Lucerne Festival Academy 2026
Composer Seminar for Orchestra by Dieter Ammann and Unsuk Chin
Dates in Lucerne
Composer Seminar 17 - 23 August 2026
Arrival Day: Sunday, 16 August 2026
17 - 23 August, two days of group seminars, three rehearsal days + final concert
Final Concert: Sunday, 23 August 2026
Departure Day: Monday, 24 August 2026
Program
The composer seminar for orchestra provides 6 young composers an intense dialogue with Dieter Ammann, Unsuk Chin, and international young performers. During the compositional process, there is the opportunity for consultation with Dieter Ammann and Unsuk Chin (online). During the first part of the composer seminar in Lucerne, participants discuss their music with Dieter Ammann and Unsuk Chin in plenary sessions and in one-on-one discussions. Later the composers will be joined by young conductors of Lucerne Festival's Contemporary-Conducting Program and the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra (LFCO) to rehearse their new works for Orchestra written for the composer seminar to be premiered as part of the Summer Festival 2026.
Profile of Participants
Documents to be submitted (all documents can be submitted online except the scores)
Please upload the recordings of your work and the scores (as PDF) online.
Further, send one printed copy of the scores to the following address:
Lucerne Festival Contemporary
Composer Seminar
Hirschmattstrasse 13
CH-6003 Luzern
Important: The printed scores have to be delivered until October 31. 2025 at the latest!
Later entries of scores are not accepted and the application cannot be considered.
The course management will decide on active participation upon receipt of the registration forms and scores. The results of the selections will be announced before Christmas 2025. There is no right of legal appeal. No correspondence regarding the decisions will be conducted.
New works
Composers must create a new piece lasting about 5-7minutes for orchestra
Maximum cast
Maximum: 3.3.3.3 - 4.3.3.1 - tmp+4. - hp.pno - 14.12.10.8.6
The composers are under no obligation to use the maximum orchestral forces. However, the work shall involve all sections of the orchestra (woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings).
Doublings: Piccolo Flute, Alto Flute, English Horn, Contrabasson, Bass Clarinet
No amplifications for instruments, no live electronics (except*)
*sampler/tape/fixed media with simple stereo amplification (including one sound engineer) are possible.
Preparations of instruments: possible if removable in max 2 min.
Theme
The festival theme for Lucerne Festival Summer 2026 is “American Dreams”.
The new works can be inspired by the theme and can explore in an open way.
Application Deadline
Friday, 31 October, 2025 (23:59 CET, Swiss time)
The composers will be informed of the result of the call for entries by mid-December.
Delivery dates for new works
March 16, 2026: Confirmation of instrumentation including list of percussion instruments
June 1, 2026: Delivery PDF score and parts to Lucerne Festival
Course fee
There is no fee for active participation in the Composer Seminar.
Travel
The Lucerne Festival Academy will cover the travel expenses for each active participant.
Accommodation
Lucerne Festival will arrange and cover the costs of accommodation for each active participant in a local host family.
Meals
Each active participant will receive a per diem for meals.
Scores
Each participant must provide his/her own scores.
Contact
academy@lucernefestival.ch
DATA PROTECTION AND PRIVACY
By submitting the application documents, the applicant confirms that he/she has been informed of Lucerne Festival's privacy notice. The privacy notice is available at the following link.