On October 9th, the 5th Hangzhou Contemporary Music Festival, jointly hosted by the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music and the People's Government of Xihu District, Hangzhou, officially kicked off at the Yichuang Town in Xihu District.

Attending the opening ceremony were representatives of the participating artists, Dong Yumin, Secretary of the Xihu District Party Committee; Li Yangzhang, Member of the Standing Committee and Minister of Publicity of the Xihu District Party Committee; Dong Wei, Member of the Party Group of the People's Government of Xihu District and Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee of Zhijiang National Tourism Resort; Gan Wudong, Party Secretary of Zhejiang Conservatory of Music; Wang Rui, President of the Conservatory; and Shi Ying, Member of the Party Committee, Minister of Publicity, and Minister of Faculty Affairs at the Conservatory. The ceremony was also attended by relevant department heads and town officials from Xihu District, leaders from the various departments and faculties of Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, media representatives, as well as faculty and student representatives. The ceremony was presided over by Dong Dejun, Vice President of Zhejiang Conservatory of Music.

Resident artist and renowned composer Jörg-Peter Mittmann, renowned composer and conductor Yasunari Itakura, Music Director and Conductor of the Tokyo Chamber Symphony, along with Dong Yumin, Secretary of the Xihu District Party Committee; Gan Wudong, Party Secretary of Zhejiang Conservatory of Music; and Wang Rui, President of the Conservatory, jointly announced the opening of the Hangzhou Contemporary Music Festival.

On behalf of the Xihu District Party Committee and the district government, Dong Yumin extended his warm congratulations on the festival's opening. He remarked that Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, as a leading institution in the arts, has consistently been at the forefront of music composition, performance events, and digital music. Xihu District is striving to build a cultural and creative hub, aiming to fully develop the performing arts economy and event-driven economy, with the goal of appealing not just to the senses of hearing, sight, and smell, but to touch the soul. He expressed his sincere hope to deepen collaboration with Zhejiang Conservatory, exploring offline practices of new musical productivity through technological and artistic innovation.

Jörg-Peter Mittmann and Yasunari Itakura delivered speeches on behalf of the participating artists. They expressed their gratitude for the invitation to attend the festival and shared their excitement about this visit to China and the development of contemporary Chinese music. They sincerely hope that this exchange and friendship will endure for many years to come.

Wang Rui introduced the details of the festival and the 'Yichuang Award.' He noted that in today's era, humanity's continuous pursuit of scientific innovation and creativity is ultimately rooted in the freedom inherent in human nature. Since its inception, the Hangzhou Contemporary Music Festival has been dedicated to providing an international platform for artists to express their creativity 'out of nothing.' It has now become a prestigious cultural symbol of Zhejiang and is gradually joining the ranks of internationally renowned contemporary music festivals. He expressed his hope that everyone will not only enjoy the pleasure and inspiration modern music brings through the festival but also foster respect and openness for diverse cultures across different regions.

The German Horizons Ensemble and the Tokyo Chamber Symphony Present Performances

Since its inception, the Hangzhou Contemporary Music Festival has been dedicated to promoting the development and innovation of contemporary music, establishing itself as an international platform for showcasing contemporary musical art. This year, artists from 11 countries have gathered to present highly individual and powerful modern music, fully reflecting the tireless exploration and unwavering innovation of contemporary artists, while injecting fresh vitality into the ancient city of Hangzhou.

Nearly 50 World Premieres Heralding New Sounds of Modern Music

As one of China's four major contemporary music festivals, this year's Hangzhou Contemporary Music Festival spans a week and has attracted 222 artists from 11 countries, including China, the United States, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Argentina, Switzerland, Austria, South Korea, and Malaysia. Among these artists are pioneers of modern music worldwide, leaders in avant-garde music, representatives of modern music genres such as saturationism and spectralism, as well as young and emerging composers, forming a star-studded lineup. They will present 10 special concerts, 1 international orchestral composition competition final concert co-hosted with Universal Edition Vienna, and 5 lectures by resident composers and musicologists, all highlighting the openness, inclusiveness, and innovative spirit of modern music from an international and diverse perspective.

The concerts will feature 59 contemporary works from composers around the world, including 6 world premieres and 42 Chinese premieres. These performances will span various genres, such as orchestral music, chamber music, and solo performances, showcasing the latest trends in modern music from multiple dimensions. Importantly, all festival performances will be accessible to the public, offering audiences the opportunity to experience firsthand how musicians from different countries interpret and experiment with contemporary art.

Focusing on Artistic Frontiers and Sparking Intellectual Exchange

After five years of development, the Hangzhou Contemporary Music Festival has established a core model of "lectures + composition competitions + concerts." Building on these three pillars, this year's festival has further optimized its artistic structure, planning a wide array of academic activities that integrate scholarly and artistic pursuits, professional excellence, and public engagement.

In terms of lectures, there will be four special presentations by resident composers and one by a contemporary music scholar. These lectures will explore topics such as compositional techniques, creative processes, artistic concepts, and stylistic formation, delving deeply into themes like sound and ideas, avant-garde and tradition, and art and the world. Through music as a medium, these artists from diverse cultural backgrounds will express their thoughts and understanding of the contemporary era and the fate of humanity, imbuing the festival with profound historical significance.

As a key event of the festival, the "Yichuang Award" International Orchestral Composition Competition, which has been held since the festival's inception, continues to serve as an important platform for young composers from around the world to showcase and exchange their original works. Co-organized with Universal Edition Vienna, the competition has gained significant influence both domestically and internationally. This year's competition received 76 submissions from 14 countries and regions, with six compositions by composers from China, South Korea, and Malaysia advancing to the final round.

Over the years, the competition has produced nearly 100 outstanding works, with dozens of original compositions by young composers premiering at the festival. Notably, the works of emerging Chinese artists have been brought to the international stage through this platform, allowing the world to hear the cutting-edge explorations and reflections of China's new generation of artists on artistic frontiers.

Innovating Contemporary Art and Exploring Infinite Possibilities

While encouraging youthful musical creativity, the Hangzhou Contemporary Music Festival is also committed to creating an exchange platform for art institutions. University orchestras, such as those from Zhejiang Conservatory of Music and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), actively participate as new forces in the music world, integrating education and performance to discuss the future of contemporary Chinese music. Notably, the works they present—such as Cloud Creek’s Painted Landscape, Creeping Vines, South Wind II, Pine Breeze, Essays on Folk Customs (III) Lisu Ancient Melody, and Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, Chrysanthemum (IV)—are rooted in rich traditional culture yet imbued with a modern artistic spirit, reflecting contemporary composers' ethos of standing firmly in tradition while looking toward the future.

Modern art, as a symbol of cultural prosperity, openness, confidence, and modernization, reflects a nation's and region's capacity for innovation, inclusivity, and diversity. The Hangzhou Contemporary Music Festival exemplifies the progressive and open-minded development approach of this historic city, showcasing its advanced social governance in this new era.

Moving forward, the Hangzhou Contemporary Music Festival will continue to uphold the principles of "modernity, diversity, innovation, and internationalism" under the theme "Art Resonates with the Pulse of the Times." The festival will tirelessly explore and showcase the boundless charm and potential of musical art, promoting the prosperity and development of contemporary Chinese music. It will also strive to bring more high-quality Chinese works to the world stage and strengthen international exchanges and cooperation, contributing Chinese wisdom and strength to the global development of contemporary music.