ECCO Call for works – Athelas Sinfonietta Copenhagen
The European Composer and Songwriter Alliance (ECSA) invites submissions for its 21st European Contemporary Composers Orchestra (ECCO) Concert, to be performed in Copenhagen.
ECCO is an initiative of the Committee for Composers of Art and Classical Music of ECSA (known as the ECF committee). It is ECSA’s flagship project for contemporary art music and is co-funded by Creative Europe (European Commission). It is dedicated to the performance and promotion of contemporary repertoire, the visibility of European composers, the development of new audiences, and the encouragement of cross-border collaboration.
Performance and Venue
The selected works will be presented in a public concert performed by Athelas Sinfonietta Copenhagen, to be held during the second week of October 2026 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Partners and Contributions
This edition of ECCO is realised in partnership with Kyiv Contemporary Music Days (KCMD), strengthening ECCO’s cross-border dimension and supporting the visibility of Ukrainian contemporary music within the European context.
Art Music Denmark also joins the project as a valued contributing partner, supporting the realisation and dissemination of this edition.
Available Instrumentation
The concert is conceived for the following instrumentation, with the optional inclusion of electronics, multimedia, or visual elements:
Woodwinds
Flute · Oboe · Clarinet · Bassoon
Brass
Horn · Trumpet · Trombone
Percussion
2 Percussionists
Keyboards / Plucked
Piano · Harp
Strings
2 Violins · Viola · Cello · Double Bass
Electronics, multimedia (optional)
Artistic Framework
A wide range of instrumental formations drawing on the above-listed instrumentation is eligible, ranging from 8 to 16 musicians.
Works may include electronics, multimedia, or visual components, provided that technical requirements are clearly specified.
The preferred duration is up to 11 minutes; works of up to 15 minutes may be considered.
Particular consideration may be given to works composed within the past ten years.
Programme Duration and Artistic Direction
The concert programme will have an approximate duration of 60 minutes of music.
There will be at least three works selected from the Call, including at least one work by a Ukrainian composer. Additional works may be included for curatorial reasons, including one work proposed by Athelas Sinfonietta and one work proposed by KCMD.
Selection Process
The selection of works will be carried out by the ECCO Steering Committee, together with representatives from KCMD and Athelas Sinfonietta Copenhagen.
Works will be evaluated primarily on artistic quality and in alignment with the objectives of the ECCO project, including geographic, stylistic, and gender diversity, as well as overall programme coherence.
Eligibility Criteria
The Call is Open to all ECSA member societies that belong to the ECF Committee;
In addition, the Call is open to Ukrainian composers (Ukrainian Citizenship), with outreach and coordination supported by Kyiv Contemporary Music Days (KCMD);
Only works for large ensemble settings (from 8 to 16 musicians) will be considered, reflecting the artistic profile of Athelas Sinfonietta;
Each composer may submit one work only;
Works by members of the ECCO Steering group, including the KCMD Board, as well as the ECSA Board and Staff members, are not eligible.
Submission Conditions
Submissions may be made by individual composers (or publishers) that meet the eligibility criteria.
Each submission must include:
A PDF of the score (typeset preferred)
A technical rider (required for works including electronics, multimedia, or visual elements), describing all technical and production requirements necessary for performance.
Optional materials may include:
A link to an audio recording, including electronics where applicable.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted online by Thursday, 30 April 2026, 12:00 CEST via the designated submission platform.
Contribution from Composer Societies
The concert organisers may cover the hire of performance materials (scores and parts).
Performance Materials and Travel
The concert organisers may cover the hire costs of performance materials (scores and parts), subject to available project resources.
In case the selected composer’s travel and accommodation cannot be covered by their ECSA affiliated member organisation, the organisers will explore available options; however, coverage cannot be guaranteed.
For Ukrainian composers, the project partners will seek, where possible, to identify support for travel and accommodation.
Contact
For questions regarding the ECCO Call for Works or the submission process, please contact the ECSA Office at tatiana.papastoitsi@composeralliance.org
Co-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 granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.