Akim Zvarych — a composer and violinist from Kyiv, working at the intersection of contemporary classical music, electroacoustics, and music for theatre. 

Within the project, he will create a new work for IEMA-Ensemble, which will have its world premiere at the Gaudeamus Festival on 11 September 2026. The composition will be developed during working sessions in June and rehearsals in September. 

The open call attracted 18 applications from young Ukrainian composers, making it a challenging selection for the international jury. The jury highlighted the exceptionally high quality of the submissions. 

The applicants represent a new generation of the Ukrainian music scene, with an average age of around 25. 61% are women and 39% are men. Most are currently based in Ukraine, while around one-third study or work across Europe — from Vienna and Berlin to Sweden and the UK. 

Gaudeamus Festival is one of Europe’s leading festivals of new music and a key platform for emerging composers. It is a space where new works are created and premiered, and where composers collaborate closely with leading ensembles and curators in contemporary music.