cresc... Schwärmen • 4–15 February 2O26

young_professionals is a mentoring programme for international composers by Ensemble Modern (EM) and the International Ensemble Modern Academy (IEMA) .

The module young_professionals focuses on young composers from all over the world. The composers will be mentored by EM members and renowned coaches in composition and conducting.

young_professionals has four sections: there will be a Conception Session, during which first ideas and approaches are formulated and discussed, a Try Out Session to read first sketches and fragments, a Feedback Session and finally a Performance Session. During this phase, the new pieces are rehearsed, refined, and given their world premieres.

2025/26 young_professional is led by Ensemble Modern, composer Michael Jarrell and conductor Toby Thatcher. The four new compositions concern themselves with the festival theme SCHWÄRMEN and will be premiered during cresc… 2026 as part of the SONIC SYNERGIES concert on 14 February 2026.

young_professionals is made possible by the Crespo Foundation as part of Sound Port Frankfurt 2030 and supported by the cooperation of the Association of Arts and Culture of the German Economy with the Ensemble Modern