€100 / session)
Includes all Light features plus:

• Eligibility for Konzerthaus Berlin premieres (selection based on artistic merit)
• Eligibility for publication opportunities with Universal Edition

Premium (€200 / session, limited places)
Includes all Base features plus:

• 4 private mentoring sessions with David Moliner
• Participation in new chamber project commissions (2027/2028) for percussion, saxophone, and cello
• Professional recordings of these chamber projects

Transparency Statement: Selection for premieres at the Konzerthaus Berlin is based entirely on artistic merit. The Premium option provides additional mentorship and collaboration opportunities but does not influence selection.