MCICM Events

In an effort to make classical music relevant to a wider portion of society, institutions and musicians are increasingly seeking new ways of engaging with partners, social themes and other types of music. Topics such as climate change, diversity and education are seeing an explosion of energy and attention, and organizations are seeking ways to bring these to the forefront in artistic as well as practical ways.

During the most difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic, cultural institutions were forced to fundamentally rethink the ways in which they worked. Issues such as reaching audiences, using new technologies, and managing risks to staff and the public became everyday cultural work. While we are all glad to be back on the stage, at the museum, and in schools, we should not revert to ‘business as usual’ and forget these learned lessons. The fast and decisive changes brought about by the pandemic can be seen as a blueprint for the action required in the face of climate emergency.

The Artful Participation project was a four-year project, funded by NOW/SIA, in which researchers together with musicians and staff from philharmonie zuidnederland seeks to further innovate the practice of symphonic classical music by asking what it means to participate in it as an audience.

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During the outbreak of COVID-19 we see musicians practicing and performing from their living rooms on our Facebook timelines. Orchestras are streaming previously recorded or live concerts. The goal of the experiment Online Musicking was to explore what it means to perform classical music online.

The People’s Salon was a special concert, organised by and for the Friends of philharmonie zuidnederland. It focused on collecting stories and memories that the Friends share through interviews, where each individual draws a picture of how a particular piece of music is valuable for them in their lives.

This experiment approached Mahler’s music through the lens of his folk, national and melodic roots. Three ensemble-bands were created from musicians with various backgrounds to explore three different aspects of Mahler: a klezmer band, a brass band, and a string quartet.

The Dutch historian Johan Huizinga gave a wonderful description of the soundscape of medieval towns and villages in Herfsttij der Middeleeuwen (Autum of the Middle Ages). The sound of bells and carillons was omnipresent therein as a means of warning, celebration, and mourning.

MCICM arose from the need to reflect on and actively shape the future of classical music. This conference sought to engage with the different ways that practitioners are constructing this future, while considering critically the process of ‘futuring’ itself.

The 2020 COVID-19 crisis and the lockdown measures greatly affected classical music organisations. MCICM organised an online space to share and discuss ideas and challenges during times of corona and provided an opportunity to discuss the current situation of online musicking as well as future challenges. 

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