Paris / Vilnius, May 13, 2024 – A flagship project of the International Music Council (IMC), the International Rostrum of Composers (IRC) will be held for the first time in its history in Lithuania, thanks to the invitation of our longstanding partner LRT Klasika along with the Lithuanian Composers’ Union.
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, strongly supported by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), is to provide contemporary musical creations the largest possible number of broadcasts worldwide.
Over the course of its 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. Renowned composers such as Tōru Takemitsu or Justé Janulyte had their first international successes when they were presented at the Rostrum.
During the event in Vilnius, delegates of 21 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 thanks to the cooperation with the EBU. In this way, these works will reach literally billions of listeners. In addition to the unique outreach generated by broadcasts, selected and recommended composers will be offered additional opportunities to further develop their career.
In the General category, thanks to the partnership between IMC and Norrlandsoperan (Umeå, Sweden), the selected composer will benefit from an IRC co-commission for the Norrlandoperan Symphony Orchestra. In the Under-30 category, the selected composer will receive the IRC Prize in the form of a bursary offered by IMC and supported by RTP–Radio Television Portugal/Antena 2.
Moreover, the prestigious Vienna-based publishing firm Universal Edition will offer to the two selected composers, complimentary access to its SCODO publishing service.
Besides the listening sessions, delegates will once again be offered opportunities for exchange and professional development including the traditional interview with composers which will bring together Kristupas Bubnelis, Dominykas Digimas and Jūra Elena Šedytė.
In addition, to mark this 70th anniversary, a series of special activities will take place such as a celebration concert by the acclaimed Synaesthesis Ensemble and a deep dive into the music history of the Baltic State, thanks to the collaboration with the Lithuanian Composers’ Union.
The Rostrum sessions will be co-chaired by Gregor Pirš, Head of Music, Ars Programme at Radio Slovenia, and IRC Secretary, Davide Grosso.
This year’s selection of the Rostrum will be announced at a press conference to be held on May 17th at 1 PM at the Lithuanian Composers’ Union.
For media enquiries: Davide Grosso, International Music Council
d.grosso(at)imc-cim.org
