Bled Contemporary Music Week

 

June 23 - 27, 2025 

Bled Festival Hall, Bled Castle [Bled, Slovenia, EU]

 

Between June 23 and 27, 2025, the Bled Contemporary Music Week will take place at the Bled Festival Hall and Bled Castle, organized by the .abeceda Institute. The fifth edition of the festival showcases a diverse program of concerts, lectures, workshops, and events for younger audiences.

 

The main festival program consists of five evening concerts performed by the .abeceda [New Music Ensemble], co-curated by the ensemble’s resident composers and its members. The festival week is further enriched by daily performances from participants of the precept.concept.percept XII. composition and performance workshop, as well as concerts within the .codex program, which features the following line-ups: .abeceda [Accordion Sextet], .abeceda [Recorder Ensemble], .abeceda [Youth String Quartet], .abeceda [Youth New Music Ensemble], .abeceda [Sound Installation Ensemble], .abeceda [Composers’ Forum], .abeceda [Vocal Ensemble], and .abeceda [Ensemble for Disciplinary Improvisation].

 

The accompanying program offers a series of lectures and pre-concert gatherings, where participating artists will present their artistic practice and research. Workshops titled Sound Voyage and 'Introduction to Contemporary Music' will be organized for young musicians, and a concert for children will be held for the youngest audiences.

 

The Bled Contemporary Music Week brings together more than 150 composers, performers, and researchers from around the world, creating a space in the heart of Bled for reflection and dialogue on the creation and realization of diverse musical practices. In total, more than 130 compositions will be performed, including over 90 premieres.

 

 

PROGRAM

 

 

Pre-Festival Concert

 

Sunday, June 22, 2025 _ The Church of the Assumption of Mary on Bled Island

 

16.00 — .abeceda [New Music Ensemble]

Opus II. _ composition for infra.norma.meta [Dré A. Hočevar, 2025]

 

Performed by: .abeceda [New Music Ensemble] – Oskar Longyka, violin; Domen Kužnar, viola; Urban Megušar, cello; Neža Zupanc, flute; Brina Kren, saxophone; Jan Kopač, guitar

 

 

—

 

 

Monday, June 23, 2025 _ Bled Festival Hall

 

14.00 — [Studio for Contemporary Composition] — lectures

Claudia Sofía Alvarez Cuba – Composition of time

Aleksandra Naumovski Potisk – The influence of "couleur local" on the example of composing the compositions The Wall of Dying Poetry and Seven Microludes after Van Gogh 

Victor Arul – Considering Directionality, Dialectics, and Interaction in Composition

 

17.00 — works by the participants of the ‘precept.concept.percept XII.’ program

Vadim D. Genin — Odysseus Shoots an Arrow and the World Rushes Towards It _ first performance

Marco Wedel — Beziehung _ first performance

Ulyana Saulina — Rein _ first performance

Burçe Karaca — Halmar Sonata _ first performance

Dea Ahma — Lament _ first performance

Harvey Young — Fault Line Eurotreat _ first performance

Massimiliano Vizzini — GAMEPLAY WALKTHROUGH 4K [No commentary] _ first performance

Sara Blanco Gárate — After detonating _ first performance

Ana Luisa Diaz de Cossio — there it is _ first performance

Emma Ebmeyer — zwischen Verstehen und Fühlen _ first performance

 

Performed by: Juana Monsalve, voice; Juan Sebastián Ortega, violin; Vigovajk Sagvik, cello; Robert Feifan Hurley, cello; Liam Battle, cello; Ángela Calvo Ríos, oboe and english horn; Jurij Mušič, guitar; Nuria López Garcia, guitar and electric guitar; Elina Agneta Lamberte, kokle; Marcell Csuka, accordion; Bruna Di Virgilio, piano; Flavia Salemme, piano; Alexander Smith, percussion

 

18.30 — [Verso Doxa] — pre-concert gathering

Guests: Alastair White, Kacper Madejek, Mauricio Valdés San Emeterio, Urška Rihtaršič

Moderator: Brina Kren

 

19.00 —  .abeceda [New Music Ensemble]

