Klavier

Nicolas Hodges’ piano interpretation studio will be presented as a series of open classes each lasting approximately three hours. Participants are expected to attend every class. Please note that additional private lessons are not possible. Participants must prepare a varied and balanced programme including at least four works, from the following three categories:

• 1. A solo work by a composer attending Darmstadt in 2025 as a tutor: Mark Andre, Georges Aperghis, Marcos Balter, Malin Bång, Natasha Barrett, Chaya Czernowin, Arne Gieshoff, Aaron Holloway-Nahum, Clara Iannotta, George Lewis, Cassandra Miller, Brigitta Muntendorf, Sarah Nemtsov, Eva Reiter, Rebecca Saunders, Luxa M. Schüttler, Hannes Seidl, Tyshawn Sorey, Miroslav Srnka, Simon Steen-Andersen, Steven Kazuo Takasugi, Hans Thomalla. Time permitting, these composers may visit the class and work with the pianists.
• 2. A solo work by a composer born or residing in your country of birth or residence, which has not yet been performed in Germany.
• 3. At least two other solo works written between 1945 and the present day.

TWO PIANO FOCUS: Four members of the class will be preparing performances of Pierre Boulez’ Structures Livre 2, for public performance in the second week of the studio. If you have performed the work already, please state which part you played. Other works for two pianos are additionally welcome.

Works for prepared piano or with electronics can be presented, bearing in mind practical constraints to be discussed in advance. If you intend to present any works involving playing anywhere other than on the keyboard and with the fingers, please inform us of the details in your application.

Please note that all the pieces in the program submitted will be studied in Darmstadt: Changes can only be made by prior agreement.

Trigger It Yourself

Weekend Course for Pianists at the Piano Studio
Dates: 26–27 July

Two-day workshop on interpreting multimedia piano works, led by Małgorzata Walentynowicz

The course will begin with a presentation of her multimedia projects, featuring a selection of pieces written for piano, electronics and video. Małgorzata Walentynowicz will also discuss the challenges faced by performers when practicing multimedia works, both as soloists and within ensembles.

The course will reflect on the latest developments in instrumental performance, focusing on compositions where performers control electronic sound changes using devices such as keyboards, synthesizers, MIDI pedals, talkboxes or MP3 players. Participants do not need to have access to all the equipment beforehand. Pieces can be prepared on an acoustic instrument, with the electronic elements explored later in the course.

Our repertoire includes works by current and former Darmstadt tutors and guests, such as Brigitta Muntendorf, Luxa M. Schüttler, Sarah Nemtsov and Annesley Black. A detailed list of pieces will be sent to participants. If you have questions concerning the course, please contact Małgorzata Walentynowicz (piano@darmstaedter-ferienkurse.de) beforehand.

Application

Applicants for the piano studio are requested to merge all links and documents into ONE SINGLE PDF file (LASTNAME_Firstname_Piano2025.pdf) and send it by ⏰ 10 February 2025 to:

piano@darmstaedter-ferienkurse.de

Required documents:

• Biography/CV
• List of all solo repertoire studied or performed, from all epochs. (Please also list any post-1945 chamber or ensemble works studied or performed.)
• Your choice of programme for study as detailed above. (All works from the submitted program will be expected to be presentable in Darmstadt.)
• Recordings (as links to a private cloud or links to Youtube/Vimeo/Soundcloud etc.) of at least three pieces, at least two composed after 1945. These do not have to be from the program to be studied and are only for selection purposes.

Please note that we cannot consider any remarks, links or information outside the PDF!
If you have sound or video files, please upload them on a cloud and provide the link in the PDF, thank you very much!

If you have questions, please e-mail Nicolas Hodges at piano@darmstaedter-ferienkurse.de before making your application.

Applicants will be notified in March 2025. Online booking for the piano studio will be opened afterwards to the chosen participants.

Important: Please take note of our data protection policy and the conditions for participation for the Darmstadt Summer Course before submitting your application.