COL/LAB

The COL/LAB program stands for Collaboration and Laboratory. It aims to create a ground for experimentation through extended forms of collaboration that encourage the emergence of new works.

Emerging young composers will be commissioned to compose a new work for 4tet Laboratoire. The composers come from a wide variety of backgrounds; Simon Bahr, for example, explores sonic and non-sonic finds on the Internet, but also has a background in philosophy and musicology. Aya Metwalli combines the tradition of Arabic music with contemporary music, and has a background in literature, theater and dance. Juliana Santacruz is influenced by South American music, which gives her a broad perspective on new classical music in Europe. Christian Spitzenstaetter often combines the worlds of jazz and classical music in his works, and is also active as a conductor and artistic director of operas and interdisciplinary projects. All four composers are also active on stage as performers. The choice of collaborations was deliberately made to blend the roles of composer and musician, and to allow both parties to inspire each other.

DURÉE DU CONCERT ENV. 1H

  • ›  Simon Bahr, The Mock-up Pop-up Medley(2024), 2 clav., 2 perc., 10'

  • ›  Aya Metwalli, nouvelle œuvre (2024), 2 clav., 2 perc., 10'

  • ›  Christian Spitzenstaetter, nouvelle œuvre (2024), 2 clav., 2 perc., 10'

  • ›  Matthew Shlomowitz, Explorations in Polytonality and Other Musical

    Wonders, Volume 4 (2023)

  • ›  Juliana Santacruz, nouvelle œuvre (2024), 2 clav., 2 perc., 10'

SEASON 2025

Juliana Santacruz, Colombian percussionist, performer, sound artist and teacher, lives in Bern. She obtained a master's degree in percussion at the Bern University of the Arts (HEAB), which she completed with distinction. Juliana is currently studying for a Master's degree in Contemporary Artist Practice - Sound Arts (CAP) at the same institution. With a strong interest in new music, improvisation and musical theater, she is actively involved in the research and creation of electroacoustic music. Juliana collaborates with various groups, including XYZ, OHR and Delay-diz. All her work strives to explore the boundaries of sound art.

https://www.julianasantacruz.com

Composers

Simon Bahr was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1994. He studied musicology and philosophy in Bonn and is currently studying composition with Michael Edwards and Dietrich Hahne at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany. In and out of composing, he is interested in found objects on the Internet, both sound and non-sound, computers that sing, and the loudspeaker as a cult object. Deterministic algorithmic processes and glitch are at the heart of his practice. He always seeks to put abstract structures at the service of a clear musical idea. https://www.simonbahr.de/about/

Tyrolean musician Christian Spitzenstaetter was born in 1994 and now lives in Switzerland. His performing career has taken him from “classical” soloist and chamber music to jazz, contemporary, improvised and conceptual music. As a composer, he has created works commissioned by Isabel Karajan, Lorenz Raab, the Hörsturm Festival, Austrian Youth, Academia Vocalis and the Tyrolean Erl Festival, among others. In August 2020, his first major opera “STILLHANG” was awarded the Austrian Music Theater Prize in the “Best Creation/First Performance” category.

spitzenstaetter.com

Aya Metwalli (b. 1988) is an Egyptian singer, songwriter, composer, performer and improviser, specializing in Arabic microtonal maqam. She holds a BA in English literature, trained in contemporary dance (2012-2014) and has established herself, outside of these activities, on Beirut's electronic and free improvisation music scene.

In recent years, she has performed live solo sets at numerous festivals and was commissioned to compose for the contemporary vocal ensemble Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart, presented as part of the ECLAT Neue Musik Stuttgart festival in Germany and the ULTIMA Oslo Contemporary Music festival in Norway.

Currently studying for a Master's degree in Creative Practice at the Bern University of the Arts, Aya is focusing increasingly on composition, in addition to her own performances.

https://ayametwalli.com/