Adrianna Kubica-Cypek is nominated for her choral work Printemps.
Printemps is part of her choral cycle Saisons, composed for 16 voices a cappella, exploring spaces and structures whose forms evoke memories of the various times of the year.
Printemps touches on the sense of space and abstract structures whose shapes evoke the affirmation of spring in all dimensions — the light, warmth, vitality returning after winter and the chaos that gives rise to it. The composer uses fragments of the poem by Victor Hugo Après l’hiver, that carry the aleatoric narrative.
Often starting from the curiosity about a minimum of material - like a single synaesthetic sensation - Adrianna Kubica-Cypek uses techniques such as controlled aleatorism and repetitiveness to extract a maximum of musical potential in her compositions.
Printemps was commissioned and premiered by the Danish National Vocal Ensemble in spring 2024.
Find the score for Printemps here.
Niels Rønsholdt is nominated for the cello concerto Western
Western explores questions of identity, authenticity, and belonging in a subtle reflection on America, seen through a European lens.
Using the framework of the classical concerto form as a starting point, Rønsholdt has created a work that both celebrates and challenges the European musical heritage. Inspired by Schumann’s iconic cello concerto and his Waldszenen, Rønsholdt has incorporated rapid melodies that flicker like birdsong, giving the cello a distinctive voice where tradition meets modern sensibility.
Western is a journey through personal memories and cultural contrasts—from childhood Western films and the forests of the Midwest to pentatonic scales and American pop culture—resulting in a kaleidoscopic narrative of cultural exchange between Europe and America.
Western was premiered by Jakob Kullberg and Varsovia Sinfonia conducted by Christopher Austin in June 2024 in Warsaw, Poland.
Find the score for Western here.
Carl Prisen was founded by Musikforlæggerne in 2013. Every year, 15 prizes are awarded to composers and songwriters across musical genres. Carl Prisen 2025 is celebrated on 29 April where the winners in all categories will be announced.