Symposium: The Performer-Composer in the 21st Century

10-11 September 2026 – LUCA School of Arts, Lemmensinstituut – Leuven, Belgium

>> For whom? This symposium welcomes active performer-composers as well as researchers whose work addresses this practice.

Performing and composing go hand in hand. The dual character of the performer-composer forms the starting point for this symposium. This hybrid practice – re-emerging in classical music and present across many genres – raises questions about the intersections between creation and interpretation, about sounds and the bodies that produce them. 

This symposium seeks to explore what it means to compose and perform in a single musical practice, as seen through artists who live it. We aim to bring together performer-composers to reflect on their artistic work, alongside researchers who engage closely with these practices. 

Possible topics include:

• How does compositional thinking shape performance, and how does embodied performance shape composition?
• How can we understand performance practice in works created by performer-composers? What happens to the concept of the “work” when composing and performing converge in a fluid practice?
• What role do improvisation and notation play for performer-composers? 
• How do institutional and audience attitudes shape the scope of the performer-composer model? What educational structures can support performer-composer practices?

We are looking for proposals in a variety of formats, including talks, performances, workshops, and other formats that illuminate aspects of current performer-composer identity and practice. We especially welcome reflections emerging from first-hand compositional, performative, and improvisational work.

Each presentation will be 30 minutes, followed by a Q&A of 15 minutes. 

Submission deadline: May 31, 2026

Notification of results: by June 15, 2026

Proposals can be sent to julie.michael@kuleuven.be and should include the following information:

• Presenter’s name and affiliated institution
• A description of the proposed topic and format, max. 500 words
• CV, max 1 page
• Technical requirements