The Bright Sheng Partnership: Composers Meet Performers in Hong Kong
Intimacy of Creativity 2026 is Coming!
Hailed by the Financial Times as a festival with a "finely hewn sense of craft," Intimacy of Creativity – The Bright Sheng Partnership: Composers Meet Performers in Hong Kong (IC) returns for another innovative season from June 2 to June 10, 2026. This year, it is presented in partnership with Accademia Stauffer (The Stauffer Academy) from Cremona, Italy, the world's premier center for string instrument making (lutherie) in the 16th to 18th centuries, through families such as the Amati, Guarneri, and Stradivari.
The Stauffer Academy was established in 1985 to preserve and promote the Italian school of string instrument making and performance, training talented young musicians from around the world.
Intimacy of Creativity explores the creative process through public, in-depth Open Discussions on the campus of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), which hosts the festival presented by the HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study (IAS). Revised compositions by 3 selected Composer Fellows, between ages 20 and 35, are formally presented at a Preview Concert on campus, and at the World Premiere Concert held at the renowned Hong Kong City Hall Theatre.
Bright Sheng (IC Founder and Artistic Director, and HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study Helmut and Anna Pao Sohmen Professor-at-Large) and Intimacy of Creativity 2026 are proud to present the Stauffer String Ensemble as IC2026's Ensemble-in-Residence, along with LI La (李拉), a vibrant, internationally celebrated, multi-prize-winning young cellist, as our Guest Artist.
Don't miss your chance to take part in this internationally acclaimed festival. For more information, please visit IC website at https://ic.hkust.edu.hk/.
Call-for-Scores
Timeline (updated as of 12 January 2026)
1. 1 March 2026: Deadline to submit e-application via application link below
2. 1 April 2026: Notification of shortlisted Composer Fellows and phone consultation with Bright Sheng regarding initial revisions to selected works
3. 15 April 2026: Deadline to submit final revised scores and parts for short-listed candidates for final consideration
4. 1 May 2026: Announcement of final selected Composer Fellows
5. 2-7 June 2026: IC2026 Open Discussions (HKUST)
6. 8 June 2026: IC2026 Preview Concert (Shaw Auditorium, HKUST)
7. 10 June 2026: IC2026 World Premiere Concert (Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall)
Online Application
Online registration can be submitted here until midnight, 1 March 2026. Results will be notified to the applicants in mid-April 2026.
