2026 Composition Program
Valencia International Performing Arts Summer Festival
July 8-17, 2026
- Program Overview
- 2026 Composition Faculty
- Applying
- Program Info
- Artists and Ensembles in Residence
- Testimonials
UPDATE: 40€ discount on applications until January 15, 2026!
Composition Faculty
- Jorge Villavicencio Grossmann, VIPA Composition Director // Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY
- Amy Williams // University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
- Evis Sammoutis // Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY
- David Moliner // Composer and Performer
- Emmanuel Berrido, VIPA Executive Director // University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Artists In Residence
- Mivos Quartet
- David Moliner & Juanjo Llopico, Percussion Duet
- VICE — Valencia International Contemporary Ensemble
2026 Festival Quick Facts
Early Deadline: January 1 // Hard Deadline: March 1 (NOTE: Applications will be reviewed and notified on a rolling basis)
Each student will compose a new piece to be rehearsed and premiered by one of our acclaimed PROFESSIONAL ENSEMBLES-IN-RESIDENCE in a public concert during the VIPA Festival.
Students will receive lessons from members of the Composition Faculty.
All pieces will be audio recorded and delivered to each student after the festival (Note: video recording is purchased separately).
Students can take active part in all lectures and workshops, both in the Composition and Piano programs.
Attendance and active participation (if selected) in reading sessions with the resident ensembles and soloists.
Free admission to all recitals, concerts, and masterclasses happening at VIPA 2026
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Since its debut in 2015, the VIPA Composition Program has brought together dozens of acclaimed composers and over 300 students from across the globe. The 2026 edition continues this legacy, offering an immersive experience of lessons, workshops, and masterclasses with world-renowned faculty and resident performers.
Participants have their works performed with exceptional artistry and recorded using professional audio and video equipment—producing top-quality results that past participants have consistently praised. This commitment to excellence has earned VIPA an international reputation for the outstanding standard of its performances and recordings.
Taking place July 8-17, 2026, VIPA offers a unique setting where creativity, collaboration, and world-class musicianship converge in one of Europe’s most vibrant and inspiring cities.
VIPA students bring diverse artistic voices and aesthetic perspectives, finding inspiration not only in the faculty and resident ensembles but also in one another. What begins in Valencia often grows into international collaborations. At VIPA, composing means becoming part of a global creative community.
Participants and Auditors Welcome!
Composition candidates for the VIPA Composition Program must either be enrolled at a college-level degree-granting institution or higher, or hold one such degree to be eligible for participation at VIPA 2026, although some exceptions could be accepted if enough level of accomplishment is proven.
Each participant will be commissioned to write a piece, ranging from solo to ensemble, to be premiered by one of VIPA’s ensembles-in-residence. Commission assignments will be made by the Director of Composition by early February. The deadline for the submission of the score and parts will be May 20th, 2026. Technical abilities for the performance of works with electronics shall be discussed with the composers, but shall be generally limited to stereo (2-channel diffusion).
Participants will also have the opportunity to workshop their work with the performers during rehearsals of their piece. All concerts for the 2026 VIPA Composition Program will be professionally recorded, and participants will receive an audio recording after the end of the festival. AUDITORS are entitled to observe lessons, classes, and all other VIPA events but will not receive lessons or have a piece performed.
IMPORTANT NOTE: VIPA alumni can be auditors AT NO COST!
2026 Composition Faculty
Jorge Villavicencio Grossmann
VIPA Composition Program Director
Ithaca College // Ithaca, NY
Amy Williams
Faculty
University of Pittsburgh // Pittsburgh, PA
Evis Sammoutis
Faculty
Eastman School of Music // Rochester, NY, USA
David Moliner
Faculty; Artist in Residence
Berlin, DE
Emmanuel Berrido
VIPA Festival Executive Director, Faculty
University of Pittsburgh // Pittsburgh, PA
Carlos David Perales
Faculty, Computer Music
Conservatorio Superior de Música "Joaquín Rodrigo" // Valencia, Spain
- Jorge Villavicencio Grossmann, VIPA Composition Director // Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY
- Amy Williams // University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
- Evis Sammoutis // Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY
- David Moliner // Composer and Performer
- Emmanuel Berrido, VIPA Executive Director // University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
APPLYING TO THE FESTIVAL
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
- Apply to VIPA Composition by January 15th for a 40€ discount!
- Hard Deadline: March 1st*
*Late applications will be accepted after March 1st, only if there are openings available or last-minute cancellations.
SELECTION PROCESS:
Members of the composition faculty will review applications on a rolling basis as they are received. This means that applicants may be notified of their acceptance shortly after submitting their materials — even before the official deadline. Therefore, applying early increases your chances of securing a place in the program. Applicants accepted by the first deadline will also receive the specific instrumentation for their new work earlier. VIPA cannot guarantee the availability of spots past the late deadline, so we strongly encourage early submission. Further conditions of participation will be specified in the acceptance letter.
