ISCM World New Music Days – Columna Infinită

Bucharest | Bucureşti, May 23-31, 2026

PROGRAM

Saturday May 23rd

16:00 – NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MUSIC, Enescu Hall

PULSAR(T) Percussion Ensemble

Coordinator: Sorin Rotaru

Sara Merișcă, Cristina Toma, Erica Maranciuc, Petre Mihăilescu, Rareș Cristea, Tudor Baicu, Sorin Rotaru – percussions

Guest: Daniel Dascălu (piano)

George Balint (RO) – Mostly Percussion (2005), Duo-Fantasy for percussion and piano (Sorin Rotaru, Daniel Dascălu) [10’] 

ISCM Taipei Section – Yun–Chen Chang (b. 1994) – Towards (homage to Brancusi) (2025) for percussion trio [9’]

Liviu Dănceanu (RO) – GAME op. 65 for percussion quartet

Nicolae Brânduş (RO) – Rythmodia, concerto for solo percussion (1982) [17’]

Steve Reich (SUA) – Mallet Quartet (2009) [16’] 

Official opening performance

18:30 – NATIONAL BUCHAREST OPERA

Revuluţia / Revulution

Music: Adrian Iorgulescu (RO) – after „Conu’ Leonida față cu Reacțiunea” / “Master Leonida Faces the Reactionary Movement” by I.L. Caragiale

Conductor: Cristian Mandeal – guest

Soloists and Orchestra of the Bucharest National Opera

Conu’ Leonida: Andrei Petre (tenor)

Efimița: Sorana Negrea (mezzo)

Safta: Daniela Cârstea (soprano)

Opera Director: Alexandru Nagy

Choreography: Sandra Mavhima – guest

Set design: Andreea Koch

Video: Radu Spiridon

Video consultant: Constantin Simion

Lights: Alin Popa

Assistant set designer: Simona Gruia

Sunday May 24th

11:00 – MOGOŞOAIA PALACE, Sala Scoarţelor

TRIO LARSON

Andreea Greluş – violin, Mircea Marian – cello, Cătălina Bordeanu – piano

ISCM Australian SectionJessie Leov (b. 1994, N.Z.) – Convergency (2021) for trio [5’]

ARFA (Romania)Livia Teodorescu–Ciocănea (b. 1959) – Au Café Momus (2025) for violin and piano [11’]

ISCM South Korean SectionJongwoo Kim (b. 1968) – SAMMULNORI (2024) for violin, cello and piano [9’]

ISCM Greek SectionMyrtó Nizami (b. 1994) – Gone in No Time (2022) for cello [7’]

Vietnam Contemporary Music Centre (VCMC)Do Hoang Linh (b. 1979) – Horse riding long distances (2025) for violin, cello, piano [4’]

ISCM Hong Kong SectionEnzhe Zheng (b. 1996) – Beyond the Sky (2022) for ensemble and tape [6’]

13:00-15:00 – MOGOŞOAIA PALACE- Cuhnie / Cookhouse

Electronic music installation 

Octavian Nemescu (RO) – Natural – Cultural, music for a mountain top at sunrise, fixed media (1973/83) [21’]

Octavian Nemescu (RO) – Gradeația, music for the ambiance of a monastery, fixed media (1982) [27’]

15:00 – MOGOŞOAIA PALACE, Sala Scoarţelor

Recital | Ion Bogdan Ştefănescu – flute

Individual Submission: CANADA Heather Hindman (b. 1976) – Seule (2024), suite for solo flute: “Brace”, “Revive”, “Sift, “Pith” for alto flute [10’]

Carmen Maria Cârneci (RO) – …une main immense (1991) for bass flute [8’]

ISCM Icelandic SectionKolbeinn Bjarnason (b. 1958) – Nocturnes (2025) for flute [13’]

Individual Submission: CROATIATomislav Oliver (b. 1987) – Mixordia IV “transmitting” (2021) for flute [7’]

Diana Rotaru (RO) – Solomonarul (2018) for alto flute [10’]

ISCM Finnish SectionTytti Arola (b. 1990) – Helmi (2024) for flute and electronics [8’]

