Photo: Julius Töyrylä
Northern Connection – Call for Composers 2026
Northern Connection invites composers from the Nordic countries and Scotland to its third open call.
Up to five composers will receive commissions, with works premiered and presented at contemporary music festivals in 2027–2028.
Application deadline: 1 March 2026
Northern Connection was established in 2023 and is a long-term collaboration between contemporary music festivals in the Nordic region and Scotland. The shared aim of the project is to strengthen artistic connections across borders, contexts and practices. Northern Connection facilitates new encounters between composers, performers and diverse festival audiences.
Read more about Northern Connection.
In this call, Northern Connection will commission new works from up to five composers. The works will be premiered and presented at partner festivals in the Nordic countries and Scotland during the period 2027–2028.
Partner festivals
- Musica nova Helsinki February 2027 (Finland)
- Klang Festival Copenhagen June 2027/2028 (Denmark)
- Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival September 2027 (Norway)
- Sound Festival October 2027 (Scotland)
Who can apply
The call is open to composers primarily based in Finland, Norway, Denmark, or Scotland. There is no age limit or requirement regarding career stage. Applicants must, however, be able to demonstrate an artistic practice that can benefit from international exposure.
Women, trans and gender-diverse composers, composers with disabilities, and composers from the global majority are particularly encouraged to apply.
Artistic framework
The selected composers will collaborate with at least one festival in the network outside their country of residence. The commission may take the theme of “the Nordic” or Nordic connections as its point of departure. This theme can be interpreted broadly – for example through identity, landscape, climate, traditions, mythology, or political and social structures – or in a more personal and intuitive way.
Work and format
You may propose:
- a performance work for acoustic instruments and/or electronics
- an installation
- a sound art work
Instrumentation
If the work involves acoustic instruments, you may propose instrumentation or leave this open. You decide the number of performers, but are encouraged to take into account practical considerations related to stage requirements, budget and festival formats. Final instrumentation and performers will be determined in dialogue with the festival directors if you are selected.
Duration: approx. 5–20 minutes, in dialogue with the festivals
Premiere: organised by the partner festivals
Please note that you may be selected to write for any of the partner festivals taking place between February 2027 and June 2028.
Fee and production
Professional fees will be negotiated individually, in accordance with national rates and standard practices in the composer’s country of residence. Selected composers may apply for travel support through relevant funding schemes in their home country.
Application materials
The application must include:
- a short biography
- two audio recordings or documentation of previous relevant work (links)
- a score or performance instructions (PDF) for one of the submitted works
- a short description of the idea for the proposed commission
- a short text outlining your motivation for applying to Northern Connection
Application deadline: 1 March 2026
Notification: April 2026
Apply here:
Northern Connection – Call for Composers 2026
Selection
Applications will be assessed by a jury consisting of the festival directors of Northern Connection’s partner festivals. The jury selects both composers and artistic concepts.
Note for Norwegian composers
Music Norway does not fund commissioned works. Norwegian composers who are selected must therefore apply for commissioning support from relevant Norwegian funding bodies. The partner festival will provide a letter of intent, and an advisor at Music Norway can assist with application guidance if needed.
About Music Norway
Music Norway is the export organisation for the Norwegian music sector, working to promote Norwegian music internationally through grants, advisory services and development programmes for professional practitioners.
Questions?
Please contact Yumi Murakami, Music Norway:
yumi@musicnorway.no