SUBMISSION MATERIALS:
All application materials are to be sent electronically through the Composition Application Form. Please provide direct links to all materials (YouTube, Dropbox, Google Drive, SoundCloud, etc., or on any cloud hosting space). You will not be able to upload any files to the application.
- C.V. or RESUME and BIO in PDF (include: educational background, schools, teachers, degrees, awards, prizes, previous festivals attended, and any relevant performances and/or professional experience). A link to your bio in your personal website can also be accepted.
- TWO (maximum) REPRESENTATIVE SCORES in PDF files and audio or video recordings (if available).**
**VIPA encourages all participants to write new works to be premiered by one of our ensembles-in-residence during the festival; however, if you would like to have an existing work performed, submit it as one of the two representative scores and make note of this on the application form. Preexisting works may be scored for string quartet of for any subset of the resident ensemble (ranging from solo to the full ensemble) and be not longer than seven (7) minutes in duration.
Please indicate your preferred ensemble/instrumentation for your new work (see options below for the 2026 ensembles in residency). We will make every effort to honor your fist choice but cannot guarantee it. The proposed instrumentation for you new work will be included in the acceptance letter.
Pieces composed for the VIPA Festival will be for one of the following groups:
Option A: Mivos Quartet (2 violins, viola, violoncello)
Option B (1-4 players): VICE (available ensemble – in full or a subset – will be assigned by the director of the Composition Program)
Option C: Percussion Duet (in full or solo pieces)
Please see the “Electronics” section below for specifications regarding available equipment for electronics.
ELECTRONICS: Only works involving fixed electronics are eligible for performance at VIPA. We are not able to accommodate any performance of live electronics at the moment.
We will provide equipment for stereo (2-channel) diffusion, including speakers, a USB-C audio interface (composers need to provide any adapters necessary for this interface to work with their computer), and the necessary cables for connection between the interface and the speakers. Composers intending to use electronics will be expected to bring their own laptop, all necessary software, any extra hardware needed beyond this support, and to run their own patch/software with minimal technical assistance of a staff member. A larger tech list will be provided to composers if accepted.
Questions may be directed to: [email protected].
Program Information
- Composition Participant: 1,440€
- Auditor: 150€ (free for VIPA alumni)
SPECIAL DISCOUNT!
Previous VIPA Composition Festival participants will receive a cumulative 175€ tuition reduction for EACH year attended! (max. 3 years discount)
A non-refundable deposit of 750€ is due upon notification of acceptance and will be credited toward tuition.
The cost of tuition includes: participant status, performance of your work, audio recordings, lessons, masterclasses, workshops and reading sessions. There’s an optional 195€ fee for a professionally-edited video with multi-camera angle.
Interested parties should message [email protected] for information.
METHOD OF PAYMENT: Upon acceptance to the program, participants will receive instructions as to how to make payments through either bank transfer or credit card. Any bank transaction fees are the responsibility of the student.
HOUSING: VIPA encourages (but does not require) students to get the tuition & accommodation bundle, as prices in Valencia have a tendency to be significantly higher in summer. There are only a limited number of rooms available to VIPA students, so the sooner you book once you’re accepted, the more possibilities you’ll have to get one!
The lodging package for VIPA Composition students includes 11 nights (July 7 to July 18) at Micampus Student Residence, in rooms with a private bathroom and kitchen.
- Single room: 715€
- Double room: 462€/person
Please note that this is a complete package and no additional nights can be added or subtracted.
More information about Micampus can be found here.
2026 ARTISTS AND ENSEMBLES IN RESIDENCE
Resident ensembles for the Composition Program will be, once again, the critically-acclaimed Mivos Quartet (New York, USA), and our genuine VICE (Valencia International Contemporary Ensemble). They will be featured in several concerts during the 2026 festival where all works from our selected students will be premiered and audio recorded. Both ensembles are highly experienced and renowned for their dedication to bringing VIPA students’ works to life, resulting in outstanding performances and exceptional recordings. Their meticulous approach ensures that all composers leave the program fully satisfied with the care and professionalism given to their pieces.
Students will create works for Mivos Quartet in full, and for VICE in either full ensemble, trio or duo combinations, to be assigned by the Composition Program director, at the time of acceptance to the Festival.
The Mivos Quartet
The Mivos Quartet, founded in 2008 in New York City, is one of the world’s leading ensembles dedicated to new music for string quartet. Renowned for their close collaborations with composers such as Helmut Lachenmann, George Lewis, Chaya Czernowin, Alex Mincek, and Sam Pluta, Mivos has premiered hundreds of works. They perform at major venues and festivals including Wien Modern, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Darmstadt, Cervantino, and Lincoln Center, bridging innovation, virtuosity, and bold contemporary expression.
