Borderline 2023: Open call for singers "Freedom to Move"

Freedom to Move

“Freedom to Move” is a project exploring the relationship between freedom and the boundaries of musical genres in relation to the contemporary classical music field with the aim to stretch them. The human voice is the most personal instrument. Of all musicians, singers are therefore probably the most connected to their heritage. Thus, “Freedom to Move” wishes to bring together all these voices from five cities around Europe.

We invite professional or trained singers (x/f/m) to apply to this open call in order to work for three days with Sofia Jernberg (Sweden) as their artistic coach.

Eligibility

You want to work with singing beyond language or on the border between language and sound.
You want to push the boundaries of your creativity and go outside your comfort zone.
You come from fields of music somewhat underrepresented in these types of contemporary music festivals.
You are at least a trained singer, there is no need to be professional or be able to read scores.

What and When

Applications deadline: 26 March 2023
Selected artists will be contacted on the week of the 3rd of April 2023
Rehearsals on 21 & 22 April 2023
Presentation on the 23rd of April 2023 within the framework of Borderline Festival 12.

How you apply

If you are interested in taking part in this project, please apply via this form.

Please do not forget to include a sample of your work either by including a mix or uploading a video of you singing, preferably acapella.

If you have questions do send them to networks@onassis.org.

The deadline for this call is on the 26th of March 2023, 12 midnight EET (Greek time).

Selection and process

There will be a final selection of 5 singers who will receive a fee of 500 euros each plus accommodation expenses based on each case (travel and hotel if needed, food is covered during the rehearsals).

The final selection will be made by Sofia Jernberg, the artistic coach of “Freedom to Move.”

Documentation

All five presentations will be video-recorded as we want to portray each participating singer with their own personal story and then present it to each collaborating festival, in order to create a wholesome story about the freedom and the boundaries of the voice in contemporary music.

Get to know the people behind the project

Sofia Jernberg

Like some people collect stamps, Sofia Jernberg collects vocal disciplines. Born in Ethiopia in 1983, the Sweden-based artist mastered myriad styles – from classical singing to pitchless singing – to accommodate just as many creative fields, namely music theater, visual art, film, orchestral & jazz ensembles. Jernberg reconciles the art of improvisation and composition, both under her own name and as key member of Trondheim Jazz Orchestra.

Borderline Festival

Borderline Festival is one of Onassis Stegi’s longest-running festivals which explores the borderlines between contrasting arts, cultures, and traditions. Seeking out unity through difference, Borderline presents a diverse and inclusive program of electronic, electroacoustic, and acoustic music, rounded out by a selection of installations, talks, discussions, and screenings.

Sounds Now

Sounds Now is a network of nine European music festivals and cultural/music centers that promote contemporary music, experimental music, and sound art. The partners of Sounds Now are concerned with the way in which curation reproduces the same patterns of power and exclusion that are dominant at all levels of our societies. Sounds Now aims to actively stimulate inclusion in our professional field and thus open up the capacity and possibility for different experiences, conditions and perspectives in shaping the sonic art that reaches audiences today. One of the projects that are therefore initiated is “Freedom to Move.”