The Centre for Contemporary Music works in close cooperation with the educational divisions of the Moscow Conservatory — the Department of Contemporary Music and the postgraduate assistantship class Contemporary Music Orchestra.

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC ORCHESTRA

The Department of Contemporary Music of the Moscow Conservatory runs a special class for postgraduate assistants, the “Contemporary Music Orchestra”. During their studies the young musicians master the latest repertoire, take part in concerts of the Studio for New Music ensemble and present solo programmes.

Work with young performers began with joint projects with the Ensemble Modern Academy. The idea was later developed in a series of master classes in the Russian regions, at Harvard, Boston and other universities in the USA, and in the All-Russian Seminars of New Music at the Moscow Conservatory. Within the Conservatory’s specialist degree a multi-level system was also set up to prepare musicians for performing contemporary music. Today all soloists take the compulsory course “Contemporary Repertoire”, designed individually for each orchestral group, as well as the elective “Extended Performance Techniques”. These courses form the basis for further training of performers who wish to specialise in new music.

The postgraduate assistantship programme is open to applicants holding a higher education degree in the arts (specialist or master’s degree). Admission is offered in the following specialities: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, percussion, piano, harp, violin, viola, cello, double bass, and voice.

Admission requirements and a sample programme for the 2026 entrance examinations can be downloaded here (in Russian).