How to Apply
To apply, click the "Apply Now" button above and complete the online form. Application is open to all composers, regardless of nationality or professional status. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older as of 3 August, 2026.
At Sounds of Now Vienna, we firmly believe that charging application fees is a predatory and unjustifiable practice. Accordingly, we will never charge a fee to apply.
All applicants will need to provide the following:
Name
Contact information
Date of Birth
Citizenship
Link to a resumé or C.V.
Links to two work samples (scores) with accompanying recordings
A brief paragraph describing their artistic practice and interests
If you have questions, please contact us.
Accepted participants will be asked to compose a new piece for a given instrumentation and submit a complete draft of this work by 15 June, 2026. These compositions will be workshopped, revised as needed, and performed during one of the festival’s concerts.
Tuition & Fees
Option 1: Accommodation Included
Tuition for Sounds of Now Vienna 2026 Opt 1 is €3650. It includes the following:
All lessons, masterclasses, seminars, and presentations.
Access to practice, instruction, and rehearsal facilities at mdw Wien.
Rehearsal and performance of your work by the festival’s artists and ensembles.
Lodging for the entire duration of the festival in a double occupancy hotel room. (Participants should plan to check in on Sunday, 2 August and check out on Saturday, 15 August).
Breakfast and lunch during weekdays for the two full weeks.
High-quality audio and video documentation of your performance.
Option 2: Accommodation Not Included
Tuition for Sounds of Now Vienna 2026 Opt 2 is €3100. It includes the following:
All lessons, masterclasses, seminars, and presentations.
Access to practice, instruction, and rehearsal facilities at mdw Wien.
Rehearsal and performance of your work by the festival’s artists and ensembles.
Participants under this plan must provide their own lodging. (They should plan to check in on Sunday, 2 August and check out on Saturday, 15 August).
Lunch during weekdays for the two full weeks.
High-quality audio and video documentation of your performance.
Option 3: Remote Participation
To ensure participants get the most out of the festival, we strongly encourage in-person participation. However, we understand that this may not always be possible due to travel restrictions and/or other reasons. In such cases, remote participation is a viable option for interested candidates.
Tuition for Sounds of Now Vienna 2026 Opt 3 is €2800. It includes the following:
Remote access to all lessons, masterclasses, seminars, and presentations.
Rehearsal and performance of your work by the festival’s artists and ensembles (participant is patched in remotely whenever possible).
High-quality audio and video documentation of your performance.
Tuition for auditors at SONV 2026 is €950. It includes the following:
Access to all lessons, masterclasses, seminars, and presentations as listener.
Access to practice, instruction, and rehearsal facilities at mdw Wien.
Lunch during weekdays for the two full weeks.
There is no fee to apply.
A limited number of merit-based scholarships is available and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Accepted applicants must secure their spot, independently of scholarship status, by paying a non-refundable deposit of €850 by 24 April, 2026. The deposit will be deducted from the full tuition amount, which is due on 29 May, 2026.