Jordan Kuspa – Triptych

Gísli Magnússon – Cielo Stellato _ first performance

Aleksandra Naumovski Potisk – Sedem mikroludijev po Van Goghu, op.27 _ first performance

Jack Langdon – You Expect _ first performance

Kaija Saariaho – Fall

Mauricio Valdés San Emeterio – Migrations Vc

 

Performed by: Urška Rihtaršič, harp; Mauricio Valdés San Emeterio, electronics; Sae Lee, piano; Lovorka Nemeš Dular, piano

 

*

 

Jelani N. Surpris – from total darkness

Kacper Madejek – The Grimoire _ first performance

Max Vinetz – Fleabane 

Simon Kravos – Zvenzene

 

Performed by: .abeceda [String Quartet] – Oskar Longyka, violin; Anja Kralj, violin; Domen Kužnar, viola; Urban Megušar, cello

 

*

 

Darcy Copeland – CHIMERA _ first performance

Victor Arul – Foresight on Buried Commotions _ first performance

Alastair White – Seven Tales From Granton Breakwater _ first performance

Michael Magán Palomino – Chacana _ first performance

Claudia Sofía Alvarez Cuba – Ednina, dvojina, množina _ first performance

 

Performed by: .abeceda [New Music Ensemble] – Jules Monnier, viola; Neža Zupanc, flute; Weronika Partyka, saxophone; Urška Rihtaršič, harp; Nejc Grm, accordion; Lovorka Nemeš Dular, piano; Aljoša Marko, percussion; Mauricio Valdés San Emeterio, electronics; Oskar Longyka, conductor

 

—

 

 

Tuesday, June 24, 2025 _ Bled Festival Hall

 

12.00 — workshop 'Introduction to Contemporary Music'

Mentor: Ema Grčman

 

14.00 — [Studio for Contemporary Composition] — lectures

Fernando Egido – Self-referential Generative systems based on Self-evaluation

James Pecore – Developing a Distinct Musical Identity in a World of “Brands” — or — Navigating Art as (an Escape from) Product

Julius Von Lorentz – Shifting Sonic Identities: On Perceived Artificiality of Meta-Instruments

 

17.00 — works by the participants of the ‘precept.concept.percept XII.’ program

Katia Geha — april 7 meditation _ first performance

George Denis Ardelean — Duo for Kokle and Violoncello _ first performance

Peter J. Østergaard — Dragons _ first performance

Julienne K. Tsang — Crossed/Cross/Crossing/Rowed/Row/Rowing _ first performance

Jane Wong — The “Other Monsters” _ first performance

Darren Xu — Like Metal _ first performance

Mateusz Godlewski — Beehive Love _ first performance

Meihui Piao — Wu無-It's Just There _ first performance

Joseph Cilento — Echoes of Life _ first performance

 

Performed by: Juana Monsalve, voice; Juan Sebastián Ortega, violin; Vigovajk Sagvik, cello; Robert Feifan Hurley, cello; Liam Battle, cello; Ángela Calvo Ríos, oboe and english horn; Nuria López Garcia, guitar and electric guitar; Jurij Mušič, guitar; Elina Agneta Lamberte, kokle; Marcell Csuka, accordion; Bruna Di Virgilio, piano; Flavia Salemme, piano; Aldo Chiarulli, percussion; Alexander Smith, percussion; Luka Jahn, percussion

 

18.30 — [Verso Doxa] — pre-concert gathering

Guests: Max Vinetz, James Pecore, Fernando Egido, Jack Herscowitz

Moderator: Brina Kren

 

19.00 — .abeceda [New Music Ensemble]

Fernando Egido – Collective embodiment 

Anna Maria Huszcza – Zorya

Manuel González Ponisio – Czerwona rzeka, czarna rzeka _  first performance

Jacek Sotomski – Life 2

Lulu West – Relic of a Right Hand

Max Vinetz – Allemande 

Jack Herscowitz – god's dentures _ first performance

Julius von Lorentz – remixing myself _ first performance

 

