ULYSSES Ensemble

Inspired by the classical musicians who travelled throughout Europe to train and expand their practice, the ULYSSES network brings together eleven European institutions to promote and develop the professionalism of young composers.

Through the ULYSSES Ensemble, the ULYSSES network took a major step forward in 2017, directing its efforts towards young performers - while remaining focused on the music of today. A new ensemble of young musicians living in Europe is formed each year and travels through several academies and festivals affiliated with the ULYSSES network.


Ensemble ULYSSES, ManiFeste-2021 © Ircam-Centre Pompidou, photo : Quentin Chevrier

In 2023, the ULYSSES Ensemble will travel from June to July from Divertimento to the ManiFeste-2023 academy and the Royaumont Foundation.

The ULYSSES Ensemble will be made up of 8 musicians: 1 flute (also piccolo, alto and bass flute), 1 clarinet (aso bass clarinet), 1 trumpet (also piccolo trumpet), 1 piano, 1 percussion, 1 violin, 1 viola, 1 cello

Musicians are required to attend:

  • Friday, June 16—Thursday, June 22 (arrival in Milan June 16, departure the morning of the 22nd)
  • Sunday, June 25—Monday, July 10 (arrival June 25 in Paris, departure the morning of July 10 from the Abbaye de Royaumont)
    No late arrivals or early departures, nor any absences during these periods will be tolerated. Any missed time will lead to the cancellation of your participation.

Participants must speak English.

With the support of the ULYSSES Network, supported by the European Union’s Europe Creative program.

Programs of the 3 Stops

STOP 1 – DIVERTIMENTO

Friday, June 16 — Thursday, June 22, 2023, Milan (Italy)
Concert on Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Educational Advisor: Sandro Gorli, conductor - with the participation of Ginevra Nervi, voice soloist

For its first stop, Italian conductor Sandro Gorli will invite Italian composer Daniele Ghisi and Spanish composer Mikel Urquiza to attend rehearsals with the ULYSSES ensemble to work closely on their pieces, Black Rain and Les Lueurs se sont multipliées, as well as with young Turkish composer Senay Uğurlu (b. 1997) to create her new piece for small ensemble and electronics, a commission by Divertimento, Fondation Royaumont and IRCAM, endorsed by the ULYSSES network.

In addition, young musicians will work on Alex Mincek, poco a poco, they will rerun in Fondation Royaumont during their last stop. Thus, they will experience to rehearse and perform this piece twice with 2 different conductors.

Daniele Ghisi Black Rain, for voice, ensemble (flute, clarinet, piano, vibraphone, violin, cello) and electronics, 12 minutes (2021)
Alex Mincek poco a poco, for flute, clarinet, trumpet, piano, violin, viola, cello, 15 minutes (2008)
Mikel Urquiza Les lueurs se sont multipliées, for flute, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello, 13 minutes (2015)
Senay Uğurlu new work, for flute, clarinet, trumpet, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello and electronics, 15 minutes (2023) - World Premiere
Commission by Divertimento, IRCAM-Centre Pompidou and Fondation Royaumont, with the support of the ULYSSES Network, supported by the European Union’s Creative Europe program

STOP 2 – MANIFESTE-2023

Sunday, June 25 — Sunday, July 2, 2023, Paris (France)
Concert on Saturday, July 1, 2023
Educational Advisors: Lin Liao, conductor, soloists from the Ensemble intercontemporain - with the participation of NN, piano soloist from the Ensemble intercontemporain

Taiwanese, Germany-based, conductor Lin Liao will lead a master class for the ULYSSES Ensemble with the complicity of soloists from the Ensemble intercontemporain who will advise the young musicians and perform three works with them, including two with electectronics elaborate in collaboration with IRCAM computer music designers, Géranomachie by Turkish composer Sofia Avramidou and Assemblage by Chilian composer Roque Rivas. ULYSSES ensemble musicians will also rerun Senay Uğurlu’s new piece for small ensemble and electronics, they will have premiered during the first stop.

First day will be dedicated to one-on-one work sessions with musicians from the Ensemble intercontemporain. The week will culminate with a public concert as part of the festival ManiFeste-2023.

