Young Composers Academy in Nicosia Brings Together Stars of New Music

Since June 26, renowned composers of contemporary classical music have been arriving on the island. Their works are performed on leading stages around the world — from the Berlin Philharmonie to the festival in Aix-en-Provence. The program includes six days of concerts, lectures, master classes, and world premieres. The artistic director of the academy is Cypriot composer Andreas Cameris. All events begin at 20:00. Admission is free.

Who is among the guests

The main guest composer is French composer Mark Andre, a student of Helmut Lachenmann, professor at the Dresden University of Music and a member of the Berlin Academy of Arts.

His music is known for its quiet sounds, pauses, and work with silence — which is why he is called a “magician of silence.” In Cyprus, his work will be performed on June 28 by the duo Lyrical Noise.

Among the participants is also Italian composer Oscar Bianchi — a prizewinner and professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. He founded a similar academy in Ticino, and the Cypriot project is built on the same principle: young composers work alongside recognized masters.

The academy mentors are Klaus Lang, Mehdi Hosseini, Christina Athinodorou, Andreas Tsartas, and Decin Wen. The organizers want to make Cyprus a permanent venue for international exchange in contemporary classical music.

Concert program

June 26 — the academy opens at the Severis Foundation (CVAR): the Chronos ensemble under the direction of Theodoros Cameris performs works by Dieter Ammann, Oscar Bianchi, Andreas Cameris, Mehdi Hosseini, and Klaus Lang. The evening ends with the world premiere of Lang's new piece dedicated to Cyprus.

June 27 — at the Spilies gallery, Swedish-Swiss cellist Karolina Öhman, a participant in more than 200 premieres, performs a solo program of works by Christina Athinodorou, Lisa Streich, Julianna Hodkinson, Aregnats Martirosyan, Tomas Korber, and Dieter Ammann.

June 28 — at the Arte Music Academy, the duo Lyrical Noise (clarinet — Georgios Georgiou, percussion — Mario Nikolaou) performs music by Andreas Moustoukas, Mark Andre, André Boucourechliev, Andreas Tsartas, Decin Wen, and Antis Skordis.

June 29 — Eleftheria Square
Swiss musicians Christian Kobi (saxophone) and Tomas Korber (electric guitar) — pure improvisation without a score.

June 30 — ARTos House
Flutist Eva Stavrou performs works by contemporary composers, including Kaija Saariaho, whose music will be the central part of the evening.

July 1 — Arte Academy
The Chronos ensemble performs premieres by young authors from different countries. This is the final evening, when their new works are heard for the first time. The organizers want to turn the project into a permanent platform for international contemporary music.