A 'musical embrace' to mark the start of Andrés Orozco-Estrada's tenure

Andrés Orozco-Estrada wishes to begin his tenure as Chief Conductor of the Wiener Symphoniker in October 2020 with a 'musical embrace'. To fulfil this goal, the orchestra, an ensemble steeped in Viennese tradition, is commissioning a new work for brass and percussion. 

The musical embrace will begin the programme of Orozco-Estrada's inaugural concert in the Great Hall of the Konzerthaus Vienna. The work will be performed from various positions away from the concert platform, so that the music will surround, embrace and envelope the audience from all sides. This extraordinary spatial musical experience will represent a gesture of welcome to the audience from the incoming Chief Conductor and his orchestra.

The commission of the work, to be ca. 5 minutes in length, will be awarded to the winner of a two-stage selection process. 

1.    Composers of any gender and any nationality, born after 11th October 1984 are eligible. 
2.    Composers interested in applying may submit application documents - including scores and audio samples of their existing works by 23  November 2019. 

All submissions will be evaluated by a specialist jury who will shortlist up to 10 candidates, from whom Andrés Orozco-Estrada together with selected representatives of the orchestra will choose a winner by 16th January, 2020.

The winner of the commission will be invited to attend the rehearsals and performance in Vienna at the orchestra's expense. In addition to the media attention the inaugural concert of Andrés Orozco-Estrada with the Wiener Symphoniker will guarantee, the winner will be awarded prize money of Euro 1500, half of which is to be paid upon the commission being awarded and half to be paid upon submission of the completed composition. A recording of the performance of the work is planned.