upgrade – New.Music.Education

Educational projects in the area of New Music have become more and more prevalent in recent years. What new approaches have been established? What do cultural institutions expect to gain from these measures? What does music education of the future look like?

The several-day festival congress “upgrade” addressed these questions and provided an international platform for networking and exchange. The goal of “upgrade” was to present the current range of educational projects in the field of New Music in theory and practice, critically discuss them and develop them further.

Following the focus on instrumental music in 2015 (opens in a new window), “upgrade” turned its attention to contemporary vocal music. Based on the motto “Voice”, the festival congress in 2017 explored our fascination with this intimate “instrument” and its significance for contemporary music-making.

The congress was open to conductors of choirs and ensembles, educators and vocal instructors, church musicians, students and singers. They were all invited to discuss the possibilities and challenges of vocal expression. The congress included workshops and lectures on various subjects, including the specific requirements of rehearsing for vocal projects, the repertories of amateur ensembles and pilot projects for classroom instruction.

Professional and amateur choirs, vocal ensembles and voice artists were invited to give presentations and concerts which shed light on their work and the diversity of the contemporary vocal repertory. In addition, “upgrade” encouraged exchange between youth ensembles and pupils in music groups at school with experts and performers of New Music.

“upgrade” took place for the first time in 2015 (opens in a new window) at the Donauhallen in Donaueschingen.

A project by the New Music Network of Baden-Württemberg e.V., the Donaueschingen Society of Friends of Music and the Federal Cultural Foundation.

“upgrade” was a continuation and expansion of the programmes New Music Network (opens in a new window) and Studio musikFabrik of Cologne (opens in a new window), both of which are funded by the Federal Cultural Foundation.