The 2017 GAUDEAMUS AWARD NOMINEES have been selected

A professional jury consisting of Mayke Nas, Christopher Trapani and Joe Cutler has drawn up a shortlist for the 2017 Gaudeamus Award. This incentive prize for composers up to 30 years of age was conferred for the first time in 1957. The hotly coveted international award consists of a composition commission worth € 5,000. No fewer than 288 scores from 36 different countries were submitted for the 2017 competition. The judging panel selected the following five composers to enter the prestitious competition next year: Chaz Underriner (1987, USA), Ivan Vukosavljevic (1986, SRB), Aart Strootman (1987, NLD), Sky Macklay (1988, USA) and William Dougherty (1988, USA)

More than one work by each nominee will feature at Gaudeamus Muziekweek in September 2017. The festival is a showcase for the shortlisted composers. Both the audience and (international) professionals in the field get a chance to see (and hear) them from an unusually broad perspective. The winner of the Gaudeamus Award 2017 will be announced after the closing concert of the festival.

Up-and-coming composers see the Gaudeamus Award as international recognition for their work and a springboard in their careers. Gaudeamus Muziekweek continues to support the nominees once the festival is over. Their works are performed elsewhere, additional compositions are commissioned, and the fledging composers are invited to take part in future festivals and coproductions with other organisations worldwide.

History of the Gaudeamus Award
The seminal Dutch composers Louis Andriessen and Michel van der Aa were younger than 30 when they won the prestigious prize. The then 22-year old Peter Schat was the first to receive the renowned award in 1957. Each year, a different professional jury assesses hundreds of submissions by the most talented composers. Each year a maximum of five composers are nominated for the Gaudeamus Award.  

Gaudeamus Muziekweek Academy

During Gaudeamus Muziekweek Academy, which takes place prior to the festival, the ensembles will rehearse the selected works in close collaboration with the nominees, who will also be commissioned to write a brief piece for Kluster 5 (the ensemble in residence). Additional meetings and workshops will be scheduled throughout the Gaudeamus Muziekweek Academy for the benefit and enjoyment of the composers as well as the audience.

The Gaudeamus Muziekweek runs from Wednesday 6 September through Sunday 10 September 2017. More information: muziekweek.nl