Dr Tonia Ko and her work 'Concertino for Scavengers' is shortlisted by members of the ISCM British Section Board to represent Britain at the 2026 ISCM World New Music Days Festival.
Dr Tonia Ko
Following a competitive application process, members of the ISCM British Section Board have selected six composers whose works will be submitted to the ISCM International Jury for consideration for the 2026 festival. At least one will be selected for performance at the Romania festival next May.
Dr Ko comments: “It is a great honour to be selected and very exciting to potentially represent Britain at the ISCM festival. I am thrilled that the results of my collaboration with cellist Louise McMonagle might reach a broader international audience!”
About the ISCM
The International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) is an international network of members from around fifty countries, devoted to the promotion and presentation of new and contemporary music.
Sound and Music represents the British Section of the ISCM and supports British composers to have work performed at the annual ISCM World New Music Days Festival. This takes place in a different member nation each year, most recently in South Africa, the Faroe Islands and Portugal.
World New Music Days Festival
The prestigious annual World New Music Days Festival is the principal vehicle through which the ISCM pursues its mission, which can be described as a "platform for musical exchange and a showcase of world contemporary music without prejudice or bias on differences in musical expressions, styles, genres or media". It is organised and funded by the member Sections (countries) each year, and acts as a meeting place for organisations, performers and composers from around the world.
The festival takes places on consecutive days, however, the host nation has some flexibility in determining the individual themes that drive the programming of the festival, either presenting a showcase of activity from around the world, or applying other criteria for the selection and programming of works.
One composer from each member country has the opportunity to have their work performed and attend, after applying via their country's section and being selected from a shortlist by the associate member's panel.
The ISCM World New Music Days Festival 2026 will take place in Bucharest, Romania, from 23 - 30 May 2026. This year's festival is subtitled "Columna Infinata". You can read more about it on the festival organisers' website.
