FEMFESTIVAL 2024-25
A musical festival open to the world!
2024-25 Edition
With the collaboration and the Patronage of the Comune di Firenze
International Composition Competition for String Ensemble in collaboration with Middlesex University of London
Publication of the Call for Applications: November 25, 2024
Application Deadline: March 8, 2025
The Femfestival, now in its fourth edition, is an international project by AMAT focusing on multidisciplinarity and dialogue.
It aims to promote and enhance the contribution of women to the cultural sphere worldwide.
After the first two editions, which were exclusively dedicated to women composers, AMAT has broadened its scope, including male contributions while staying true to the mission of the Femfestival. The festival seeks harmony between genders and serves as a platform to spotlight the work of women.
The Femfestival encourages collaboration to break down barriers and foster a fairer, more cooperative society through creative thought and music.
The theme of the Fourth Edition of the Composition Competition (2024-25) is the historical and emotional narrative of the relationship between foreign women artists and musicians and the city of Florence. Candidates are particularly invited to draw inspiration from the writings of Vernon Lee (pseudonym of Violet Paget, 1856–1935) and the music of Ethel Smyth (1858–1944), both of whom had significant personal and professional connections to Florence.
To explore this theme further, candidates can refer to the following websites:
- The International Vernon Lee Society and their associated journal: https://thesibylblog.com/
- The website for the work of Ethel Smyth: https://www.ethelsmyth.org/
The winners of Femfestival 2023
Classical category
IAN SHAW (Regno Unito), I loved you first - lyrics by Christina Rossetti
Pop category
RAUL TORRICO (Spain), Once again - lyrics by Josefina Retondo
The finalist composers and the finalist songs 2023
Classical category
MANUEL FERNANDEZ NIETO (Spagna), Tulipani – lirics by Antonia Pozzi
IAN SHAW (Regno Unito), I loved you first – lyrics by Christina Rossetti
ALVISE ZAMBON (Italia), Un canto – lirics by Maria Guzzon
Pop category
LOUIS HENN (South Africa), I am nobody – lyrics by Emily Dickinson
RAUL TORRICO (Spagna), Once again – lyrics by Josefina Retondo
CHARLES WEST (UK), Talking in their sleep – lyrics by Edith Matilda Thomas
Deadline for sending scores extended to September 30th
All the information can be found in the notice. For any questions please contact Femfestival staff directly at: femfestival@amatlab.com
The Unconventional Singers, Amat’s international group, will perform the songs at both events.
The Femfestival, now in its third edition, is an Amat international project that speaks of multidisciplinarity and dialogue, aimed at the dissemination and enhancement of women’s contribution in the world in the cultural field.
After the first two editions, which focused exclusively on women composers, Amat is broadening its horizons to include male contributions as well, always in keeping with the Femfestival’s vocation as a search for harmony between genders and as an opportunity to valorise the work of women.
This time, men are also called to strive for the elimination of gender barriers, for a more equal and supportive society, via creative thinking and music.
ED Certification
Amat holds the ED Certificate of Equivalency for donations from the United States. The ED Certificate is NGOsource’s legal document documenting that a specific NGO is certified as equivalent to a US public charity according to the IRS ED standards.
Femfestival goals
- Building a global and multicultural network
- Enhanced collaboration between genres
- Personal and artistic growth of female musicians
Activities
International Composers Competition
Amat Hub Competition with Audience Award
Online and offline activities
Winners of the Competition "Women Composers' 2021 and 2022
2021 - First Place, A Category
Shibert Larisa, The Space
2021 - First Place, B Category
Hsu Chia-yu, EC Sketches
Complete ranking 2022
1) Ingrid Stölzel – Mondspiel
In a Tie
2) Bracha Bdil – Heterophonia
2) Akari Komura – Glistening Ray (kintsugi)
Amat Hub
- Kaiyi Kao – Jinzhe
Complete ranking 2021
Categoria A:
1) Shibert Larisa – The space
2) Maeng Sara – Cosmos
In a Tie
3) Mozhgan Chahian – Hoordokht
3) Yue Song – Who would have the courage to carry such a heavy past with us?
Categoria B:
1) Hsu Chia-yu – EC Sketches
2) Arditto Cecilia – A propos of measuring a mobil
3) Gambelli Francesca – In this short life
Premio Speciale Orchestra (for the piece that the orchestra found most interesting, both technically and expressively): Mozhgan Chahian.
Amat Hub
- Corinne Latteur – Lockdown
- Simona Iuorio – Alice’s dreamy memories
The femfestival and competition artistic team
Concetta Anastasi
composer, pianist, orchestra and choir conductor, teacher at the L. Cherubini Conservatory in Florence
Barbara Rettagliati
composer, pianist, teacher at the L. Cherubini Conservatory in Florence.
Costanza Renai
soprano, teacher at the Accademia Musicale di Firenze
Jury for the Women Composers Competition 2021 and 2022
Support the femfestival with a donation
Support the activities of the femfestival with a donation to help disseminate women’s music and promote the work of women composers. Every contribution, however small, will be useful.
Support the femfestival and request the facilitation
You can support Amat by accessing the Art Bonus and get more tax benefits with a tax credit of 40% of the amount of your donation.
