Deadline: 10-Nov-2025
The klarafestival has announced its Supernova Music Programme to support young, professional chamber music ensembles.
Chamber music ensembles with between 2 and 6 members, whose average age does not exceed 30 years as of 10 November 2025, whose members primarily reside in Belgium, have received professional music training, and perform a repertoire rooted in (contemporary) classical music.
Supernova offers a unique platform for young artists to gain name recognition and valuable playing opportunities at the beginning of a promising career. Every year, experienced programmers select two Belgian chamber music ensembles, awarding them the title of Supernova. The selected ensembles win a concert tour of Belgium, beginning with a kick-off concert during Klarafestival. This performance will be professionally recorded and broadcast on Klara and Musiq3, providing significant media attention for the laureates.
Semi-finalists gain opportunities to meet like-minded young musicians, receive feedback from experienced programme organisers, gain stage experience in professional contexts, make contacts with programmers of Belgian music houses, and attend an info session by Playright+ on performers’ neighbouring rights. The four finalists receive media coverage via Klara and Musiq3 and perform on stage at DE SINGEL, while the two Supernovas embark on a concert tour in Belgium, opening at Klarafestival, and receive a professional recording of their Klarafestival concert for promotion and portfolio use.
The competition has specific participation requirements. Ensembles must keep the dates of the semi-finals on 18 December 2025, the finals on 18 January 2026, and the laureates’ concert during Klarafestival on 21 March 2026 free. Participants are also required to provide detailed programmes, biographies, HR photos, and video material for promotional purposes, and the laureates must return the Supernova trophy by the semi-finals of the next edition.
The jury evaluates ensembles based on the repertoire performed, ensuring programmes meet duration requirements of 20 minutes for the semi-finals and finals, and 40 minutes for the Klarafestival performance. The choice of repertoire should reflect the ensemble’s artistic identity, tell a coherent story, and may include classical music from the Middle Ages to the present, covering both Western and non-Western traditions, including original arrangements. The jury considers the quality of performance, originality of repertoire, artistic personality, stage presence, and communication with the audience.
The competition schedule is as follows: the deadline for entries is 10 November 2025 (23:59 GMT), with eight semi-finalists announced on 19 November 2025. Semi-finals take place on 18 December 2025 at IMEP in Namur, followed by the announcement of four finalists, and the finals are on 18 January 2026 at DE SINGEL, where the two Supernovas will be revealed. The kick-off concert tour during Klarafestival 2026 is scheduled for 21 March 2026.
For more information, visit klarafestival.