Olivia de Prato
Violin
Mivos Quartet
William Overcash
Violin
Mivos Quartet
Victor Lowrie Tafoya
Viola
Mivos Quartet
Nathan Watts
Viola
Mivos Quartet
The Valencia International Contemporary Ensemble
This distinguished ensemble, created at VIPA during last decade, features an extraordinary lineup of artists, including clarinetist Luis Fernández Castelló (Naxos Recording Artist; Spain), cellist Mariel Roberts (Wet Ink Ensemble, International Contemporary Ensemble; USA), pianist Dimitri Vassilakis (Ensemble Intercontemporain, Paris, France), and percussionist Juanjo Llopico (Synergein Project, Ensemble d’Arts).
Mariel Roberts
Cello
International Contemporary Ensemble, Wet Ink; USA
Luis Fernández Castelló
Clarinet
Naxos Recording Artist; Spain
Dimitri Vassilakis
Piano
Ensemble Intercontemporain; Paris, France
Juanjo Llopico
Percussion
Synergies Project, Ensemble d'Arts
Llopico & Moliner percussion duo
The percussion duo Llopico / Moliner, created for VIPA 2026, unites two of Spain’s most forward-looking voices in new music. David Moliner, composer-percussionist, has premiered works with orchestras and ensembles like the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra, Valencia Symphony, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Klangforum Wien, and worked with soloists like Jörg Widmann. Juanjo Llopico, professor at the Conservatorio Superior de Aragón, has studied and performed extensively in Basel, and collaborated with ensembles such as Basel Percussion Group, NEXEnsemble, Ensemble Espai Sonor, and appeared in key festivals including Donaueschingen, Basel’s Gare du Nord, and Mostra Sonora. Both bring deep experience in premieres and cutting-edge repertoire, promising a duo rooted in virtuosity, adventurous gesture, and intense
collaborative spirit.
Juanjo Llopico
Percussion
Synergies Project, Ensemble d'Arts
David Moliner
Faculty; Artist in Residence
Berlin, DE
Testimonials
It was invigorating to be around so many great thinkers who thought about music differently from myself. One of my favorite things in the universe is being exposed to new ways of thinking about music, and there was plenty of that in this festival… All in all, I can’t recommend this festival enough. The people are amazing. The program is great. The performances are sensitive. Spanish wine is inexpensive and delicious. What else do you need?
With one of the distinguished artists and faculties, I was enchanted such a wonderful experiences. For me, The Festival shouldn’t belonging in only one Musical Aspect and Peoples but in VIPA is different. Expanding new horizons of musical worlds always start with when Composers, Performers speak their valuable experiences and knowledges, not for self-esteem but trying to sharing for all of us. It’s unexchangeable and couldn’t gain without time-spending on conversation with those amazing artists. This tremendous 10 days never makes disappointed out for whom trying to looking applications, and guarantee for spending in passionate country and all musicians flew from all over the world. Recommend for all composers.
This is the place for composers and performers to expand their musical palettes. I was amazed at the variety of ideas and philosophies among the faculty, participants, and special guests, representing the wide spectrum of new music that is created and experienced every day. Whether in presentations, group discussions, lessons, concerts, or informal conversations, I gained tremendous insight and made so many connections to enhance my musical journey. This is a festival everyone ought to experience.
VIPA gave me the opportunity to work with dedicated musicians who brought my work to life with great attention to detail. I have always found the conversations with faculty and fellow composers–often held at the most incredible restaurants in town–inspiring and encouraging. Additionally, I received one of the most comprehensive packages of video and audio recordings I’ve ever received from a composer’s festival. The mix already sounds wonderful, but there is also the option for me to do a remix from recordings of multiple mic positions, taken during dress rehearsal and the performance. I truly appreciate their effort of documenting all the hard work that was put into creating the piece. I would love to come back for more!
The VIPA festival provides an invaluable experience for the aspiring composer. The connections built between and knowledge gained from the students, faculty and ensembles will have lasting impacts in the pursuit of a career in music.
Fellows at VIPA get to engage with world-class performers like Erik Drescher, the Mivos Quartet, and Ensemble Interface, allowing participants to cultivate important connections. The energy, care, and guidance they provided made for smooth rehearsals and performances. I am also grateful for having been encouraged to explore new media – it was at VIPA that I gained the confidence to incorporate electronics into my music. I think the most important part of my experience, though, as a woman composer, was the strong female presence at VIPA – for the first time I witnessed in a festival more than 3 people, who identified as female, as attendees. This small facet allowed a conversation and empower fellows to discuss diversity issues within the new music scene. My time at VIPA was invaluable, and I would definitely encourage all young artists to attend.
I have spent a fantastic 10-day in Valencia, Spain this past summer. From the rewarding guest lectures to inspiring participant presentations, from the amazing performances to the equally contemporary and historical sceneries of Valencia, as a composer, VIPA is a remarkable program for me to grow and cultivate a unique compositional approach to sound.