News

Seventh edition of the New Music Conference: inspiration, fair practice and visions for the future

13 November 2025

This year, New Music Conference once again proved itself to be the ultimate meeting place for everyone working on and for the future of Dutch composer culture. Composers, musicians, programmers, and other professionals gathered for this day at the Verkadefabriek in ‘s-Hertogenbosch to learn from, share, and inspire each other. It was a success! The icing on the cake was the presentation of the Buma Classical Awards.

Buma Classical Awards 2025

This year, as in previous years, the Buma Classical Awards were presented during the New Music Conference. The following composers received awards.

Buma Classical Award 2025 for Arjan Linker
He received the Buma Classical Award 2025 for his remarkable presence in the cultural scene over the past two years, both with his own compositions and arrangements. He accepted the award from Esther Gottschalk, chair of the Dutch society of composers, Nieuw Geneco.

Buma Classical Lifetime Achievement Award 2025 for Klaas de Vries and Peter-Jan Wagemans
Klaas de Vries and Peter-Jan Wagemans accepted the Buma Classical Lifetime Achievement Award 2025 from Gabriël Oostvogel, former director of De Doelen in Rotterdam. As founders of the Rotterdam School, these two gentlemen have left an undeniable mark on contemporary composed music.

Buma New Music Incentive

A conference on New Music wouldn’t be a conference on New Music if it didn’t have an opportunity for new talent. During the Buma New Music Incentive, eight students from Dutch conservatories pitched themselves and their work to a professional jury and conference participants. This year, Joram van Duijn (ArtEZ Conservatory) won the incentive, earning him a €250.00 incentive prize.

A full and much-needed program

The program offered a diverse mix of panels, workshops, and meetings on current topics such as fair practice, grand law, art and healthcare, and the changing role of the composer. Highlights included the keynote interview with Meriç Artaç about her Bosch Requiem and the launch of the Grootrecht working group by fairPACCT and Nieuw Geneco. In addition, the popular Matchmaking Sessions provided ample opportunity for new collaborations between composers, ensembles, and venues.