A free musical creation laboratory beyond normative spaces
After Cage Composition Workshop is an intensive working space aimed at composers in advanced training or recently graduated who wish to develop a new original work within a context of personalized mentorship, critical reflection, and direct collaboration with performers specialized in contemporary music.
The workshop is conceived for a small group of active participants (maximum 9), allowing for individualized guidance and a level of technical and artistic rigor suited to emerging professional profiles in consolidation.
- With Javier Torres Maldonado as permanent guest composer
- Directed by Juan José Eslava, Guillermo Cobo and Carolina Cerezo
- Applications open until March 25, 2026
- Opening session: April 25
- Online phase: May–July 2026
- On-site phase: August 23–29, 2026 (accommodation included)
Faculty
Javier Torres Maldonado: Permanent Guest Composer
The on-site phase of the workshop is structured around the presence of Javier Torres Maldonado, an internationally recognized figure in contemporary creation and sound research. His participation constitutes the central axis of the intensive work and takes the form of:
- Individual composition lessons
- Detailed review of instrumental writing
- Direction of reading sessions and rehearsals
Working with Torres Maldonado offers participants the opportunity to develop their projects through an in-depth exploration of sound morphology, structural complexity, material control, and the articulation of compositional discourse in close dialogue with real interpretative practice.
Composers from Colectivo E7.2
The workshop is initiated and coordinated by Colectivo E7.2, formed by the composers:
- Juan José Eslava (Artistic Director)
- Guillermo Cobo
- Carolina Cerezo
They provide the structural guidance of the compositional process in close coordination with Javier Torres Maldonado, integrating the technical, aesthetic, and practical dimensions of the creative work through:
- Collective tutorials focused on the presentation and discussion of projects
- Individual follow-up of each work’s development
- Progressive supervision of score submissions
- Work on formal coherence, instrumental technique, and conceptual definition
Performers
The performative dimension is an integral part of the workshop’s pedagogical framework. The instrumental work is entrusted to the members of Ensemble E7.2:
- Pilar Fontalba — oboe
- Iván San Miguel — double bass
- Andreu Rico — percussion
Their participation is not limited to the final performance of the works; they are actively involved in:
- Intermediate and final reading sessions
- Supervised rehearsals
- Technical adjustments and notation review
- Exploration of extended techniques
- Direct dialogue with the composers regarding feasibility and refinement of the material
Project and Participant Selection
The course offers two modalities: active participant and auditor.
To complete the application process, applicants must fill out the online form, pay the corresponding fee (€25), and submit the required documentation.
Project
Active Participants
- Commission for the composition of a work of up to 7 minutes for an ensemble of 1 to 3 instruments
- 50 hours of active training within the workshop and its activities
- Reading session, rehearsal, and presentation in the pre-premiere recital (August 28)
- Public premiere as part of the 13th After Cage Festival (August 29)
- Accommodation in a shared room at the Villava Hostel (August 23–30)
- Certificate of completion for participation in the workshop in its active modality
Auditors
- Full access as an auditor to all on-site workshop sessions (47 hours)
- Certificate of attendance in the auditor category
Inscripciones
March 2–25
Active Participants
- PDF score and recording of a maximum of two works (preferably for different instrumental ensembles), submitted in full anonymity
- CV (max. 300 words, in Spanish or English)
- High-resolution photograph
- Application fee: €25
Auditors
- No additional documentation is required
- Application fee: €25
Selección
April 2
Active Participants
- Available places: 9
- The selection process will be conducted anonymously by the four members of the workshop faculty
Auditors
- Available places: 15
- Places will be assigned in order of registration, with priority granted to non-selected applicants from the active modality
Matrícula
April 3–17
Active Participants
- €550
Auditors
- €70
Schedule
The workshop will begin with an online information session for enrolled active participants (April 25, 10:30), during which the two phases of the program will be presented:
Online Phase
May–July 2026
- A preliminary creative period devoted to the composition of the work, including three individual sessions with the composers of Colectivo E7.2.
- Throughout this phase, successive score submissions will accompany the gradual shaping of the project, leading to a completed version prior to the on-site encounter.
On-Site Phase
August 23–29
Intensive residency at the Municipal School of Music of Valle de Egüés (Navarra), including:
- Individual lessons with Javier Torres Maldonado
- Individual and group tutorials with the team of composers
- Reading sessions and rehearsals with the performers
- Collective composition lab
- Final review and adjustments of the scores
- Pre-premiere recital and public premiere as part of the 13th Festival After Cage
Contact
- @festival_after_cage
- colectivoe72.es
- colectivoe7.2@gmail.com
