Contemporary
Gaudeamus Music Week
Short history of the Gaudeamus Music Week
The International Gaudeamus Music Week
The annual International Gaudeamus Music Week focuses on music by young composers. Although the first Gaudeamus Music Week, staged shortly after World War II, was devoted to Dutch composers, the Music Week was soon open to composers worldwide. Each year new works by composers are presented, with emphasis on composers younger than 35 years.
Until 1977 the Music Week included an open composers competition, with scores selected by a jury comprised of internationally reputed composers. From 1977 until 1983 this competition was limited to scores qualifying for annually established categories.
In 1984 the composers competition was reinstated, with the prizes now limited to a single Gaudeamus Prize. In 1988 the maximum eligible age was lowered to 30 years. Until 1999 an additional feature of the Music Week was the performance of works by established composers.
The Gaudeamus Prize, currently € 4,550, is a commission for a new ensemble work. This commissioned work is generally performed during the following Gaudeamus Music Week. At present the International Gaudeamus Music Week primarily focuses on composers younger than thirty, and is thus a unique international event for the introduction of new music by talented young composers.
