16th International Young Composers Academy will be held from September 1 to September 15, 2026 in Tchaikovsky-city with the final concerts in Tchaikovsky-city (September 13-14) and in Moscow (September 16-17). The Academy will host concerts, lectures, meetings, individual and group lessons, master-classes and presentations.
The jury will select 22 young composers (12 students, 3 trainees and 7 observers) from all over the world, their new pieces will be performed by Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble (MCME), Vacuum string quartet and N’Caged at the final concert series. Internationally-renowned composers are invited as tutors. Full tutors’ faculty is to be announced later. There is no application or entry fee.
Selection procedure:
Deadline for the applications is June 1 2026.
Date of birth – 1991 or later (in some cases it’s possible to apply if you’re older than 35, please contact us regarding this option).
Before August 25, 2026 the 12 selected composers should send the draft of the score.
In case composer rejects participation, another composer is invited instead.
Overview:
Composers are invited to write a piece lasting 6–8 minutes (or a complete section of a larger work) for one of the proposed combinations of performers: Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble, Vacuum string quartet, and the vocal ensemble N’Caged. The use of electronics is allowed, but the technical rider must be coordinated with the organizers.
When assigning instrumental ensembles, the organizers will try to accommodate participants’ preferences.
The Academy may also offer participation as a trainee or free auditors, who will have individual lessons with tutors and access to all educational events (however, their compositions will not be performed as part of the Academy).
Applications are to be sent online and must include:
1) name, surname
2) date and place of birth
3) short bio (up to 150 words)
4) 2-3 scores for any lineup in pdf (in case of application to Laboratory of electroacoustic music one of them must be with electronics)
5) 2-3 recordings (not necessarily of the same pieces)
6) the photo
Important note: for points 4-7 please, prepare links and make sure that the access is not restricted and that they are active until June 30, 2026.
The link to submit application form:
https://forms.yandex.ru/u/69cd56cb90fa7b023457422e
Please don’t hesitate to contact us for any questions: moscowensemble.academy@gmail.com
Financial conditions:
There is no application or entry fee.
Selected composers residing in Russia only pay for travel to Moscow. Travel from Moscow to Tchaikovsky city and back, as well as food, accommodation, and tuition, are covered by the Academy. Participants from abroad may take part either in person or online via Zoom.
Accommodation and study:
Participants coming to Tchaikovsky city will be accommodated in a hotel in double rooms with sink in Sanatorium. Breakfast, lunch, dinner are provided. Internet access. Swimming pool. Gym. Park.
All events will take place in the Tchaikovsky Musical College and Children Art School (three minutes of walking)
Honourable mentions are previewed by the end of the Academy:
Invitation to the next Academy, performances during 2026-2027 concert season in Russia and abroad, etc.
The final concerts of new student works will take place in Tchaikovsky on September 13-14th and in Moscow on September 16-17th. Students can stay in Moscow at their own. The Academy Administration can’t cover accommodation in Moscow but can help to find the cheap hotels/hostels.
You can find more information here: https://m-c-m-e.ru/eng/academy/application/