Application Window: July 15–30, 2025
Results Announcement: August 1, 2025
Score Submission Deadline: August 30, 2025
The ForestAria project is launching an international call for women composers based in Europe (ages 21+), inviting them to take part in a unique artistic initiative that celebrates female creativity in contemporary music through a powerful metaphor: the regenerative force of nature.
ForestAria brings together new music for string quartet, conceptual photography, and heritage-rich natural and cultural sites in Romania and Northern Ireland. At the heart of this project is the creation of four original string quartet works by four selected composers, to be performed by the internationally acclaimed ConTempo Quartet in a series of multimedia concerts across Bucharest, Râșnov, Limerick, Galway, and London between September and November 2025.
Each composer will receive a composer’s fee of 10,000 lei (gross) for the commissioned work, and will be featured in a conceptual photographic portrait by visual artist Mihai Benea, whose technique blends human features with natural textures to evoke an organic integration of the artist into the forest ecosystem.
The project addresses themes of gender equality in the arts, environmental awareness, and the role of image in cultural messaging, creating a platform where contemporary music and visual art intersect in powerful new ways.
Eligibility and Submission Requirements
We are looking for four composers of various generations, based in Romania or other European countries, who:
• are professional female composers aged 21 or older;
• have an interest in contemporary music creation for string quartet;
• are open to interdisciplinary artistic collaboration.
To apply, send the following documents in English or Romanian to: office@ucimr.ro (Subject: ForestAria) between July 15 and July 30, 2025:
• A CV (in any format – narrative, Europass, etc.);
• A copy of a valid ID;
• A brief letter of intent (max. 1 page);
• Links to a portfolio of past compositions (various instrumental settings preferred).
Timeline:
• July 15–30, 2025 – Application period
• August 1, 2025 – Results announced on www.ucimr.ro and via email
• August 30, 2025 – Submission deadline for final scores
Project curated by composer and cultural manager Diana Gheorghiu
Organized by UCIMR – The Romanian Association of Music Performers, Co-funded by The Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN)
For further details or questions, please contact: office@ucimr.ro
Be part of a visionary journey where music, image, and nature converge to amplify the voice of women contemporary composers.