Creative interpretation of new music in the context of sonic space basel: composition, contemporary performance, open creation, audio design and new music theory are brought together here. Collaborations with the beacons of the international new music scene in the context of more than 50 public performances each year guarantee innovation, artistic excellence and a high level of networking opportunities. The work structure is modular, diverse and collaborative.
Factsheet
- Degree
- Master of Arts FHNW in Spezialisierter Musikalischer Performance, Studienrichtung Creative Interpretation in New Music
- Study mode
- Full-time
- Learning environment
- Onsite
- ECTS points
- 120
- Next start
- 14.9.2026
- Duration
- 4 semesters
- Staying abroad
- Possible
- Application fee
- 200 CHF
- Semester fee
- 750 CHF (CH) | 1000 CHF (EU/EFTA) | 1250 CHF (Not-EU/Not-EFTA)
At a glance
- In-depth examination of the broad spectrum of contemporary music-making through collaborative exchange
- Individual specification of the study programme to a large extent
- Supplementary modules in theory, reflection, communication and marketing
Why study this?
Students of this programme find employment in the independent scene and specialised ensembles for contemporary music. They can establish their own ensembles, design and curate festivals, event series and new performance formats in order to position them in the market on both analogue and digital platforms.
This study course programme is aimed at musicians who, building on comprehensive instrumental/vocal training, want to engage specifically and in depth with contemporary music, with a view to their professional future in this field.
Study variant available
The combined master's programme – Contemporary Music and education in music pedagogy
MA Music Pedagogy | instrument/voice | Creative Interpretation in New Music
Students who already hold a master's degree in Music Performance with an instrumental/vocal major have the possibility to combine in one Master of Arts in Music Pedagogy programme artistic specialization in Creative Interpretation in New Music and pedagogical education in their own instrument. This dual profile considerably expands their career opportunities.
MA Music Pedagogy | instrument / voice | Creative Interpretation in New Music
Opening horizons with contemporary music?
Is there still something new to discover?
Impressions of and with Helmut Lachenmann at the Basel Academy of Music
Structure and programme contents
Alongside their tutoring duties, the programme's artistic directors help students create their personalised study programme and support them at every stage of the Master's thesis process. They also advise students on the choice of lecturers for their individual classes, offered either within the Academy of Music or in other parts of Europe. As part of the Creative Interpretation in New Music Major, students will also take theory, communication and networking modules at the FHNW Academy of Music. They will work with sonic space basel to develop concert and performance projects, which will ultimately be staged at national and international festivals. Collaboration and interdisciplinarity are core components of the curriculum.
Specials
- In addition to individual lessons, 17 freely selectable lessons at and outside HSM Basel
- Eduard Brunner Composition Prize: Every year, one of our students is awarded a composition prize worth CHF 5,000 as part of an internal sonic space basel competition.
- Annual artistic cooperation with a university/college outside Switzerland
zone expérimentale – the contemporary chamber music ensemble
In addition to basic practical and theoretical training, collaboration with the 'zone expérimentale' ensemble on contemporary chamber music is a central focus of the Creative Interpretation in New Music Major. As well as working with tutors from around the world, students will regularly hone their contemporary collective practice at the Studio/LAB for Contemporary Music. They will also have the opportunity to attend workshops, seminars, masterclasses and colloquia hosted and given by their Contemporary Music Major tutors and/or guest lecturers.
Modules and Reglements
The BA and MA degree programmes at the Basel Academy of Music are based on modules.
The legally binding structure provides an initial guide to the content and weighting of the subjects on the degree programme.
The detailed content and modalities of the individual subjects can be found in the module descriptions.
The study regulations come into force together with the study and examination regulations of the Basel Academy of Music FHNW and form the legal framework.
Structure
Module descriptions
Below please find the link with all the information on the module descriptions of several FHNW universities.
- Switch the language settings to English.
- Filter by semester, Hochschule für Musik Basel FHNW, the desired degree programme or other criteria to display the relevant module information.
- Use the PDF button to call up a document from each overview and save it for yourself.
- Course registrations are made via the intranet.
Study Regulations
Lecturers
Sarah Maria Sun
Yaron Deutsch
Marcus Weiss
Institut Klassik
Requirements, admission, entrance exam
In order to enter the FHNW Master of Arts in Specialized Music Performance programme with a Creative Interpretation in New Music Major, applicants must be awarded a Master in Music Performance with an instrumental/vocal major or a Master in Music Pedagogy or equivalent (with corresponding instrumental/vocal level), as well as they must have passed the entrance exam and were offered a free place at the Academy (limited places). Applicants who have submitted all the necessary registration documents in time will be invited to the online entrance exam.
For further information on the admission criteria, please see the Studienreglement of the Master of Arts FHNW in Specialised Music Performance.
Sufficient knowledge of German is recommended but not required.
Entrance exam
The entrance exam is individual for each study programme direction.
Dates
Registration
You may apply between 15th December and 1st March.
Along with the registration, it is mandatory to submit the following documents:
- A curriculum vitae, a motivational letter, a short biography
- The school leaving qualification, the Bachelor Diploma, the Master Diploma (if available)
- Wishlist with five chamber music works that you want to acquire during the study course
- Video recording and List of works/scores see Procedure, Portfolio
On-site
The online-conversation will take place in April. The exact dates may be seen here.
Announcement of the results
The results will be communicated by mail in May.
Procedere
The entrance exam is an online conversation.
Procedure
Portfolio
For the Online-Conversation applicants must submit when registering:
- Wishlist with five chamber music works that you want to acquire during the study course
- Video recording: The length of the video should be between 30-40 minutes, with not less than three works of the 20th/21st century (various genres). At least one work must be from the past 20 years and one representative work (or a movement/excerpt from a work) from the classic classical repertoire.
- List of works with and scores of the works/movements/excerpts of the video
Video requirements
- Each work/movement must be recorded from a fixed camera perspective and without any cuts.
- The hands and the face of the musician must be visible.
- It is recommended to use a suitable stereo microphone and place it conveniently.
- The recordings must not be older than 6 months.
- Publicly recorded concerts may be submitted as long as they meet the above-mentioned requirements.
Please upload the videos onto YouTube and add the links to your application. If yousubmitone single video of the complete programme, please set markers so that the individual works/movements can be selected directly.
Applicants who have submitted all the necessary registration documents in time will be invited to the online entrance exam.
Online-Conversation
After reviewing the submitted portfolio, the jury will invite the applicants for an online interview (ca. 30 minutes) by video conference/zoom.
Organisational matters
sonic space basel
sonic space basel is a platform of Basel Academy of Music for Audio Design (BA and MA), Composition (BA and MA and MA SP), MA SP Creative Interpretation in New Music, Music Theory (BA and MA MP), MA SP New Music Theory, MA SP Open Creation, Continuing Education and Research.
We consider ourselves a laboratory, a communication tool and an information hub for contemporary music.
Projects / Ensembles
At Hochschule für Musik Basel, students have the opportunity to participate in various project and ensemble programmes.
To the overview of the recurring offers.
Quicklinks
Advising and information events
Contact
Student Administration Academy of Music, Klassik
- Phone
- +41 61 264 57 32 (Direct)
- klassik.hsm@fhnw.ch
Prof. Uli Fussenegger
- Phone
- +41 61 264 56 19
- uli.fussenegger@fhnw.ch
Information events
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Registration
The registration window is open from 15th December to 1st March.
MA Specialised Performance | Creative Interpretation in New Music
- Date
- 14.9.2026
- Duration
- 4 semesters