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On 14 November, composers, musicians, educators and cultural practitioners gathered at Kulturværftet in Helsingør for the first seminar of New Music Exchange.
Participants travelled from across the Nordics, the Baltics and Scotland, making the day a rare meeting point for communities that seldom have the chance to exchange knowledge in the same room. Presentations and discussions reflected a broad mix of perspectives. From festivals and education to artist development - highlighting both shared challenges and region-specific conditions.
The seminar showed clearly that many barriers in contemporary music are rooted in long-standing attitudes and structures. Building a more inclusive music field requires both the willingness to question established norms and the development of practical methods that can support change. Throughout the day, presentations, panel discussions and group conversations explored themes such as music education, repertoire development, festival practice, and structural obstacles within the sector.
One of the central conversations featured British composer Ben Lunn, Danish composer Jonathan Mesterton Pitter, and Estonian composer Merilyn Jaeski. Together, they offered insight into how different artistic contexts shape opportunities for disabled composers – and how much potential remains untapped.
Lunn spoke about representation and the need for organisations to move beyond hesitation. Jaeski reflected on the Baltic context, where disabled musicians are still widely underrepresented in formal education and professional networks.
Jonathan Mesterton Pitter stressed the need to rethink how musical ability is evaluated. He described how many current structures unintentionally exclude talented artists whose methods differ from the norm:
“Musical quality should never be compromised, but the way we assess it must be flexible. Many composers cannot demonstrate ability through traditional tasks, such as playing an instrument or reading a score. Evaluation has to reflect musicality and creativity – not physical ability.”
Pitter emphasised that broadening assessment methods would allow more artists to enter education, take part in workshops and move into professional practice.
Over the next three years, New Music Exchange will continue this work through knowledge labs, workshops and artistic development across the partner countries, including upcoming activities in Riga and Helsinki. The collaboration will culminate in new inclusive repertoire presented at Nordic Music Days 2027, with the long-term ambition of supporting structural change across the contemporary music field.
The day in Helsingør ended with a shared understanding: when more voices, methods and artistic perspectives are welcomed into the music ecosystem, the entire field grows richer. New Music Exchange marks the beginning of a broader shift towards a more open, ambitious and inclusive future for contemporary music.
New Music ExChange: Enhancing Equity in Contemporary Music is a collaboration between Nordic Music Days, Danish Composers Society, Share Music & Performing Arts, Drake Music Scotland and the Baltic Contemporary Music Network.
This project is made possible with support from Erasmus+, the Nordic Culture Point Culture and Art Programme financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Swedish–Danish Fund, the Swedish–Lithuanian Fund, Kulturværftet, Helsingør and Helsingborgs Konserthus.
The first New Music ExExchange seminar was held on 14 November in Helsingør, Denmark.
Composers, musicians, teachers and others working in contemporary music came together to share knowledge and ideas.
The project is a collaboration between partners in the Nordics, the Baltics and Scotland.
Its goal is to make it easier for disabled composers and musicians to take part in professional music life.
Participants listened to presentations.
There were panel discussions about education, concerts and how music is created.
Small groups talked about barriers and possible solutions.
Everyone answered a short survey about inclusive practice.
British composer Ben Lunn spoke during the day.
He said that many organisations want to be inclusive but do not know where to start.
Danish composer Jonathan Mesterton Pitter also contributed.
He said that musical talent should always come first, but the way we assess it must be more flexible.
He said:
“Musical quality should never be compromised, but evaluation needs to fit different abilities.”
Over the next three years, the project will continue with workshops, discussions and artistic work in several countries.
This will lead to new inclusive music pieces, which will be presented at Nordic Music Days in 2027.
The seminar showed that the music world becomes richer when more people can participate.
New Music ExExchange aims to support that change.
New Music ExChange is a three-year international collaboration (2025–2027) dedicated to advancing equity in contemporary music for disabled composers and musicians.
Emerging from connections made at Nordic Music Days 2024, the project brings together organisations from the Nordics, Scotland and the Baltics to create new opportunities, share knowledge and challenge barriers within music education, festivals and professional practice.
Through panel discussions, seminars, masterclasses, workshops and knowledge labs, the partnership will explore inclusive approaches to composition and performance, culminating in the presentation of new inclusive repertoire at Nordic Music Days 2027.
Participating organisations include ShareMusic & Performing Arts, the Danish Composers’ Society (on behalf of the Council of Nordic Composers, NKR), the Baltic Contemporary Music Network, and Drake Music Scotland.
New Music ExChange is a three-year international collaboration (2025–2027) dedicated to advancing equity in contemporary music for disabled composers and musicians.
Emerging from connections made at Nordic Music Days 2024, the project brings together organisations from the Nordics, Scotland and the Baltics to create new opportunities, share knowledge and challenge barriers within music education, festivals and professional practice.
Through panel discussions, seminars, masterclasses, workshops and knowledge labs, the partnership will explore inclusive approaches to composition and performance, culminating in the presentation of new inclusive repertoire at Nordic Music Days 2027.
Participating organisations include ShareMusic & Performing Arts, the Danish Composers’ Society (on behalf of the Council of Nordic Composers, NKR), the Baltic Contemporary Music Network, and Drake Music Scotland.
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