World Music Lab 🐸 MUSIC IN THE CIRCLE
Exploring New Musical Horizons with the Open Orchestra Concept.
🌟 Hello!
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend Jazzahead in Bremen for the first time. One of the highlights was presenting a showcase with the remarkable Senegalese kora player and singer-songwriter Momi Maiga — a leading voice of the new generation who recently collaborated on the latest album of the legendary Youssou N’Dour.
Beyond the music, Jazzahead offered an excellent platform to introduce the Open Orchestra concept, developed over the past two years through the Creative Europe project Music in the Circle where I worked as facilitator and trainer.
The Open Orchestra model functions as a creative incubator, challenging traditional structures and nurturing artistic exploration.
With a core team of experienced musicians and conductors, the model brings together local artists for week-long residencies focused on co-creation, experimentation, and innovation. Participants are encouraged to blur genre lines, try out unconventional techniques, and compose new works collectively — resulting not only in unique live performances, but also in significant professional growth and artistic exchange.
This evolving format holds great promise for the future of collaborative music-making in the framework of Europe’s festivals.
🎯 MiC Open Orchestra: A Collaborative Residency Bridging Cultures Through Music
The MiC Open Orchestra, a cornerstone of the "Music in the Circle" initiative, embodies a dynamic approach to musical collaboration and cultural exchange. Conceived by the Associazione Culturale Darshan in Catania, this project brings together a core ensemble of experienced musicians and conductors to co-create new works during week-long residencies, engaging with local artists across Europe.
👉 A Core Ensemble Leading Collaborative Creation
At the heart of each residency is a trio of seasoned musicians: Alfredo Giammanco (Italy) on live electronics and conduction, Goran Milosevic (Serbia) on drums, and Roberto Fiore (Italy) on bass. This core group facilitates the creative process, guiding participating artists through improvisation, composition, and performance. Their leadership fosters an environment where diverse musical traditions and contemporary practices converge.
👉 Engaging Local Artists in a Week-Long Residency
Each residency spans five days, during which the core ensemble collaborates with local musicians and artists from various backgrounds. These participants, ranging from professionals to emerging talents, contribute their unique perspectives and skills. The collaborative process emphasizes inclusivity, allowing for a rich exchange of cultural and musical ideas.
👉 Culminating in a Public Performance
The residency culminates in a live performance, showcasing the newly created works to the local community and/or the host festival. These concerts not only highlight the collaborative efforts of the participants but also serve as a platform for cultural dialogue, community engagement, and long-term collaboration and exchange.
👉 Fostering Cultural Exchange and Artistic Innovation
The MiC Open Orchestra residency concept has been tested in various countries over a period of two years, including Italy, Serbia, Hungary, Latvia, and the Netherlands. The new works and the recordings of the live performances were made available on streaming platforms. Final concert in Catania, Sicily, was a blast!
👉 Check the Orchestra Live: https://www.youtube.com/@MiC_MusicInthecircle
🎯 Join the Circle – Host an Open Orchestra Residency
We invite festivals, cultural centers, and music organisations across Europe and beyond to become part of the Music in the Circle journey by hosting an Open Orchestra residency.
This is more than just a performance format — it's an immersive process that brings together diverse artists, communities, and audiences to co-create original music that reflects local voices and global perspectives.
By hosting a MiC Open Orchestra residency, you’ll be:
Supporting artistic innovation and intercultural collaboration
Giving visibility to emerging and underrepresented talents
Offering your community a unique, inclusive, and transformative musical experience
Let’s shape the future of collaborative music-making — together.
📩 To learn more or express interest, contact us at: music4you.net@gmail.com
🌍 Explore the project: www.musicinthecircle.eu
⚡️ Working together on your music. ⚡️
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👇 ABOUT ME: I’m Eric.
· Over 25 years of experience as a project manager and grant writer for eco-social initiatives across Europe, the Balkans, the Mediterranean, West Africa, Brazil, and Indonesia.
· More than 10 years as a booking agent specializing in folk, world, global, and jazz music artists.
· Experienced facilitator of international cooperation projects.
· Active member of the global music community, including being a WOMEXICAN and a board member of the European Folk Network.
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