Contemporary Music

The studio of contemporary music has one of the most extensive programmes of public events within the ZHdK. Many of the issues that constantly arise in older scores can be addressed more directly and immediately in the music of today. The study of music tends to focus on works from past centuries, so that current issues are left out of the picture. Accordingly, exposing people to contemporary music and contemporary cultural perspectives can revitalize the way in which they experience and think about all music. Regular portrayals of iconic composers from throughout the world are one of the key aspects of the studio's programme, which is directed at the music-loving public as a whole. Their music is presented in concerts, workshops, discussion forums, educational events, masterclasses and free-format events. This programme offers all those participating an opportunity for an intensive exposure to the music of today, which is crucial for their professional lives, while at the same time communicating to the public the discovery – both enjoyable and significant – that an involvement with music can be far more than simply an attraction to familiar idioms.

From 15 to 17 April 2025, the Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart were guests at Zurich University of the Arts for a workshop on composition for voices with Isabel Mundry's class.
In the concert on 17 April 2025, they performed works that ZHdK composition students had created especially for this occasion and reflected on in several joint sessions. The videos presented here show a few of the works:

For around fifty years, the Arditti Quartet has been known for premiering new string quartets, while avant-garde music has been known for around a hundred years for throwing tradition overboard. The tension between historical resources and radical contemporary relevance also characterizes the music of our time.
From 28 February to 2 March 2024, the Arditti Quartet was a visiting ensemble at ZHdK. Works by composition students were premiered on Friday, 1 March, at 19:30 h in Concert Hall 3; workshops and courses provided insight into the interpretation of new and contemporary music from various present-day contexts. The videos presented here document the quartet's visit to ZHdK.