20:00 – ARCUB Gabroveni Hall

ARCADIA Quartet

Ana Török, Răsvan Dumitru (violin), Traian Boală (viola), Zsolt Török (cello)

Madli Marje Gildemann Sink (b. 1994, Estonia) – [new work] – ISCM Commission (winner of the 2023 ISCM Young Composer Award) [10’]

ISCM USA SectionCharles Peck (b. 1988) – Arcade (2021) for string quartet [8’]

ISCM Japanese SectionSatoru Ikeda (b. 1961) – Dicotyledon (2020) for string quartet [11’]

Adrian Pop (RO) – Mătasea şi metalul (The Silk and. the Metal) (2011-2013) for string quartet [20’]

Monday May 25th

9:00-13:00 – NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MUSIC, Auditorium Hall

Assembly ISCM (1)

17:00 – NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MUSIC, Enescu Hall

Recital | Emil Vişenescu – clarinet

Guest: Adriana Maier – piano

ISCM Austrian SectionPetra Stump–Linshalm (b. 1975) – Touching Sound (2020) for clarinet and piano [10’]

ISCM Chile SCD SectionCristian Morales Ossio (b. 1967) – Draft for Extinct Birds (2018) for clarinet contrabass [5’]

ISCM Slovenian SectionMatic Romih (b. 1996) – Transcendence (2020) for clarinet in Bb [3’]

ISCM Swedish SectionLina Järnegard (b. 1979) – Inside Voices (2025) for clarinet and electronics [7’]

Ulpiu Vlad (RO) – Gladiole-n rezonanță [Gladioli in Resonance] for clarinet, piano and tape [9’]

Tiberiu Olah (RO) – Sonata for clarinet solo “Pasărea Măiastră” (1963) [7’]

Ştefan Niculescu (RO) – Duplum (1982) for clarinet and piano [8’]   

19:00 – ARCUB Gabroveni Hall

Recital | Cătălin Răducanu – cimbalom, piano

Guest: Cătălin Creţu – live electronics

Cristian Bence-Muk (RO) – [new work] for cimbalom [6’]

ISCM Wallonia–Brussels Federation SectionPaul Pankert (b. 1965) – Partita Ritardata (2021) for piano and live electronics [15’]

ISCM Portuguese SectionDaniel Moreira (b. 1983) – Curta–metragem nº 2 (Brumas de outono) (2025) for cimbalom [9’]

Individual Submission: AUSTRALIAMichael Hannan (b. 1949) – Reaching for the stars (2025) for piano [7’]

20:00 – ARCUB Gabroveni Hall

AUDIO-VIDEO Concert & performance

ISCM Polish SectionPaweł Hendrich (b. 1979) – Tenebrilis (2025), fixed media – Video: Barnaba Mikułowski [4’]

Scottish Music CentreLouise Harris (b. 1983) – Eira (2025), fixed media [4’]

USAFred Szymanski (b. 1950) – TOR (2022), fixed media [7’]

Irinel Anghel (RO) – Nepterra™ – The Advertisement That Forgot to Stay Inside (2025, W.P.) – Video: Alexandru Claudiu Maxim; performance: Irinel Anghel [15’]

Tuesday May 26th

9:00-13:00 – NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MUSIC, Auditorium Hall

Assembly ISCM (2)

17:00 – Cervantes Institute

GAUDEAMUS Quartet

Sebastian Tegzesiu, Raluca Irimia – violins, Adrian Vasile – viola, Mircea Marian – cello

Individual submission: USAMark Micchelli (b. 1991) – A Difference of Sixty–Eight Days (2021) for string quartet [11’]

Aurel Stroe (RO) – W. A. Mozart – sound introspections (1994), six short pieces for string trio [10’]

CANADAJames Hamilton Lowrie (b. 1990) – On Endless Hold (2022) for string quartet [8’]

ISCM Spanish SectionNúria Giménez Comas (Spain/France, b. 1980) – Lluor. Désir d’étoiles (2024) for violin and cello [11’]

Individual submission: CHINASongfeng Tian (b. 1994) – Winter solstice (2021) for string quartet [6’]

