68th INTERNATIONAL ROSTRUM OF COMPOSERS 2022
Palermo, Italy
MAY 31 – JUNE 3
Paris/Palermo, May 24, 2022– A flagship project of the International Music Council (IMC), the International Rostrum of Composers (IRC) will be held this year in Palermo, Italy, following the invitation of our partner, Conservatorio di Musica Alessandro Scarlatti.
Since its inception in 1954, the IRC has become the most important platform for the promotion of contemporary music via radio broadcast while offering a unique forum for professional exchange among radio music producers and presenters. Its central purpose, supported by the European Broadcasting Union, is to provide contemporary musical creations the largest possible number of broadcasts worldwide.
For the last edition only, the works presented have been broadcast through the network of participating radios some 500 times, from Argentina to China. Moreover, since the launch of the Streaming Week in 2015, presented works have been listened on freely accessible streaming more than 8000 times.
During the event in Palermo, delegates of 25 national radio networks from four continents will present some 40 works composed within the five years preceding the Rostrum. After having listened to these works, the assembly of delegates will select and recommend the most distinctive works in two categories: ‘general’ and ‘young composers under 30’. These and other works will be presented in concerts and broadcast during the year following the event by the participating and other interested radio stations. In this way, these works will reach literally billions of listeners.
In its 68-year history, the IRC has revealed the emergence of many of the world’s most gifted composers whilst they are still in the early stage of their career. Renown composers such as Luciano Berio or Agata Zubel had their first international successes when they were presented at the Rostrum.
In addition to the unique outreach generated by broadcasts, the IRC Prize will go to the composer selected in the general category, thanks to the cooperation between IMC and RTP Antena 2 (Portugal). It consists of a commission to be premiered by a Portuguese ensemble in a concert with live recording and broadcast. In the under-30 category, in cooperation with Norrbottensmusiken, the selected composer will receive a commission from the Ensemble Norrbotten Neo to be premiered in Piteå, Sweden.
Besides the listening sessions, delegates will once again be offered opportunities for exchange and professional development including the traditional interview with composers. Delegates will be also invited to get an insight into Palermo’s vibrant cultural scene and history, thanks to the rich side programme organised by our hosts, Conservatorio di Musica Alessandro Scarlatti.
The Rostrum sessions will be co-chaired by Evert van Berkel, Producer at Swedish Radio Ltd, and IMC Secretary General Silja Fischer.
This year’s selection of the Rostrum will be announced at a press conference to be held on June 3rd at 12:30 at the Conservatorio Scarlatti.
For media enquiries: Davide Grosso, International Music Council
rostrum[at]imc-cim.org
IMC is the world’s largest network of music organisations and institutions dedicated to the advancement of essential music rights for all people.We stand for a world where everyone can learn, experience, create, perform and express themselves through music and where artists are recognised and fairly remunerated. IMC brings together people, ideas and actions under the umbrella of the Five Music Rights.
IMC’s network is present in 150 countries on all continents, with national music councils and international, regional and national music organisations as well as specialised organisations in the field of arts and culture. IMC members of honour are chosen among the world’s outstanding professionals, educators, performers and composers. Through its members, IMC has direct access to over 1000 organisations and 600 million persons eager to develop and share knowledge and experience on diverse aspects of musical life.