Performed by: Weronika Partyka, saxophone; Mauricio Valdés San Emeterio, electronics; Urban Megušar, cello

 

*

 

Aditya Ryan Bhat – From the forces it manifests _ first performance

Roberta Lazo Valenzuela – Rosemary chicken and potatoes for dinner

James Pecore – “Naked Filament” _ first performance

Wendolyne Guerra Alvarez – Alboral 

Eduardo Ariel Nuñez Cosco – Impresiones cuartales _ first performance

 

Performed by: .abeceda [String Quartet] – Oskar Longyka, violin; Anja Kralj, violin; Domen Kužnar, viola; Urban Megušar, cello

 

*

 

Esther Wu – DUET

Aleksandra Naumovski Potisk – Zid zamirajoče poezije op.26 _ first performance

Jordan Kuspa – Metronome _ first performance

Jack Langdon – fish laying egg in a circle _ first performance

Gísli Magnússon – Fylgjur

Jack Herscowitz – seedling _ first performance

Julius von Lorentz – dieses kleine leben _ first performance

 

Performed by: .abeceda [New Music Ensemble] – Jules Monnier, viola; Neža Zupanc, flute; Weronika Partyka, saxophone; Urška Rihtaršič, harp; Nejc Grm, accordion; Lovorka Nemeš Dular, piano; Nina Prešiček, piano; Aljoša Marko, percussion; Mauricio Valdés San Emeterio, electronics; Oskar Longyka, conductor

 

—

 

 

Wednesday, June 25,  2025 _ Bled Castle and Bled Festival Hall

 

9.00 — workshop ‘Sound Voyage’ _ Bled Festival Hall 

Mentor: Ema Grčman

 

10.00 — .codex _ Bled Castle

.abeceda [Youth New Music Ensemble]  

Domen Kužnar – Fragments of a Dream 

Jan Kopač – Karneval _ first performance

 

Performed by: Sofiia Chornei, bassoon; Katarina Viher, violin

Led by: Domen Kužnar

 

.abeceda [Youth String Quartet]

Darijan Božič – Pop art 3 za godalni kvartet

Maj Brinovec – praha za godalni kvartet _  first performance

 

Performed by: Karolina Lukmar, violin; Mia Jenček, violin; Ema Bornšek, viola; Livija Križnar, cello

Led by: Manica Slapšak

 

11.30 – [Verso Doxa] — pre-concert gathering _ Bled Castle

Guests: Sean Quinn, Urban Megušar, Roberta Lazo Valenzuela, Nejc Grm

Moderator: Brina Kren

 

12.00 – .abeceda [New Music Ensemble] _ Bled Castle

Roberta Lazo Valenzuela – Árbol

Sean Quinn – ergo, therefore i am

Atli Ingolfsson – elves' other self

Gerard Grisey – Prologue

Sofia Gubaidulina – De profundis

Alastair White – Scottish Black _ first performance

 

Performed by: Domen Kužnar, viola; Nejc Grm, accordion

 

*

 

Opus III. _ composition for infra.norma.meta [Dré A. Hočevar, 2025] _ first performance

Lojze Lebič – Godalni kvartet

 

Performed by: .abeceda [String Quartet] – Oskar Longyka, violin; Anja Kralj, violin; Izabela Hace, violin; Domen Kužnar, viola; Urban Megušar, cello

 

12.00 — workhop 'Introduction to Contemporary Music' _ Bled Festival Hall

Mentor: Ema Grčman

 

15.00 — [Studio for Contemporary Composition] — lectures _ Bled Festival Hall 

Mauricio Valdés San Emeterio – ​​Composing for Sound’s Spatial PotentialJaka Škapin – Vocal Improvisation as Ecosystemic Performance

Roberta Lazo Valenzuela – The Materiality of Sound

 

18.00 — .codex _ Bled Festival Hall

.abeceda [Vocal Ensemble]

Federica Lo Pinto – Horizont _ first performance

Jaka Škapin – Okus zemlje _ first performance

Urban Megušar – Smerokaz _ first performance

Maša Simčič – Od kovin do korenin _ first performance

Lucija Lorenzutti – Vpetglas _ first performance

Matej Kastelic – Spoj _ first performance

 