19:00 – ARCUB Gabroveni Hall

ATEM Ensemble

Bogdan Preda – flute, Cristian Miclea – clarinet, Cristina Mălăncioiu – violin, Darius Tereu – cello, Lucas Kohl – piano; Artistic Director: Gabriel Mălăncioiu; Guest: Gabriel Almaşi (electronics)

Stephen F. Austin State UniversityAsher Lurie (b. 2003) – Time Breach 807B (2024) for ensemble [6’]

ISCM Gotland SectionIda Lundén (b. 1971) – Tyskamossarnas sugluft (2024) for ensemble [12’]

ISCM Slovenian SectionAleksandra Bajde (b. 1987) – A Clockwork Duo (2023) for violin and violoncello [6’]

ISCM Canadian SectionAnna Pidgorna (b. 1985) – The Stockhausen Menagerie (2022) for flute and clarinet [9’]

Gabriel Almași (RO) – Structural variations in domestic mechanisms. Case study 1: The Hinge (2025) for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano and electronics [6’]

Călin Ioachimescu (RO) – Tetrachords (2015) for flute, violin, cello and piano [10’]

Wednesday May 27th

9:00-13:00 – NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MUSIC, Auditorium Hall

Assembly ISCM (3)

17:00 – THE ROMANIAN ATHENEUM

“George Enescu” Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor: Gabriel Bebeşelea

Soloist: Valentin Șerban – violin

George EnescuConcert Overture on Romanian Folk Themes, Op. 32 (1948) [9′]

ISCM Faroe Islands SectionEli Tausen á Lava (b. 1997) – let me cry (2022) for orchestra [10’]

Béla BartókRhapsody No. 1 (1928) for violin and orchestra [10′]

Iannis XenakisRebonds B (1989) for solo percussion [6′]

Dan Dediu (RO) – Levante (2018) for orchestra [13’]

György KurtágJelek, játékok és üzenetek [Signs, Games and Messages] for solo string instruments – selections

György LigetiRomanian Concerto (1951) for orchestra [15′]

19:00 – RADIO HALL

Radio Chamber Orchestra

Conductor: Cristian Mandeal

Soloist: Diana Moş – violin

Anatol Vieru (1926-1998) – Memorial (1990) for orchestra [20’]

ISCM Israeli SectionZiv Cojocaru (b. 1977) – Whence Comest Thou (2023) for chamber orchestra [10’]

Doina Rotaru (b. 1951) – Himere (2020) for violin and orchestra [25’]

ISCM Ukraine SectionYurii Pikush (b. 1998) – Escape Velocity (2024) for chamber orchestra [14’]

Thursday May 28th

9:00-13:00 – NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MUSIC, Auditorium HALL

Assembly ISCM (4)

17:00 – NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MUSIC, Opera Hall

PSALMODIA Byzantine Choir

of the National University of Music in Bucharest

Conductor: Nicolae Gheorghiță

Soloist: Ribale Wehbé (Liban/Romania)

Τη Υπερμάχω Στρατηγώ (Greek), Fourth Plagal mode – Anonymous

Hristos a Înviat! / Christ is Risen! (Greek, Slavonic, Romanian), First Plagal mode – Anonymous

Aliluia, Iată mirele / Behold the Bridegroom cometh at midnight (Holy Week Troparion), Fourth Plagal mode – Macarie Hieromonk (c.1770–1836).

Βηθλεέμ ἑτοιμάζου, Fourth Plagal mode – Petros Peloponnesios (c 1735 – 1778)

Cuvânt bun / Λόγον Ἀγαθόν (Polyeleos) Fourth Plagal mode – Theodoros Phokaeus (1790–1851)

Binecuvântările Învierii / Blessed Art Thou, O Lord, Third mode – Sebastian Barbu-Bucur (1930-2015)

Ο Άγγελος εβόα (Arabic), First mode – Anonymos

Ἄξιόν ἐστιν (Arabic), Fist Plagal mode – Mitri El Murr (1880 – 1969)

Canonul Sfinţilor Brâncoveni (cântarea a 9-a)/ The Canon of the Brâncoveanu Saints (9th ode), First mode – Cornel Coman

