European Symphony: Composition Competition for Europe’s First Remote Orchestra
Making music together remotely—in real time, across an entire continent: this exciting EU-funded initiative to create a “European Symphony” aims to bring digital technology and classical music together in new ways. Musicians in 12 different locations will use innovative technology to overcome physical distances and perform a joint concert for symphony orchestra and large chorus. Compositions can be submitted until 31 July 2026. The Mozarteum University is also taking part.
EUROPASINFONIE
co-funded by the European Union
Contact
heike.henning@moz.ac.at
(Project lead, Mozarteum University, Music Education Innsbruck)
This is to be made possible by a system developed by Prof. Dr Alexander Carôt, which transmits audio and video signals in real time. A key challenge remains the inevitable latency: even with state-of-the-art infrastructure, delays of around 35 milliseconds occur. As part of the project, the aim is to jointly investigate how this ‘remote music-making’ can be implemented with technical precision whilst also being shaped artistically. The Mozarteum University in Salzburg is one of the key project partners, with Prof. Heike Henning serving as project lead.
Mozarteum University as pioneer in remote choral singing
Through the Mozarteum Lab Choir, the Mozarteum University in Salzburg is actively participating in the European Symphony. As one of twelve European ensembles, the choir brings both artistic quality and academic expertise to the project.
As part of the ERASMUS+ project “Choir@Home” (2022–2024), Prof. Dr Heike Henning (Mozarteum University Salzburg), together with Prof. Dr Alexander Carôt (Anhalt University of Applied Sciences) and Dr Janine Hacker (University of Liechtenstein), investigated how singing together across a distance – i.e. ‘remotely’ – can work. The findings from this research form an important basis for the implementation of the Europa Symphony. The Mozarteum University is thus one of the leading institutions in the field of remote ensemble singing.
A futuristic concert format?
The world premiere will take place on 18 June 2027 at the Messe Dresden. The concert will also be broadcast to the Mozarteum University.
- 62 string players from the Dresden Symphony Orchestra will perform on site
- Other instrumental sections and two choirs will join the performance live from eleven European countries
- Performance with an audience in Dresden and worldwide live streams at the respective locations
- The result is an orchestra that does not exist in one place – but as a digital, Europe-wide network of sound
New music for remote ensembles: Commissioning Competition
This innovative project aims to commission compositions that take into account the challenges of performing music across distances.
As part of an international competition, three compositions are being sought for their world premiere in 2027. The competition is open to entries in the categories of orchestral work (for large symphony orchestra) and orchestral work with choir (for large symphony orchestra and choir).
Composers may submit one excerpt per category and enter one or both categories.
- Fee: €14,000 per work
- Submission deadline: 31 July 2026
- Further information:
www.europasinfonie.eu
About the European Symphony
The European Symphony is a project by the Dresden Symphony Orchestra in collaboration with partners from across Europe. It combines artistic innovation with research in technology and music education, demonstrating how remote collaboration opens up new possibilities for making music together across distances.
The plan is to set up a digital platform with permanent ‘remote studios’ across Europe. Musicians, orchestras and composers will be able to rehearse, record and produce music across borders – without the need to travel, in an environmentally friendly way, and with opportunities for experimental projects that would otherwise have little chance of success in the traditional concert circuit.