X International Chamber Music Academy - Vic 2026
For five days, from Monday 14 to Friday 18 July, the city of Vic will once again become an International point of reference for the study and deepening of the string quartet specialty, but also of other string ensembles with different instruments, such as trios or quintets, among others. The classes will be given by ABEL TOMÀS, an internationally renowned performer and pedagogue and member of the Quartet Casals, and the QUARTET GERHARD, a young Catalan ensemble of international renown that will work with string quartets and other string ensembles with various instruments from music schools and conservatories.
In both cases, the repertoire to be worked on will be freely chosen by each participating ensemble. For this edition, special consideration will be given to the figure of Eduard Toldrà, who will head the Clàssica Jove 2025.
As a result of this immersion, on Friday 18 July at 8 p.m., a concert open to the public will be offered by the winning ensembles of the 2025 Academy Flama Award (location to be determined).
The ensembles that will have trained with the Quartet Gerhard will give a concert on the evening of Friday 18 July in the Sala Joan Anglada.
Other musical interventions by the participating groups will also be programmed in different venues in the city of Vic and a lecture about Eduard Toldrà (speaker to be determined), top of the bill at the Clàssica Jove 2025, during the days of the Vic 2025 International Quartet Academy.
For the third consecutive year, the Quartet Academy, together with Federació de Joventuts Musicals de Catalunya, announces that La Flama Award, aimed at participating ensembles with more than two years’ experience, at least one of whose members was born or trained in Catalonia.
Gerard Claret, artistic direction and coordination
CALENDAR AND REGISTRATION
Ensembles wishing to do the course will need to complete the online form and send their training CV and a WeTransfer link containing a video recording of them performing two movements from proven works to [email protected] (the video must be no longer than 15 minutes).
- Deadline for registration: 15 May 2026.
- Maximum number of participating ensembles: 12.
- Each ensemble will receive 10 lessons of 75 minutes each (2 classes with each teacher).
- The repertoire to be worked on will be free choice.
- Price per quartet or larger ensemble: €325 / musician (lunches included).
- Price per trio: €425 / musician (lunches included).
- Price per duo: €475 / musician (lunches included).
Summary of the course schedule
- Monday 13 July at 3 pm: ensemble reception.
- From Monday 13 July (afternoon) to Friday 17 July: classes given by the Gerhard Quartet and by Josep Maria Colom. Each ensemble will receive their personalised schedule in good time.
- Wednesday 15 July at 6 pm: award ceremony La Flama Prize and lecture on Clara Schumann and Robert Schumann, the main act of Clássica Jove 2026, presented by Sofía Martínez Villar.
- Thursday 16 July (afternoon): concert at the El Nadal i Les Germanetes dels Pobres residence.
- Friday 17 July at 6 pm: concert by the ensembles participating in the Acadèmia.
- Friday 17 July at 8 pm: concert by the winning ensembles of the La Flama Prize.
LA FLAMA award
La Flama, from the Federation of Youth Musical Ensembles of Catalonia and the International Chamber Music Academy - Vic, aims to rekindle the first drive given to new Catalan chamber ensembles.
Under the patronage of Gerard Claret and the Federation of Youth Musical Ensembles of Catalonia, the teachers of the Vic Chamber Music Academy, Josep Maria Colom and the Gerhard Quartet, will choose up to two ensembles based on their potential for growth and future prospects.
The prize will consist of a first presentation concert at the Petit Palau of the Palau de la Música Catalana in November 2026 and inclusion in the Xarxa de Joventuts Musicals de Catalunya [Network of Youth Musical Ensembles of Catalonia] 2027-2028, which will allow the winning ensembles to perform all over the country.
The organisers reserve the right to declare the prizes void, as well as to award any runner- up prizes.
See the terms and conditions of the prize on this link.