Performed by:  Lucija Lorenzutti, voice; Maša Simčič, voice; Federica Lo Pinto, voice; Jaka Škapin, voice; Matej Kastelic, voice

Led by: Matej Kastelic

 

.abeceda [Sound Installation Ensemble]

Jan Kopač – Preplet / Entanglement _ first performance

Klemen Kocijančič – Malo da prošetamo _ first performance

Matija Snoj – Sprimek _ first performance

Ela Božič – Viža _ first performance

Laetitia Pohl – Nastanek lune _  first performance

 

Performed by: Leonarda Kavedžić, soprano; Laetitia Pohl, mezzosoprano; Jan Kopač, electric guitar; Maj Zalaznik Novak, synthesizer; Klemen Kocijančič, synthesizer/piano; Ela Božič, electric bass; Matija Snoj, electric guitar; Martin Kramberger, percussion

Led by: Jan Kopač

 

19.00 — works by the participants of the ‘precept.concept.percept XII.’ programe _ Bled Festival Hall 

Santa Bušs — sensus textilis _ first performance

Sophia Marguerite Boeschoten — Shadow _ first performance

Darlene Neyra Leon — Luz Menguante _ first performance

Matteo Rigotti — di maglie...e un filo interrotto _ first performance

Mattia Aisemberg-Pham — Dunkles zu sagen _ first performance

Alejandro Mata — Tres cuerpos sonoros (y medio) _ first performance

Justyna Tobera — Dream Machine _ first performance

Matteo Bertolina — Sur la gamme _ first performance

Stephen de Filippo — sequences on a fraught desire for synchronicity _ first performance

Giulio Soldo — Argilla _ first performance

João Ricardo — pretend the world is funny and forever _ first performance

Manuel Valenzuela — Entzauberung _ first performance

Nuria López Garcia — instrucciones para no ser _ first performance

Scott Sanders — Baside _ first performance

Wajdi Abou Diab — Yè ḍawaèl aḍwaa _ first performance

 

Performed by: Juana Monsalve, voice; Juan Sebastián Ortega, violin; Vigovajk Sagvik, cello; Robert Feifan Hurley, cello; Liam Battle, cello; Ángela Calvo Ríos, oboe and english horn; Nuria López Garcia, guitar and electric guitar; Jurij Mušič, guitar; Elina Agneta Lamberte, kokle; Marcell Csuka, accordion; Bruna Di Virgilio, piano; Flavia Salemme, piano; Aldo Chiarulli, percussion; Alexander Smith, percussion; Luka Jahn, percussion

 

—

 

 

Thursday, June 25, 2025 _Bled Festival Hall

 

9.00 — workshop ‘Sound Voyage’

Mentor: Ema Grčman

 

12.00 — workhop 'Introduction to Contemporary Music'

Mentor: Ema Grčman

 

12.00 — .codex

.abeceda [Accordion Sextet]

Sven Erik Werner – Tie-Break

Tilen Lebar – Limen VIII/ excerpt from immersive sound installation - arr. for accordion  ensemble 

 

Performed by: Andraž Frece, accordion; Štefan Kosirnik, accordion; Domen Baša, accordion; Jan Rantaša, accordion; Andrej Kos, accordion; Nejc Čebokli, accordion

Led by: Andrej Kos

 

13.00 – works by the participants of the ‘precept.concept.percept XII.’ program

Teemu Heinonen — Piano Trio No. 2 "Webs" _ first performance

Aleksandra Naumovski Potisk — The Dark Veil of Non-Existance _ first performance

Ng Yu Hng — The Rood _ first performance

Katie Hoi-ching Tang — Broken Sound _ first performance

Zi Tao Chua — living, breathing — Nature Study No. 2 _ first performance

Yan Liang — Coiled within _ first performance

Filippo Lepre — Tell me something _ first performance

Mustafa Eren Arın — Incidental _ first performance

Luis Miguel Delgado Grande — Los cuerpos del monte _ first performance

Randall Smith — Lucem Ac Tenebras _ first performance

Vigovajk Sagvik — Bleeding Through the Pages _ first performance

 

