About This Project

Teaching Faculty

Head of the LWI

Nikos Kypourgos – Composer for film, theatre, and concert music.

https://nikoskypourgos.com

Teachers

• Max van Dusen – Composer and sound artist working across film, media and contemporary music.
  https://maxvandusen.de
• Kerstin Stutterheim – Film scholar, author, and documentary filmmaker; professor for media and cultural studies with extensive expertise in film dramaturgy and aesthetics.
  Kerstin Stutterheim – Wikipedia

Artistic Director

Symeon Ioannidis – Conductor, educator, and founder of the LWI (Learn & Win International) masterclass series.

https://symeon-ioannidis.com/seminare/

https://www.conducting-leadership.com/enCompetition Secretariat & Coordination

Participation & Fees

Application Deadline

23rd of October 2026 at info@tyo.gr

Active Participation

• Fee: €600
• For composers who submit a portfolio, are selected by the jury, and work on their own film-scoring projects during the masterclass.

• Musical scoring of a 3–5 minute excerpt from one of the following films, freely chosen by the participant.

  The composition may be prepared in advance and further developed during the masterclass, or it may be created entirely during the masterclass. It is not necessary for the work to be finished beforehand — it may simply be in an early stage of development.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf4BniJWol0

  This is the documentary «Architects’ Congress» (1933) by László Moholy-Nagy, a leading figure of the Bauhaus movement.

  For further information on Moholy-Nagy’s work and his current photography exhibition at the Thessaloniki Museum of Photography (running until 15 November):
  https://www.momus.gr/en/exhibitions/laszlo-moholy-nagy-light-play

Passive Participation

• Fee: €200
• For composers and professionals who wish to attend sessions, workshops, and discussions without presenting their own work (subject to availability).

Application Fee

• Fee: €50
• Required for all applicants (active or passive).
• The application fee is non-refundable and covers administrative and jury costs.

Payment of the Remaining Fee

Once an applicant receives an invitation to participate actively or passively, the remaining balance of the participation fee must be paid within 48 hours to secure the place.

Bank Details for Payment

• Account holder: Symeon Ioannidis
• IBAN: GR82 0260 2060 0001 8020 2157 495

Application Process

1. Submit your application including:
   • A current CV / vita
   • At least one composition (as an audio file and/or as a score)
   • Proof of payment of the €50 application fee
   • The application deadline is the 23rd of October 2026
2. Jury selection: The LWI jury will review all applications. Selected candidates will receive an official invitation to participate either as active or passive participants.
3. Film material assignment: After the invitation is issued and the application fee is confirmed, each active participant will receive a selection of short film sequences.
   • Applicants may choose one sequence to score.
   • They may begin composing immediately and continue developing their work until their arrival, or begin in Thessaloniki.
4. On-site development: In Thessaloniki, from 4–7 November, participants will refine and finalize their compositions with the support and guidance of the teaching faculty. Programme Overview

Sunday, 8 November

Public Programme

Venue: Leschi Aksiomatikon Frouras Thessalonikis (Aminis 1, 54621)

(Entrance is free of charge. Members of the public are kindly asked to register in advance at info@tyo.gr.)

16:00–19:00 — Final Presentation and Film Screenings

The programme will include a presentation by the student team of Max van Dusen, followed by a dedicated screening of all participants’ compositions together with their films.

The evening will also feature excerpts from films with music by Nikos Kypourgos and Max van Dusen, as well as the short film A Summer Sunday Evening by Prof. Kerstin Stutterheim, which addresses marine ecology. In addition, the programme will present The Sea Is Like Music — Pacem in Maribus by Claudia Tesorino with a live quartett music group.

A special highlight will be the exclusive screening of a documentary movie about the multi-award-winning film music composer and Artistic Director of the Greek National Opera, Giorgos Koumentakis, together with the pioneering film Electra21 by Asteris Koutoulas, inspired by Mikis Theodorakis’s Electra with live percussion music.

