Jan Peter de Graaff (Netherlands) was the selected composer in the Under-30 category at the international competition Rostrum of Composers in 2018. The International Music Council and Swedish Radio have co-commissioned a work which will be premiered at the New Directions Festival in Pitea (Sweden). Pascal is inspired by air pressure – which is measured in Pascal – and the meteorologist Buys-Ballot’s law on the movement of the air. In this composition, he has translated air movements and pressures into rhythms and harmonies.

Norrbotten NEO

In 2007 the County Council of Norrbotten, Sweden, made a unique decision: to give a group of players a permanent position as an ensemble. You may argue that this doesn’t sound all that unique.

But when you add the fact that Norrbotten NEO’s mission is to specialise in contemporary chamber music, the picture becomes all the more colourful. In Sweden, NEO is the only ensemble of

its kind. Residing in the northernmost part of Sweden – Norrbotten – the seven players have established themselves as a strong exponent for Swedish musical excellence and creative driving force. The definition of ”contemporary” is often understood in its broadest sense: it comprises of music written almost a hundred years ago up to the music of today. The flexibility of the players, as well as their understanding of music as an art form with deep roots, was therefore essential when the recruitment process started some ten years ago. That they also needed to be virtuoso players goes without saying. The core instrumentation of NEO is flute, clarinet, percussion, piano, violin, viola and cello. These particular instruments – and the personalities playing them – are carefully chosen to form a point of departure for many other combinations. Norrbotten NEO often invite guest musicians according to the needs of a particular work.

The versatility of the players is constantly put to relevant use. NEO’s players also function as leaders in the Norrbotten Chamber Orchestra, and they also take part in the productions of Piteå Chamber Opera. With its mission to actively contribute to the development of Swedish chamber music, the ensemble commissions both young and well established composers to write for them.

An important part of NEOs work includes collaborative projects with different training courses for composers. The ensemble currently collaborates with the composition departments at the College of Music in Piteå and at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. Since 2007 Norrbotten NEO has premiered over 120 new musical works.

In 2012 the Society of Swedish Composers awarded NEO their prize for outstanding performers – the solid reputation of the ensemble has also brought concerts and tours with several regional concert institutes and concert halls thoughout Sweden. In 2013 NEO was asked to play at the renowned Polar Prize concert in honour of the laureate Kaija Saariaho.

Part of being a modern, creative and inventive ensemble like Norrbotten NEO is to take an active part in the local community of Norrbotten. Outreach projects for children and frequent touring in the small concert venues of Lapland are all part of what makes NEO a truly great ensemble. NEO is always on the look-out for ways of expanding and challenging the perception of music.