Γεύσασθε καί ἴδετε / Taste and See (Communion Hymn), First mode tetrafonosIoannēs Kladas Lampadarios (fl c1400)

19:00 – RADIO HALL

MADRIGAL “MARIN CONSTANTIN” National Choir

Guests: Children from the CANTUS MUNDI National Program

Conductor: Anna Ungureanu

COSIMTE (Spain)Leandro A. Martin (b. 1974) – Juego de Roles (2022) for children choir [4’]

ISCM Netherlands SectionCecilia Arditto Delsoglio (b. 1966) – Anatomy of a jar (2020) for children choir [4’]

Individual Submission: AUSTRIAGerhard Praesent (b. 1957) – The Little Vampire (2017) for children choir [4’]

USAJakub Polaczyk (b. 1983) – Get some sleep, darling (2024) for children choir, with toy glockenspiel [3’]

Gabriel Mălăncioiu (RO) – Ritual for a Smiling Flower (2016) for children choir [4’]

Samuel Hvozdík (b. 1993, Slovakia) – Lichtmusik IV  (2026, W.P.) for choir and live electronics – ISCM Comission (winner of the 2024 ISCM Young Composer Award) [10’]

ISCM Chengdu SectionMao Zhu (b. 1981) – Fishes’ Tears (2025) for choir [5’]

ISCM Estonian SectionEvelin Seppar (b. 1986) – Iris (2024) for choir [7’]

ISCM Hungarian SectionPeter Zombola (b. 1983) – Nunc Dimittis (2024) for choir [4’]

ISCM Norwegian SectionBente Leiknes Thorsen (b. 1980) – Laughing my head off / Singing your heart in (2024) for choir [10’]

ISCM Irish SectionCaterina Schembri (b. 1993) – Ode to Psyche (2025) for choir [7’]

Friday May 29th

9:00-16:00 – New Europe College

Musicological Conference | György Kurtág and Anatol Vieru – 100

Coordinator: Valentina Sandu-Dediu

László Tihanyi (Budapest, Liszt Academy), György Kurtág – an atypical great composer

Olguța Lupu (National University of Music Bucharest), Anatol Vieru – A Portrait

Arnaud Arbet,  Five years as György Kurtág’s assistant during the composition of his opera Fin de partie (2014-2019) 

Laurențiu Beldean (Brașov, Transylvania University), Composition as a Labyrinth. Concerto No. 1 for Flute and orchestra/ Ricercare by Anatol Vieru

Irina Nițu (Bucharest, George Enescu National Museum): Composer and
virtuoso in dialogue: Daniel Kientzy and the saxophone repertoire of
Anatol Vieru

George Păiș (National University of Music Bucharest): Modes and sets. A parallel between Anatol Vieru’s modal thinking and pitch-class set theory.

Valentina Sandu-Dediu (National University of Music Bucharest & New Europe College): Anatol Vieru in context: different perspectives on Eratosthenes’ Sieve

László Vikarius (Budapest, Liszt Academy), The Composition of Kurtág’s Seven Songs, Op. 22

Patrick Zuk (Durham University), Anatol Vieru and the Soviet Context

Iulia Mogoșan (National Academy of Music Gheorghe Dima, Cluj), György Kurtág and Anatol Vieru – Some Connections

17:00 – Tinerimea Română Hall

Recital | Diana Moş – violin and Adriana Maier – piano

JFC, Japan Federation of ComposersHisataka Nishimori (b. 1986) – Souten no Raika (Lightning in Azure) (2024) for violin and piano [6’]

Le Vivier (Canada)Zosha Di Castri (b. 1985) – Sprung Testament (2023) for violin and piano [14’]

ISCM Slovak SectionIris Szeghy (Switzerland, b. 1956) – Elegies and Arabesques (2025) for violin [10’]

USA Will Rowe (b. 1992) – Rituals (2021) for violin [6’]

Mihaela Vosganian (RO) – Broken (2020) for violin and piano [12’]

Mihai Măniceanu (RO) – Crescendo (2012) for violin solo [6’]

19:00 – RADIO HALL

National Radio Orchestra

Conductor: Cristian Măcelaru

ISCM Serbian SectionPredrag Radisaveljvić (b. 1993) – Buds and Petals (2023) for orchestra [11’]

