To mark the 40th anniversary of the Finnish Conservatory Association, the Turku Conservatory is organising a gala concert, *Spirito di collaborazione*, which brings together the very best of young Finnish and German musicians and composers. The programme for the concert, which will take place in the Sigyn Hall on Saturday 14 November at 6.00 pm, comprises new works by the winners of the ‘ZettEmm Open’ composition competition – organised in collaboration with the Turku Conservatoire’s new partner, the Rheinische Musikschule Köln, the ‘ZettEmm Open’ composition competition, a diverse selection of chamber music, and a fascinating synthesis of early music and contemporary music. The concert reflects the association’s four decades of work in promoting Finnish music education and international collaboration.

The concert centres on the prize-winning works from the German-Finnish composition competition, which showcase the composers of the future. The works will have their world premiere in Cologne on 7 November and will now have their Finnish premiere in Turku just one week later. The first prize in the composition competition was won by the Finnish composer Alma Meretoja for her work *Terminal Lucidity* and by the German composer Franziska Wendland for her work *Mortales*. Meretoja, who has moved from the Turku Conservatoire to the Sibelius Academy, will have her prize-winning work performed by flautist Venla Murto, marimba player Astrid Gustafsson and pianist Antti Kujari. Wendland, who is about to begin her studies at the Cologne University of Music, will have her work performed by clarinettist Pinja Jokinen and pianists Anniina Haapaviita and Olga Laamanen.

Second prize in the competition was shared by Martin Kreissl for his piece *Stundenglas* and Jakob Hefer for his piece *Meditation*. Kreissl’s work, which makes use of a sound recording, is performed by flautist Venla Murto, oboist Joona Ruusula and cellist Elli Vehmaa, whilst Hefer’s work is performed by violinist Emma Kostiander and pianist Väinö Viljanen. Third prize was awarded to Mila Stencel for her work *Sospensione*, performed by pianist Veeti Valpas; Jakob-Arda Satir for his work *Vanitas*, written for string quartet and performed by violinists Albert Dilanian and Daria Matveeva, viola player Sandra Aubynn and cellist Elli Vehmaa; and Lara-Maria Adler for her piece *Neuer Tanz*, which will be performed by violinist Emma Kostiander and pianist Väinö Viljanen.

In addition to the competition entries, the concert offers a wide-ranging selection of new Finnish compositions and vocal music. Guitarist and composer Lauri Kujari will perform his solo guitar piece *Kasvimusiikki I*, Op. 8 (2026), in which sensual sensitivity meets a more austere formal structure. Pianist and composer Antti Kujari will perform excerpts from his own Sonatina. In the vocal repertoire, the programme features the polyphonic work *Dona nobis Pacem* by Marian Kubanda, who has made Turku his home after moving from Austria; it will be performed by soprano Iris Lounasmaa, alto Fanni Ravantti, tenor Marian Elias Kubanda himself, and bass Lauri Kujari.

The ‘Spirito di collaborazione’ gala concert demonstrates the power of music education in breaking down barriers and nurturing young talent. The concert offers a cross-section of the diversity of contemporary music, where traditional chamber music ensembles coexist alongside experimental soundscapes and modern works that draw inspiration from Baroque and Renaissance forms.