Open Call for Ukrainian Composers

The Ukrainian Institute, in cooperation with the Myroslav Skoryk Lviv National Philharmonic, the International Festival of Contemporary Music “Warsaw Autumn” (Poland), and the NeoArte Association, within the framework of the project “Dialogue without Borders,” announces an open call for applications from young Ukrainian composers up to 35 years of age (as of April 24, 2026). Composers holding Ukrainian citizenship are invited to apply. Preference will be given to candidates currently residing in Ukraine.

Submission deadline: Friday, April 24, Eastern European Time (EET, UTC+2).

Official announcement of results: Wednesday, May 20.

Following the selection process, two composers will be chosen to receive commissions for the creation of new musical works, namely:

• one composition for a trio consisting of flute, accordion, and double bass
• one composition for a duo consisting of (to be selected from the following options):
  • flute and violin, flute and viola, flute and cello, accordion and violin, accordion and viola, accordion and cello

Duration of each composition: 10 minutes.

The selected composers will work on their compositions in collaboration with the project’s performers (from June to August). The premieres of the works will take place as part of the project “Dialogue without Borders” concert events in Warsaw (International Festival of Contemporary Music “Warsaw Autumn”) and in Gdańsk (International Festival “NeoArte Syntezator Sztuki”) in late September and October 2026.

The theme of this year’s “Warsaw Autumn” festival is “signs.” It aims to express the treatment of sound and notation as a layer relating to the realm of meaning. Hence, “Warsaw Autumn” 2026 is open to musical and intermedial signs, gestures, symbols, and performative actions. The festival’s theme is merely informative and can be omitted, as the festival will encompass many themes, including absolute music.

Jury members will be: Liubov Morozova (on behalf of the Ukrainian Institute), Jerzy Kornowicz (Warsaw Autumn), Pawel Kapica (NeoQuartet) and Bohdan Sehin (Lviv Philharmonic). Jury selection is irrevocable.