The ULYSSES Network supports young composers with co-commissions.
In this framework,  three partners within the Ulysses Network: IEMA (International Ensemble Modern Akademie), impuls (Verein zur Vermittlung zeitgenössischer Musik) and Gaudeamus decided to co-commission English composer Alex Paxton to create a new piece for the IEMA Ensemble. Paxton, nominated for the Gaudeamus Award 2022 and recent winner of the prestigious Ernst von Siemens Composers Prize, wrote a new work for the IEMA Ensemble: Scrunchy Touch Sweetly to Fall.

The first part of the project takes place in Frankfurt in April at IEMA, and is about “try-out” and “input” under the guidance of the experienced members of Ensemble Modern. Following the first period in April, the second step includes further rehearsals of the newly written pieces and finally three public concerts, including:

#1 World premieres of pieces written for the IEMA Ensemble at impuls Academy and impuls Festival in Graz (DE) on 27. July 2023, and participation in the academy’s activities.

#2 Two performances on Sept. 8 at Gaudeamus in Utrecht (AT) and participation in other  activities offered by the Gaudeamus Festival.

#3 A third performance in Frankfurt/Main (DE) at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Frankfurt (HfMDK) on September 19.

The IEMA-Ensemble is a group of master’s students from all over Europe who want to develop themselves further in the performance of contemporary music. The IEMA-Ensemble 2023 is composed of:

Phoebe Bognar flute
Jeanne Degos oboe
Drew Gilchrist clarinet
Tobias Krieger trumpet
Michael Martinez trombone
Jaroslav Novosyolov piano
Ying Chen Chuang percussion
Miria Sailer violin
Miho Kawai viola
Clara Franz cello
Riverton Alves double bass
Xizi Wang conductor

Alex Paxton