The origins of the Brand New Music Festival date back to 2002. At first serving on an irregular basis as an vehicle to present the works of the students of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice the event quickly developed into an proper festival, laying its focus on creating a meeting space based on three pillars:
- a special guest of international renomée, giving a lecture and holding a masterclass,
- the premiere presentation of 2-3 newly written pieces, commisioned from young composers at the beginning of their career,
- the interaction of the above with our students, whose works still have a place at our festival.
Young composers commissioned by our fesival include Karolina Filipska, Krzysztof Gawlas, Dobromiła Jaskot, Justyna Kowalska-Lasoń, Sławomir Kupczak, Karol Nepelski, Adrian Robak, Marcin Stańczyk, Joanna Szymala, Sławomir Wojciechowski, Emil Wojtacki, Krzysztof Wołek and Wojciech Ziemowit Zych.
A very special relationship unites us with the Orkiestra Muzyki Nowej [New Music Orchestra] and its conductor Szymon Bywalc, whose concert appearences might be considered a fixed part of the festival. Guest performers have included Jakob Kullberg, Monica Germino, Quatour Molinari and Spółdzielnia Muzyczna [Musicians Associated] Contemporary Ensemble.