Performed by: Juana Monsalve, voice; Juan Sebastián Ortega, violin; Vigovajk Sagvik, cello; Robert Feifan Hurley, cello; Liam Battle, cello; Ángela Calvo Ríos, oboe and english horn; Nuria López Garcia, guitar and electric guitar; Jurij Mušič, guitar; Elina Agneta Lamberte, kokle; Marcell Csuka, accordion; Bruna Di Virgilio, piano; Flavia Salemme, piano; Aldo Chiarulli, percussion; Alexander Smith, percussion; Luka Jahn, percussion

 

15.00 — [Studio for Contemporary Composition] — lectures

Lulu West – Embodied Memory through Improvised Noise Music

 

Jack Herscowitz – Ghost[s] in the[se] Machine[s]: Techno-Horror and Haunting as Narrative/Compositional Framing 

Sean Quinn – Accumulating Around the Body

 

18.30 —  [Verso Doxa] — pre-concert gathering

Guests: Lulu West, Weronika Partyka, Julius von Lorentz, Maximiliano A. Soto Mayorga

Moderator: Brina Kren

 

19.00 — .abeceda [New Music Ensemble]

José Eduardo Guillén Álvarez – Encuentro V

Maximiliano A. Soto Mayorga – Ostrzeżenie _ first performance

Maximiliano A. Soto Mayorga, Anja Kralj – Sinfonia

Claudia Sofía Alvarez Cuba – M.A.N.-T.R.A. 0.1. _ first performance

Lojze. Lebič – Aprilske vinjete (chalumeau III)

Jason Carl Rosenberg – Negentropy

Alastair White – The snake that eats the world

 

Performed by: Nejc Grm, accordion; Weronika Partyka, saxophone; Anja Kralj, violin; Mauricio Valdés San Emeterio, electronics; Maximiliano A. Soto Mayorga, electronics; Neža Zupanc, flute

 

*

 

Lulu West – Call You Back Tomorrow _ first performance

Jack Langdon – Travels to The House of Invention _ first performance

Jordan Kuspa – Star Sapphire (Movement II from String Quartet No. 3)

Victor Arul – The Total Institution

Esther Wu – Bridge Over

Julius von Lorentz – Verformungen, bis zu einem gewissen Grade tanzbar

 

Performed by: .abeceda [String Quartet] – Oskar Longyka, violin; Anja Kralj, violin; Domen Kužnar, viola; Urban Megušar, cello and Mauricio Valdés San Emeterio, electronics

 

*

 

Roberta Lazo Valenzuela – Tango 

Daniel Weitz – You May You May You…

Aditya Ryan Bhat – The violence of translation _ first performance

Maximiliano A. Soto Mayorga – Trenza _ first performance

 

Performed by: .abeceda [New Music Ensemble] – Jules Monnier, viola; Neža Zupanc, flute; Weronika Partyka, saxophone; Urška Rihtaršič, harp; Nejc Grm, accordion; Lovorka Nemeš Dular, piano; Aljoša Marko, percussion; Mauricio Valdés San Emeterio, electronics; Oskar Longyka, conductor

 

— 

 

 

Friday, June 27,  2025 _ Bled Festival Hall

 

9.00 — workshop ‘Sound Voyage’

Mentor: Ema Grčman

 

10.00 — Concert for Children — Accordion

Performed by: Nejc Grm

Moderator: Brina Kren

 

12.00 — workhop 'Introduction to Contemporary Music' 

Mentor: Ema Grčman

 

12.00 – works by the participants of the ‘precept.concept.percept XII.’ program

Agustín Castellón Molina — coarse roots _ first performance

Leonardo Mezzalira — Swamps _ first performance

Won Jong — delicate flexion, ligaments in suspension: triptych _ first performance

Yiannis Kouskoufis — Dolanaar _ first performance

Grant Cottier — L'auscultation _ first performance

Veronika Reutz Drobnić — Look me in the eyes — rebirth of Medusa _ first performance

