ricordilab header

Ricordi Berlin relaunches ricordilab composer competition


Established in 2016, ricordilab provides the opportunity for emerging composers to participate in a three-year collaboration with Ricordi Berlin. We will publish selected works, provide international promotion and support the laureates with expertise in the music industry. After the immense success of ricordilab’s first two cohorts of composers, Ricordi Berlin decided to relaunch ricordilab for the period from 2022 to 2025.

We are seeking composers from various backgrounds with promising and unique compositional voices to enrich Ricordi Berlin’s roster. Operas or other stage works are especially welcome. 

To avoid bias, we consult an advisory board of internationally renowned experts, consisting of Heribert Germeshausen, Intendant of Dortmund opera; Paul Hughes, Director of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and of the BBC Singers; Mark Sattler, Dramaturg of Lucerne Festival; and Julia Wolfe, composer.

ricordilab owes a debt of gratitude to its network of associated partners that have agreed to feature select laureates in their programs during their tenure. Our partners include: Bamberg Symphony, Musikkollegium Winterthur, Orchestre National d'Auvergne, ensemble mosaik, riot ensemble, Beethovenfest Bonn, Campus Grafenegg, Oper Frankfurt and Fondazione Haydn di Bolzano e Trento.

IDAGIO, media and streaming partner, will help us boost the artists’ digital profiles.

Laureates from developing and transition countries will receive a grant from the Goethe-Institut for a residency in Germany, which includes travel costs and allowances as well as a commission for ensemble to be premiered by ensemble mosaik, Berlin.


Find out more about the current ricordilab laureates

Yair Klartag   Donghoon Shin   Lisa Streich

Advisory Board

Heribert Germeshausen Intendant of Dortmund opera
Paul Hughes Director of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and of the BBC Singers
Mark Sattler Dramaturg of Lucerne Festival
Julia Wolfe composer

Find out more about the advisory board members here.

Please refrain from contacting members of the advisory board.

Terms and Conditions

  • Applicants must be born after August 31st, 1982 
  • Applicants must submit 3 works (if applying with stage works: 4 works)
    • Each work must have been performed or commissioned by at least one professional ensemble/orchestra
    • The works cannot be published yet
    • A recording of each work is required (Corona-exception: if recording had to be canceled due to the pandemic, a total of 2 recordings, or 3 for those applying with staged works, is sufficient)
    • Scores and parts need to be engraved with Finale or Sibelius
    • If applying with stage works, at least one of the works must be written for voice(s) and ensemble/orchestra
  • The works must be for the required instrumentation categories as stated in the “Online application” section below
  • Grant provided by the Goethe-Institut
    • Only for composers from developing and transition countries (see list)
    • Residency (3-6 weeks) must take place in 2022 
    • Separate application at Goethe-Institut (online, simplified procedure) necessary 
    • Terms and Conditions of Goethe-Institut apply

Online application

Applicants should submit the following mandatory materials:
  • Completed online form
  • Complete list of works (with details of year, title, subtitle, duration, instrumentation, date/place and ensemble of the world premiere, program note, publisher if relevant) 
  • Scores (pdf):
    • One work for ensemble (6-12 musicians)
    • One work for large ensemble (12-18 musicians)
    • One symphonic work (more than 18 musicians)
  • If applying with stage works (ad libitum):
    • In addition to the scores mentioned above: One work for stage
    • One of the other submitted works must be written for voice(s) with ensemble/orchestra
  • Recordings of the submitted works (mp3)
  • Bio or CV (in English, maximum 3,500 characters including spaces)
  • List of upcoming performances and commissions
  • Links (website, social media)

Benefits provided to successful applicants

  • Collaboration with associated partners 
  • Publication of selected works
  • Administration (collecting societies, royalties, licensing, accounting)
  • Help with commission contracts and licensing
  • Production and distribution of published works
  • International promotion (personal meetings with our clients, print publication, press activities, website, newsletter, social media) 
  • Consultation: Team members of Ricordi Berlin will actively consult the laureates regarding the development of their careers
  • Grant from Goethe-Institut (only for composers from DAC-countries)