Scotland at Classical:NEXT

Classical:NEXT is the world’s biggest contemporary classical showcase and expo.

Vibrant. Inventive. Collaborative.

These are just a few words that can describe Scotland’s classical scene, which thrives on experimentation and connection. We’re proud to represent the work of the sector at Classical:NEXT.

Apply to Showcase or Present at Classical:NEXT 2025

Classical:NEXT 2025 will take place in Berlin from 12 to 15 May and applications are now open for programme submissions for Showcase concerts, Conference sessions and Project pitches.

  • Showcase concerts: Focusing on new approaches to early, classical, contemporary and indie-classical music in all its variety. These can include influences of non-classical or non-western sounds, new and exciting forms of audience interaction, innovative ways to perform traditional repertoire and fresh approaches in contemporary classical work.
  • Conference sessions: Aiming to help delegates with burning issues, examine today’s challenges and find solutions, to stay up-to-date with new developments to shape the future of art music including early, classical, contemporary, genre-blending, boundary-pushing or tradition-intermingling. Topics must be relevant to multiple sectors and regions. The event focuses on open, participatory and interactive formats over more traditional panel discussions.
  • Project pitches: 9-minute slots including video and Q&A. They are a cost and time-effective way to inform the international music community about artistic projects seeking international partners or touring opportunities.

Find out more and apply by 4 October 2024.

Jump to

Classical:NEXT is the world’s biggest contemporary classical showcase and expo. In 2024, we worked with the Scottish Music Centre to support and promote a group of Scotland-based artists, ensembles and producers attending the event.

In 2024 Classical:NEXT took place in Berlin from 13 to 17 May. The official programme included a meet-up for DIY artists hosted by Matthew Whiteside and a project pitch from Red Note about Flock, their new work for young audiences.

Meet the delegates

We supported three composers to attend Classical:NEXT 2024 through bursaries – Ben Lunn, Lisa Robertson, and Rūta Vitkauskaitė.

Find out more about these three composers and their work.

Ben Lunn

Ben Lunn has forged himself a unique position within the new music landscape. As a composer, Lunn’s music reflects the material world around him, connecting to his North-Eastern heritage or how disability impacts the world around him or his working-class upbringing.

“Coming from where I have, I am deeply fascinated in how my music can reflect my home (North-East England) or my class. “Ultimately, I am fascinated in how music could be a force for good and always try to bring that into my work somehow. This has either been in composing music which reflects these ideas - or by putting on events which celebrate disabled composers or build unlikely international links.” Ben Lunn, musician and composer attending Classical:NEXT

On attending the event, Ben says "Classical:NEXT is extremely valuable, because it is an opportunity to meet groups and expand what we do - and many of these interactions are surprising. I was fortunate to be presenting a talk in 2022, and it was such a positive experience I knew I had to come back."

Ben also shared his future plans, including a commission he's working on "for the incredible Welsh Bass-Baritone, Paul Carey Jones, and the Durham Miners' Association Brass Band. The piece will be premiered in February and marks the reopening of Redhills in Durham and also celebrates the centenary of fellow Northumbric William Martin."

"Alongside this, I'm scheming away on an opera - and finally, looking for partners on a project for voice and ensemble called 'Arl' which I'll want to talk to many people in Classical:NEXT about."

Lisa Robertson

Lisa Robertson is a composer and violinist from the West Highlands of Scotland, particularly interested in examining human and environmental relationships and traditional Gaelic culture.

Rūta Vitkauskaitė

Rūta Vitkauskaitė is a composer working in concert music and beyond. Her scores have been awarded numerous prizes an part of her practice is collaborative and interdisciplinary projects: her opera for blind-folded audiences, Confessions (Spatial Opera Company), was awarded the Golden Stage Cross and toured across the EU with over 50 shows to date.

Playlist: Classical and New Music from Scotland

Discover new music from Scotland in our playlist, curated for the Classical:NEXT community by our delegates.

Discover more

Find out more about all the Scottish delegates attending this year on the Scottish Music Centre’s website.

We hope that everyone attending makes valuable connections and finds new inspiration from sharing ideas with their peers from around the world.

Downloads

Want to know more about classical music in Scotland?

Download our pack, read the curators’ introductions to their playlists, and explore the rich sounds of the scene.