Europasinfonie – three New Works for an Orchestra that Connects all of Europe

Dresden, 30 September 2026 – The decision has been made: Andrzej Ojczenasz, Damian Dziweńka and Francesco Darmanin have been selected to receive the three composition commissions for Europasinfonie, the project of the Dresdner Sinfoniker and their eleven European orchestral and choral partners. From more than 220 submissions from 26 countries, an international jury has selected three composers whose new works will receive their world
premieres in June 2027 as part of the Europe-wide project. The three selected composers were presented today at a press conference at MESSE DRESDEN, joining the event live by video from their respective countries. They spoke about their musical ideas and their expectations of the extraordinary task of composing for an orchestra that does not perform in a single place, but is distributed across Europe.

A Europe-wide Response
The international composition competition attracted an exceptionally broad response. Composers from 26 countries submitted their works, including France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Ukraine, Slovenia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Iceland and Cyprus.
The competition called for new works that respond to the unique conditions of Europasinfonie: in June 2027, ten orchestras and two choirs from twelve European countries will be connected via the European research and education network GÉANT and perform together in real time. Ultralow latency will be achieved, among other technologies, through systems developed by the Czech research organization CESNET in cooperation with DISK Systems. The participating musicians will in some cases be separated by more than 3,500 kilometers.

Composing for a New Musical Instrument
The commissions present the selected artists with an unusual challenge. Their works are not being written for a traditional orchestra performing together in one place, but for a musical ensemble whose members are distributed across Europe. The technical conditions of real-time transmission – above all the minimal delay between the different locations – thus become part of the musical conception itself.
Two composers will each receive a commission for a 15- to 20-minute work for large symphony orchestra, while a third composer will be commissioned to write a work for orchestra and choir. Europasinfonie also aims to support emerging talent. According to the competition rules, at least one of the selected composers must be 35 years old or younger. The works of Andrzej Ojczenasz (34), Damian Dziweńka (32) und Francesco Darmanin (30) impressed the jury.

An International Jury of Leading European Music Makers
The three composition commissions were selected by an international jury chaired by Andrea Molino, Musical Director and conductor of Europasinfonie, and Markus Rindt, Intendant of the Dresdner Sinfoniker. The jury brought together representatives of the participating institutions as well as internationally renowned composers and musicians. The jury met in Dresden on 28 and 29 September 2026. For representatives of the participating European orchestras and choirs, the meeting was also a rare opportunity for personal encounter: for the first time, numerous project partners came together in one place to exchange ideas about the artistic and organizational development of Europasinfonie.
“What I focused on during the process was the quality of the way of writing and the score itself. As well as the balance between the instrumental groups and the thoughts, ideas and concept behind the composition, of course. It will be exciting to see how the winners develop their compositions during the next months. I am really happy about having three young winners and I hope this project will help to launch their careers”, said jury member Tom Pipeleers representing Brussels Philharmonic.

The Composers Speak for Themselves
At the press conference on 30 September, the three selected composers presented their artistic approaches and offered a first glimpse of their planned works. Their contributions were transmitted live by video from Poland and Italy. With the announcement of the three commissions, the next decisive phase of Europasinfonie begins. Over the coming months, the selected composers will develop their works while engaging with the project's particular technical and musical conditions.

Twelve Countries. One Orchestra.
Europasinfonie brings together ten orchestras and two choirs from twelve European countries to form a single ensemble. In June 2027, 62 string players of the Dresdner Sinfoniker will perform live at MESSE DRESDEN, while the remaining instrumental sections and choirs will join from their respective locations. A specially developed European network and transmission infrastructure makes it possible for the musicians to perform together in real time. Europasinfonie thus combines artistic and technological innovation with a new form of European collaboration. The stage in Dresden becomes the center of a musical space that extends far beyond the boundaries of a conventional concert hall. Distances that would normally separate musicians become relative; physical and virtual presence begin to overlap. The project raises a fundamental question for the future of the arts: How can we come together, work together and experience one another across borders when we are no longer in the same physical place? Europasinfonie explores this question through music – creating a space where European diversity becomes the very structure of the musical experience.

The three new works will receive their world premieres in June 2027 at MESSE DRESDEN. In the months leading up to the concert, further technical tests and rehearsals will progressively bring the geographically distributed musicians, technical teams and composers together as one orchestra.
World Premiere of Europasinfonie: June 2027 | MESSE DRESDEN, Hall 1
Further information: www.europasinfonie.eu

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them