Applications Open for the Lumières d’Europe Session of the George Enescu Festival

The course, which runs from September 1 to 10, 2025, allows young musicians to rehearse with professionals, as well as attend lectures on philosophy, literature, science, and history

Founded in 2021 by David Grimal, Lumières d’Europe is a project that aims to pair music with other disciplines, especially literature, the history of thought, philosophy, and the sciences. Taking its cue from the spirit of the Enlightenment, the organization's aim is to position music within its historical, social, political, and scientific contexts.

The fourth session of Lumières d’Europe is set to take place at the George Enescu Festival in Bucharest, Romania, from September 1 to 10, 2025.

The sessions have a strong focus on chamber music, and 15 young musicians, as well as a composer-in-residence, will be selected to rehearse and perform alongside established professional musicians. In 2025, these musicians are pianist Itamar Golan, violinist David Grimal, violist Natacha Tchitch, and cellist Leonid Gorokhov.

The young musicians will also attend lecture sessions presented by scientists and historians to enrich their intellectual understanding of the music. The lectures will be given by the philosopher Paul Audi, the composer and musicologist César Viana, and the political philosopher and essayist Nicolas Tenzer. Participants will work on music by Shostakovich, Enescu, Pártos, Schnittke, Silvestrov, Schulhoff, Veress, and Weinberg.

Applicants should provide a short video of their playing, as well as a brief biography and a headshot. There is no fee to attend: the course is paid for by Les Dissonances. Only students from European countries are eligible to apply.

You can apply for the course here, and applications must be received by May 31, 2025.