ECOS LABS’ NEW CALL

Sierra Espuña’s ECOS Festival invites young national and international Early Music groups to come to the Region of Murcia for its artistic residency program and ECOS Labs. Three groups will be selected and welcomed to the most emblematic enclaves of the Sierra Espuña Territory to live with other musicians, share music and deepen the shared commitment to the social challenges of the 21st century. The festival thus aims to promote lifelong and transversal learning for young and emerging musicians and is in line with the objectives set by the European Union for the Year of Skills in 2023. 

The ECOS residency programme is a 7-day experience that will take place between September 2 and 11, 2023, thanks to the support of the University of Murcia. Its main objective is to promote young talent and knowledge of Early Music, in addition to helping young ensembles expand their artistic qualities and enter the international professional market through:

• A work space / rehearsal venue with excellent conditions during the residency.

• Creation of audiovisual material: professional video for promotion and professional photoshoot.

• Marketing and communication training with the Early Music Project team and international programmers from the REMA association.

• Active participation in the digital ECOS Labs, interacting with international programmers from the REMA (European Network of Early Music).

• Dissemination and publicity of the main activities of the ensemble through all networks and communication media of ECOS and Early Music Project for at least one year.

• Workshops about new audiences and children concerts. 

• Public concerts in the ECOS Festival programme in order to become familiar with the performing in front of varied audiences, carry out dissemination work and the development of concert proposals in accordance with the expectations of festival and concert hall promoters.

APPROXIMATE SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES AND SUBJETCT TO CHANGE:

• 2nd and 3rd September 2023: Evening concerts for groups A and B

• 3rd and 4th September 2023: Morning concerts for groups A and B

• 2nd – 4th September 2023: Videoclip recording and photo shoot for groups A and B. 

• Week 5-9th: 

• • Conferences ECOS Labs (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)
  • Workshops with Jorge Losana and David Gutiérrez

• 8th and 9th September 2023: Evening concerts for groups B and C

• 9th and 10th September 2023: Morning concerts for groups B and C

• 8th – 10th September 2023: Videoclip recording and photo shoot for groups B and C. 

The evening concerts of the selected members of the ECOS Labs residencies will take place on September 2nd, 3rd, 8th and 9th. The morning concerts (with children’s audiences) will be on September 3rd, 4rth, 9th and 10th. During the week of September 5-11th, all ECOS Labs residency activities will take place workshops and ECOS Labs conferences. For the workshops and conferences, it is essential that at least one member representing each group be available between September 5th and 8th.

The ECOS Labs are seminars in digital format, organised in collaboration with REMA (the European Network of Early Music), in which international festival programmers discuss and interact with ECOS emerging groups to address issues related to Early Music and its value in the 21st century. This year, the title is “The experience of the concert” and three seminars will be held that will deal with the role this topic occupies in the day-to-day life, concert formats and strategy of Early Music groups.

ECOS Labs are an opportunity for emerging groups to receive personalised feedback on their artistic/social project and to learn how to interact in the international Early Music market. The programmers participating in this edition will be announced in mid-June

REQUIREMENTS 

In the 2023 edition, three resident groups that meet the following characteristics will be selected:

• Formation between 2 and 5 people of any nationality and specialty: vocal, instrumental or mixed.

• The group must perform music with historically informed instruments and criteria.

• The average age of the members of the group should not exceed 35 years, and groups with younger performers will be prioritised.

• Offer a proposal in accordance with the values and artistic criteria of ECOS Festival, adapting to the format, the venues and the audience that comes to Sierra Espuña.

RESIDENCIES INCLUDE:

• Active participation in the ECOS LABS digital seminars (in English) with international programmers, under the title “Early Music and Social Responsibility”.

• Career building workshop with Jorge Losana.

• Children audiences workshop with David Gutiérrez.

• Storytelling workshop with Jorge Losana and David Gutiérrez. 

• Production of a video clip of between 1 and 3 minutes with the director of the ECOS Festival in an emblematic place in Sierra Espuña. Participants must bring a pre-recorded audio.

• A photo session with the ECOS Festival photographer in an emblematic area of Sierra Espuña.

• One or two concerts (outdoors) within the official ECOS Festival programme and one concert in family format in the morning.

• Rehearsal spaces (with harpsichord or organ available if needed) during the days of the residency.

• Accommodation for one week in the cabins of the Aledo Rural tourist complex (with pool and kitchen included): https://aledorural.com

RESIDENCIES DO NOT INCLUDE:

• Artist fees or salaries.

• Travel and living expenses. However, the organisation will facilitate the arrival/departure of resident groups to and from Totana train or bus station, as well as the purchasing of food in establishments in the area.

• Musical instruments insurance.

REGISTRATION

To register you will have to fill in the form (available by clicking here) where you will fill in all the requested data. All links must lead to a Drive folder so that it is possible to consult them online without downloading the files: 

• Video recording (preferable) or audio of the group/ensemble (Max. 8 min).

• Group CV

• High resolution group photo (in colour, minimum 2 MB)

• Programme proposal (45 min) including title, pieces and movements to be interpreted and a concert presentation (maximum one page)

• Letter of motivations to participate (maximum one page)

DEADLINES

• March 1st, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.: deadline for submitting proposals

• April 15th, 2023: interested parties will be notified of the selection result by email.

March 15th, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.: Limit date for selected applicants to pay 100,00€ deposit to secure place and send all necessary documentation (this amount will be reimbursed to applicants at the end of the residency, and is to secure place and ensure commitment of the residents. If selected applicants do not reserve their place during the given timeframe, it will be offered to the next ensemble in order of preference established by the selection committee

MORE INFORMATION

If you need more information or have any questions regarding registration requirements or participation conditions, you can contact the organising team at produccion@earlymusproject.com.