Gaudeamus Award 2024

The Gaudeamus Award 2024 is calling for submissions from composers and creators of any nationality who are under 35 years old. A maximum of 5 composers will be nominated for the Award and the nominees will be part of the Gaudeamus Festival, 4–8 September 2024. 

The 5 main Gaudeamus Award categories:

• Open category: Music installations, multi- or interdisciplinary works, solo works with or without electronics, or unusual instrumentations; the use of video and / or (live-) electronics is encouraged. 
• Sensoric sound installations: Sensory installation combining aural, tactile, olfactory, and visual elements, to be displayed during the Gaudeamus Festival.
• Mechanical sound installations: In collaboration with Museum Speelklok, for this category an acoustic sound source is important, as is mechanical technology.
• Small electric ensembles: Amplified ensemble, with various instruments to choose from. 
• Small and large ensembles: The organisers are open for experimentation and unusual instrumentations. Ensembles must be 6 to 16 players.

If applicants want to showcase their orchestral work, the organisers provide the option to submit a piece in the extra category Orchestra. This piece will not be performed during the Gaudeamus Festival, but might be selected to be performed by the Residentie Orchestra The Hague during a concert in Amare in The Hague, on a later date after the festival.

The award

The winner receives a commission worth 5,000 EUR for a new composition to be premiered at a future edition of the Gaudeamus Festival. 

The nominees’ main entries for the competition as well as additional submitted pieces will be performed during the festival. They will also be commissioned to develop a new piece especially for the festival.

Gaudeamus Award 2024 application guidelines  

Deadline: 1 October 2023

Image: Opening concert '75 years Gaudeamus' by Asko|Schönberg. Photo © Maarten Mooijman