Nicole Balsirow — through valleys and over hills _ first performance

Thomaz Barreto — The Quiescence of Concord _ first performance

Mario Marchant — Vivo! _ first performance

João Pinto — sugar rush _ first performance

Niki Zohdi — Flumina _ first performance

 

Performed by: Juana Monsalve, voice; Juan Sebastián Ortega, violin; Vigovajk Sagvik, cello; Robert Feifan Hurley, cello; Liam Battle, cello; Ángela Calvo Ríos, oboe and english horn; Jurij Mušič, guitar; Elina Agneta Lamberte, kokle; Marcell Csuka, accordion; Bruna Di Virgilio, piano; Flavia Salemme, piano; Aldo Chiarulli, percussion; Alexander Smith, percussion; Luka Jahn, percussion

 

14.00 — .codex 

.abeceda [Recorder Ensemble]

Jukka Tiensuu – Rubato 

Johannes Schöllhorn – Windmaschine 

John Cage – Three 

Peter Shott / arr. Paul Leenhouts – Along the Amsterdam canals 

Jukka Tiensuu – Kuuhiomo 

Frederic Rzewski – Les Moutons de Panurge 

 

Performed by: Erazem Žganjar, recorder; Marjana Jocif, recorder; Ana Birsa Krušec, recorder; Urban Klančar, recorder; Johanna Kovacs, recorder; Emilia Sarau, recorder; Isabella Zeitz, recorder

Led by: Erazem Žganjar

 

.abeceda [Composer’s Forum]

new work 1

new work 2

 

Composed by: Miha Nahtigal, Gašper Muženič, Enej Lah, Jurij Mušič, Maj Brinovec

Led by: Maj Brinovec

 

.abeceda [Disciplinary Improvisation Ensemble]

 

[x] formations in_continuity : in formatio(n)s : as|for {m}

 

Performed by: Florian Pasche, saxophone; Lars Töpperwien, trumpet, cornet;  Daniel Sauer, saxophone; Jakob Øland, piano; Hakim Azmi, piano; Mia Ohlmier, drums, percussion; Pascal Jarchow, double bass

Led by: Pascal Jarchow

 

15.00 —  [Studio for Contemporary Composition] — lectures

Isaac Roth Blumfield – Meaning, identity, form: questions in my recent work

Agustín Castellón Molina – SONIC CARTOGRAPHY; traces, remnants / presence, absence

Darcy Copeland – Music and World(ing): on the possibility of life and a resonant theory of music

 

18.30 —  [Verso Doxa] — pre-concert gathering

Guests: Claudia Sofía Alvarez Cuba, Victor Arul, Darcy Copeland, Neža Zupanc

Moderator: Brina Kren

 

19.00 — .abeceda [New Music Ensemble]

Isaac Roth Blumfield – You hold the present as if it were a memory

Agustín Castellón Molina – Miradas... ensoñaciones _ first performance

Victor Arul – Disconcerts of Large Structures

Urban Megušar – Impromptus No. 1 - 12 _ first performance

 

Performed by: Lola Mlačnik, percussion; Mauricio Valdés San Emeterio, electronics; Urban Megušar, cello

 

*

 

Sean Quinn – trace the lines to my centre

Claudia Sofía Alvarez Cuba – Estudios sobre el tiempos II _ first performance

Alastair White – Spanish Black _ first performance

Darcy Copeland – echoes within me (I am a haunted vessel) _ first performance

Maximiliano A. Soto Mayorga – Tell all the Truth but… _ first performance

 

Performed by: .abeceda [String Quartet] – Oskar Longyka, violin; Anja Kralj, violin; Domen Kužnar, viola; Urban Megušar, cello and Weronika Partyka, saxophone

 

*

 

Opus II. _ composition for infra.norma.meta [Dré A. Hočevar, 2025]

 

Performed by: .abeceda [New Music Ensemble] – Oskar Longyka, violin; Domen Kužnar, viola; Urban Megušar, cello; Neža Zupanc, flute; Brina Kren, saxophone; Jan Kopač, guitar