OPEN CALL FOR COMPOSERS 2026
Portraits and Remembrance
Dedicated to Diana Budisavljević and the Righteous Among the Nations
The International Festival of Contemporary Creativity Rosi Fest announces a call for a new composition inspired by the themes of humanity, remembrance, and moral courage, with a special focus on the life and work of Diana Budisavljević.
This year’s theme is dedicated to the Righteous Among the Nations—individuals who, in times of greatest suffering, preserved their humanity, risking their own lives to save others.
At the center of the call is Dijana Budisavljević, a woman whose name has become a symbol of light in a time of darkness, and whose rescue of thousands of children during World War II remains a lasting part of our historical and cultural memory.
As a poetic starting point for the competition, the following text is proposed:
IME PO IME
Ime po ime,
iz mraka je vraćala svetlost.
Svako slovo — jedno dete.
Svako ime — jedan život.
Dok su drugi brisali tragove,
ona je čuvala dah.
List po list,
kao molitvu nad tišinom,
da se neko
jednom vrati
svome imenu.
Composers may use the provided text in full or in part, as inspiration or as the basis for a vocal or staged work, and may also propose their own text, provided it remains within the given thematic framework.
PERFORMING FORCES
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Women’s choir — Academic Choir Collegium musicum
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Optional: narrator
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Optional: vocal soloist
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Use of sound, stage, and electroacoustic effects is permitted
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The composition should be written for the specified ensemble, with the possibility of expanding the performance concept in accordance with the author’s artistic vision.
Duration: up to 6 minutes
Character of the work:
A contemporary vocal or vocal-stage piece that may include elements of speech, whisper, spatial arrangement of the choir, movement, lighting, electronics, and other interdisciplinary approaches.
CONDITIONS PROVIDED FOR SELECTED COMPOSERS
Based on submitted applications, the Festival’s Artistic Committee will select up to 7 composers, who will be provided with:
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Active participation in musical and staging rehearsals with the ensemble
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Performance of the composition at the concert Portraits and Remembrance.
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Premiere performance on the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27, 2027
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Media support and promotion
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Professional recording of the performance
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Accommodation for participants from outside Belgrade
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Certificate of participation
Selected works will be performed by the Academic Choir Collegium musicum, under the artistic direction of Dr. Dragana Jovanović.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Applications should include:
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Score (PDF format)
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Demo recording (preferred)
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Short composer biography
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Program note (up to 1000 characters)
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DEADLINES
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Application deadline: October 5, 2026
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Results announcement: November 6, 2026
Applications should be sent to: contact@rossifest.org
For additional information: contact@rossifest.org