Until the end of 2027-Concert with the Thessaloniki Youth Orchestra

Subject to scheduling

Works for orchestra created during the masterclass will in any case be presented in one of the Thessaloniki Youth Orchestra’s upcoming concerts until the end of 2027. Max. orchestra: Winds 2222 Brass 4200 Percussions 11 Strings 66542.

All orchestral works will be:

• Video-recorded and audio-recorded with the Thessaloniki Youth Orchestra
• Provided free of charge to the Jury Award winners and the Audience Award winner
• Made available without additional copyright restrictions for the winners’ professional use (e.g. portfolio, demo reel, promotional material)

Jury Deliberation & Voting

The jury, teachers, and audience will vote according to clearly defined criteria.

The main competition results will be determined by the official jury; an additional Audience Award may be granted based on public voting.

Jury

• Nikos Kypourgos – Head of the Jury; composer for film, theatre, and concert music.
  https://nikoskypourgos.com
• Giorgos Koumentakis – Artistic Director of the Greek National Opera, Athens; renowned contemporary composer.
  Giorgos Koumentakis – Wikipedia
• Max van Dusen – Composer and sound artist.
  https://maxvandusen.de
• Prof. Kerstin Stutterheim – Film scholar, author, and documentary filmmaker.
  Kerstin Stutterheim – Wikipedia
• Prof. Theodoros Papadimitriou – Professor of Film Music Composition, School of Film, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
  Theo Papadimitriou – Film School, AUTH
• Georgios-Ioulios Papadopoulos – Director of the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki.
  Georgios-Ioulios Papadopoulos – State Conservatory of Thessaloniki
• Chris Galilaias – Artistic Director of the Thessaloniki Concert Hall (Megaron).
  Administration – Thessaloniki Concert Hall

Organised by

Thessaloniki International Film Festival

Municipal Conservatory of Pylaia–Chortiatis

Thessaloniki Youth Orchestra (T.Y.O.)

Artistic Direction: Symeon Ioannidis

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In Collaboration With

State Conservatory of Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki Concert Hall

School of Film, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Supporters, Partners & Sponsors

The 1st Thessaloniki LWI Composition Masterclass & Competition for Film Music is made possible thanks to the generous support of our partners and sponsors.

Main Sponsor

Mazi Travel & Events – Leading Destination Management Company in Greece, under the direction of Theodoros Makris (CEO & Managing Director).

https://mazitravel.com

Institutional & Strategic Support

• VDGG e.V. (Vereinigung Deutsch-Griechischer Gesellschaften)
• BerlinWorx e.V. – Supported by Mario Husten and the BerlinWorx team, promoting urban creativity and cultural exchange.
  https://berlinworx.org
• Goethe-Institut Thessaloniki – Cultural support and networking.
  https://www.goethe.de/ins/gr/de/sta/the.html
• Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union – Supporting mobility and educational cooperation in the arts.
  https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu

Local & Academic Partners

• Thessaloniki International Film Festival – Artistic and promotional support.
  https://filmfestival.gr 
• Greek National Opera – Artistic support and jury participation. https://www.nationalopera.gr/en/

• State Conservatory of Thessaloniki – Institutional partnership and venue support.
  https://tsc.edu.gr
• School of Film, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki – Academic collaboration and jury participation.
  https://www.film.auth.gr
• Thessaloniki Concert Hall (Megaron) – Venue and technical support.
  https://www.tch.gr
• Municipal Conservatory of Pylaia-Chortiatis (Panorama) – Educational partnership.
  https://www.odio-pilaia-hortiati.com
• Thessaloniki Youth Orchestra (T.Y.O.) – Orchestral performances and recording sessions.
  https://tyo.gr

Artistic Direction & Organisation

The masterclass is organised in collaboration with leading film-music professionals and local cultural partners in Thessaloniki, following the international LWI (Learn & Win International) model used in Symeon Ioannidis’ conducting masterclasses in Rome, Berlin, Sydney, and other cities.

1st Thessaloniki LWI

Composition Masterclass & Competition for Film Music

4–8 November 2026 · Thessaloniki, Greece

LEARN · CREATE · SCORE · COMPETE · CONNECT

Further Information

For further information and updates, please consult the official event website or contact the organisers directly.