ISCM Estonian SectionHelena Tulve (b. 1972) – Wand’ring Bark (2024) for orchestra [10’]

ISCM Shanghai SectionJixue Wu (b. 1973) – SOLILOQUY (2021) for orchestra [10’]

ISCM Polish SectionMaciej Kabza (b. 1990) – asc / desc – (no) ending (2024) for orchestra [12’]

Saturday May 30th

11:00 – NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MUSIC, Opera Hall

ELECTRONIC CONCERT 1

Florida International University (USA)Huichun Yang (b. 1999) – Touch Improv (2025), fixed media [15’]

ISCM British SectionJiajing Zhao (b. 1996) – FOMO (2025), fixed media [7’]

ISCM Latvian SectionAgita Reke (b. 1992) – Uninhibited (2024), fixed media [6’]

Michigan Technological UniversityAnthony Marasco (b. 1986) – Migration Script (2022), fixed media [11’]

Sorin Lerescu (RO) – VOICES II for MIDI Controller (2020) – fixed media [11’]

17:00 – NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MUSIC, Opera Hall

COULEURS Ensemble

Conductor and Artistic Director: Alexandru Murariu

ISCM Croatian SectionSanda Majurec (b. 1971) – Citywalk (2019) for ensemble [8’]

ISCM Lithuanian SectionDiana Čemerytė (Germany, b. 1974) – „Meine Seele wartet…“, after listening to Bach (2020) for ensemble [8’]

ISCM Swiss SectionPaul Clift (b. 1978) – On the celestial hierarchy (2014) for ensemble [9’]

Musikagileak (Basque Country)Mikel Iturregi (b. 1997) – Isila bezain ilun (2024) for ensemble [6’]

Individual Submission: CYPRUSEvis Sammoutis (b. 1979) – Secret Garden (2018) for ensemble [6’]

Alexandru Murariu (RO) – Layers I (2024) for ensemble [8’]

19:00 – NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MUSIC, Enescu Hall

PROFIL SINFONIETTA

Conductor: Tiberiu Soare

ISCM Danish SectionLouis Franz Aguirre (b. 1968) – Bembé a Obbatalá y Oddúa (2017) for ensemble [10’]

Music Centre SlovakiaPeter Javorka (b. 1993) – sans Marteau et sans Maître (2024) for large ensemble [16’]

Prague Spring FestivalJan Ryant Dřízal (Czech Rep., b. 1986) – Morphing Amadeus (2025) for large ensemble [5’]

Ştefan Niculescu (RO) – Undecimum (1997-1998) [15’] OSSIA Sequentia (1994) [10’]

Sunday May 31st

11:00 – NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MUSIC, Opera Hall

ELECTRONIC CONCERT 2

ISCM Flemish SectionGeorge De Decker (b. 1951) – CORO: VERSA EST IN LUCTUM (2022), fixed media [13’]

ISCM German SectionClemens von Reusner (b. 1957) – fleeting experience (2025), fixed media [8’]

Individual Submission: USASteven Layton (b. 1956) – The Memory Room (2016), fixed media [7’]

ISCM Romanian SectionCătălin Crețu (b. 1971) – Richblick (2017), fixed media [6’]

ISCM Welsh SectionRichard Barrett (Netherlands, b. 1959) – Luminous (2019), fixed media [14’]

17:00 – NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MUSIC, Enescu Hall

CONCERTO String Orchestra

Conductor: Bogdan Vodă; Soloist: Ion Bogdan Ştefănescu – flute

ISCM Latvian SectionAnna Veismane (b. 1976) – Versus (2024) for string orchestra [11’]

ISCM New Zealand Sectionlucky pollock (b. 2000) – resilience (pluto trine saturn) (2024) for string orchestra [6’]

Viorel Munteanu (RO) – Umbre şi geneze [Shadows and Genesis], concerto for flute and string orchestra [20’]

20:00 – CONTROL CLUB

OPENING THEORY

JAZZ-ROCK CONCERT

George Păiș – composition, synthesizers; Ștefan Stoianovici – piano / keyboards; Alex Mușat – drumset.