Composition masterclasses
in the heart of Europe
4 – 15 August 2025
University of Music and
Performing Arts Vienna, Austria
Deadline to apply – 28 March 2025
There is no application fee
Join us next summer of 2025 for an intense two weeks of individual lessons, presentations, and seminars with our renowned international faculty, and concerts featuring a roster of world-class resident ensembles and soloists.
A hands-on dive into the creative process
Participating composers will write a new work for one of our resident ensembles or soloists, who will actively workshop and rehearse the pieces with each composer and offer practical feedback.
Share your music with the world
Each work will receive a performance in one of the festival’s concerts. All concerts will be documented in high-quality audio and video recordings, which will be made available to the participating composers.
Location & Facilities
The University of Music and Performing Arts (mdw Wien) is one of the world’s largest and most renowned universities dedicated to the study of music, performing arts, and film. Its sprawling main campus, which houses the Composition department, welcomes over 3000 students every year, and features state-of-the-art teaching, practice, and performance facilities. The city of Vienna itself is a worldwide cultural powerhouse with year-round offerings. The university campus is within walking distance of two of the most important international musical venues: the Musikverein and the Wiener Konzerthaus.
Program Outline
The festival program aims to motivate each participant to engage intensely with their own music and reflect on their creative process.
During the first week, the focus is placed mostly on seminars and presentations, as participants attend faculty lectures, present about their own work, and receive one-on-one lessons. At the same time, each participant will have opportunities to revise and finalize their works, in close collaboration with the performers. Each ensemble and soloist will have their own unique approach towards collaborating with their composers.
During the first and second weeks, participants will also attend rehearsals and readings of their works, which will be programmed in one of the concerts taking place during the final week. Every participant will receive at least four individual lessons with core faculty, at least one masterclass session with a member of our featured guest faculty, and high-quality audio/video documentation of their performance.
Lodging & Board
Active participants will be housed in double occupancy rooms in a hotel within walking distance of the university campus. Tuition fees include breakfast and lunch on weekdays during both weeks. All meals outside this plan must be purchased at the participant’s own expense.
Tuition & Fees
Tuition for active participants at SONV 2025 is €3650. It includes the following:
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All lessons, masterclasses, seminars, and presentations.
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Access to practice, instruction, and rehearsal facilities at mdw Wien.
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Rehearsal and performance of your work by the festival’s artists and ensembles.
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Lodging for the entire duration of the festival in a double occupancy hotel room. Participants should plan to check in on Sunday, 3 August and check out on Saturday, 16 August.
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Breakfast and lunch during weekdays for the two full weeks.
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High-quality audio and video documentation of your performance.
There is no fee to apply.
A limited number of merit-based scholarships is available and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Accepted applicants must secure their spot, independently of scholarship status, by paying a non-refundable deposit of €850 by 25 April, 2025. The deposit will be deducted from the full tuition amount, which is due on 30 May, 2025.
Tuition for auditors at SONV 2025 is €950. It includes the following:
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Access to all lessons, masterclasses, seminars, and presentations as listener
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Access to practice, instruction, and rehearsal facilities at mdw Wien
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Lunch during weekdays for the two full weeks
There is no fee to apply.
Auditors are responsible for securing their accommodation throughout the duration of the festival.
A limited number of merit-based scholarships is available to active participants and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Accepted active applicants must secure their spot, independently of scholarship status, by paying a non-refundable deposit of €850 by 25 April, 2025. The deposit will be deducted from the full tuition amount, which is due on 30 May, 2025.
For auditors, the full participation fee of €950 is due on 25 April, 2025. This fee becomes non-refundable after 30 May, 2025.
How to Apply
To apply, click the “Apply Now” button and complete the online form. Application is open to all composers, regardless of nationality or professional status. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older as of 4 August, 2025.
At Sounds of Now Vienna, we firmly believe that charging application fees is a predatory and unjustifiable practice. Accordingly, we will never charge a fee to apply.
All applicants will need to provide the following:
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Name
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Contact information
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Date of Birth
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Country of residence
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Link to a resume or C.V.
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Links to two work samples (scores) with accompanying recordings
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A brief paragraph describing their artistic practice and interests
If you have questions, please contact us.
Accepted participants will be asked to compose a new piece for a given instrumentation and submit a complete draft of this work by 15 June, 2025. These compositions will be workshopped, revised as needed, and performed during one of the festival’s concerts.