Sofia Avramidou Géranomachie, for grand ensemble and electronics, 10 minutes (2020-2021)
Enno Poppe Speicher I, for ensemble, 17 minutes (2009-2010)
Roque Rivas Assemblage, for piano soloist, ensemble and electronics, 16 minutes (2011-2012)
Senay Uğurlu new work, for flute, clarinet, trumpet, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello and electronics, 15 minutes (2023) - French Premiere
Commission by Divertimento, IRCAM-Centre Pompidou and Fondation Royaumont, with the support of the ULYSSES Network, supported by the European Union’s Creative Europe program

STOP 3 – FONDATION ROYAUMONT

Sunday, July 2— Monday, July 10, 2023, Abbaye de Royaumont (France)
Concert on Sunday, July 9, 2023
Educational Advisor: Jean-Philippe Wurtz, conductor

The last stop in the journey will take place at the Royaumont Foundation, in Parisian district, where the ULYSSES ensemble 2023 will work on a range of works from the contemporary repertoire, including the new piece of composer Senay Uğurlu. Here, young musicians will also rerun poco a poco by Alex Mincek and the Hugues Dufourt L'Afrique d'après Tiepolo, part of his cycle Les continents d'après Tiepolo. French conductor Jean-Philippe Wurtz will conduct the ensemble through a week of rehearsals culminating in a public presentation on Sunday, July 9.

Hugues Dufourt L’Afrique d’après Tiepolo for piano solo and ensemble (flute, English horn, clarinet, vibraphone, violin, alto, cello), 23 minutes (2005)
Alex Mincek poco a poco, for flute, clarinet, trumpet, piano, violin, viola, cello, 15 minutes (2008)
Senay Uğurlu nouvelle œuvre, for flute, clarinet, trumpet, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello and electronics, 15 minutes (2023) - Europe Premiere
Commission by Divertimento, IRCAM-Centre Pompidou and Fondation Royaumont, with the support of the ULYSSES Network, supported by the European Union’s Creative Europe program

Applications

Musicians who play the following instruments are eligible for this program: flute, clarinet, trumpet, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello.

Applicants must

  • be born after January 1, 1991
  • reside in Europe (no travel outside Europe will be taken into account)
  • be able to speak and understand English

Online applicationULYSSES Platform
Opening of the call for applications coming soon
Deadline for applications Wednesday, February 8, 2023, 4 pm CEST
Response by email Wednesday, March 1, 2023

To apply, you must create an account (or use an existing account) on the ULYSSES platform, complete your profile and click on "Apply" from the "ULYSSES together 2023" call page, then:

  • provide personal information (last name, first name, gender, age, nationality, address, ID, face photo which may be used by ULYSSES partners for access badges and online photo albums)
  • indicate the address of your residence in June and July 2023;
  • indicate your instrument
  • if you play a wind instrument (woodwind or brass), please specify the possible understudies you can play, and indicate in detail the instruments you own and that you could bring during the stops
  • write a short biography (800 characters maximum) IN ENGLISH that can be used by ULYSSES partners for concert programs, indicating at the beginning your last name, then first name, date of birth, nationality, and instrument
  • present a CV IN ENGLISH with your first name, last name, date of birth, nationality, instrument, contacts, photo (pdf)
  • present a list of the contemporary repertoire you have already performed (solo pieces, ensemble and orchestral pieces) (pdf)
  • write a letter of motivation in English explaining why you wish to join the ULYSSES Ensemble, with your full name, date of birth, nationality, instrument, contacts, photo (pdf)
  • present 4 videos:
    • presentation (mp4 video or YouTube link): you present yourself briefly IN ENGLISH
    • contemporary work (mp4 video or YouTube link): you perform a solo or soloist piece from the 20th or 21st century. If possible, please attach the score of the work (pdf)
    • classical work (mp3 audio recording or mp4 video or YouTube link): you perform a classical solo or soloist piece (before the 20th century). For instruments that do not have such a repertoire, please present a solo or soloist piece of your choice). If possible, please attach the score of the work (pdf)
    • work of your choice (mp3 audio recording or mp4 video or YouTube link): you perform a classical (pre-20th century) solo or soloist piece of your choice. If possible, please attach the score of the work (pdf)

Jury

The jury will be composed of soloists from the Ensemble Intercontemporain, conductors Sandro Gorli (Divertimento) and Jean-Philippe Wurtz (Fondation Royaumont).

Participation Conditions

Candidates selected to participate:

  • Must absolutely be available on all stops, i.e. Friday, June 16 through Thursday, June 22 and Sunday, June 25 through Monday, July 10, 2023. No late arrivals or early departures, nor any absence during one of the required periods, under penalty of cancellation of participation
  • Will be responsible for their travel (Europe only), their accommodation (single room in hotel or apartment to share according to the "stops"), their meals (restaurant, catering or payment of a per diem, according to the stops)
  • Must be able to understand and express themselves in English
  • have no registration fees to pay

Disruptions in transportation, health recommendations and quarantine, confinement or testing requirements will be the responsibility of the applicant, who is responsible for making arrangements to attend in accordance with COVID-19 measures, both in his or her home country and upon arrival in France.