Lower Saxony is strengthening young musical talent: this year, the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture (MWK) is supporting four outstanding young composers from Lower Saxony with a total of 36,000 euros. The financial support from the state amounts to 6,000 and 12,000 euros respectively. There is also the opportunity to spend one to two months of the funding period in the Martin Kausche studios in Worpswede.

Lower Saxony's Minister of Culture Falko Mohrs: "Our scholarships provide valuable support, especially in the early stages of a composer's career. After all, creativity needs freedom: the scholarships give composers the opportunity to devote themselves entirely to their project for a while. With their innovative artistic work, the scholarship holders will contribute to the diversity and attractiveness of Lower Saxony as a centre of music."

The scholarships are awarded on the recommendation of a jury consisting of Snezana Nesic, Prof Dr Ming Tsao and Prof Bernhard Mergner. The jury particularly praised the originality of the artistic work.

The following person from the Institute of Music will receive a composition scholarship in 2024:

Olga Riazantceva-Schwarz (*1990), who works in Oldenburg, will also receive 6,000 euros. She plans to create a concert programme consisting exclusively of her own compositions. The programme will also incorporate influences from other musicians. The concerts will be accompanied by an album release, which will be realised through immersive sound installations and live recordings.

Background:
The grant for innovative music compositions is intended to provide young freelance artists with the financial means to increase their artistic activities over a period of up to one year. Composers who reside or produce in Lower Saxony and have not yet reached the age of 40 by the end of 2023 (45 in the case of severe disabilities) can submit their applications until the end of February 2024.

You can find the full press release, including the other musicians here.