Judd Greenstein is considered an active advocate of independent New Music both in the USA and worldwide. As the founder of New Amsterdam Records and the Ecstatic Music Festival, the composer is at the forefront of developing a genre-fluid musical landscape. By building a new, progressive musical infrastructure, he aims to increase diversity and representation within the contemporary music scene.

Judd has worked on behalf of leading institutions such as Carnegie Hall, the Lucerne Festival, and the Minnesota Orchestra. However, his main focus is on small ensembles, such as Roomful of Teeth, NOW Ensemble and yMusic, as well as self-led projects that allow for close collaboration with hand-picked artists and maximum interpretive freedom for the performers.

Photo Credits: Anja Schütz

Founded in Lüneburg in 2017, the Rothko String Quartet (RSQ) with Marc Kopitzki (viola), Jakob Nierenz (violoncello), Joosten Ellée and William Overcash (violins) is characterized by stylistic versatility resulting from its preoccupation with old and new music. The ensemble sees it as its task to make works by marginalized composers as well as little-known pieces of music history visible.

A strong collaborative approach characterises both the rehearsals and projects with contemporary female composers and artists from other disciplines. In addition to new music, the RSQ specifically seeks to cross boundaries between genres and works with jazz, techno, dance and visual artists, among others. There are collaborations with Mirna Bogdanovic, dOP, Tian Gao and inti figgis-vizueta (Album "Music for Transitions", release 2026).

In cooperation with PODIUM Esslingen, the RSQ develops innovative concert formats and is a regular guest at renowned festivals, including the Ludwigsburg Castle Festival, the PODIUM Festival Esslingen and international festivals. In 2025, the ensemble continued its path with its first US tour.

Photo Credits: Sophia Hegewald

Hiyoli Togawa is a versatile violist whose artistic path is characterized by curiosity and openness. Trained by Rainer Moog, Antoine Tamestit and the Artemis Quartet, among others, she established herself earlyon as a soloist and chamber musician and has won awards at international competitions. With German-Japanese-Australian roots, she combines cultures and the arts and develops her own concert formats that link music with other disciplines.

One focus of her work is contemporary music. For the recording of Kalevi Aho's "Moonlight Concerto" dedicated to her, she received the ICMA Prize in 2026. Her highly acclaimed concept albums on BIS, including "Songs of Solitude" and "CHILDREN!", underline their claim to make social issues musically reflective.

Photo Credits: Anne Hornemann

hear now Berlin., founded in 2019 by the American flutist Kelly Watson Woelffer in Berlin, has dedicated itself to innovative, contemporary music: works by young, contemporary composers who celebrate a wide variety of influences and personal preferences with relish. New music enters into a diverse, rhythmically pulsating, highly virtuoso and colourful combination with for example jazz, minimal music, pop or club music.

The musicians not only work with young composers such as Nathan Schram, Andrew Norman, Caroline Shaw and Gabriella Smith, but also initiate innovative collaborations with artists from jazz and pop in search of a modern, fresh sound of contemporary music.

In spring 2023, hear now berlin's debut album was released at the Backlash label.

Photo Credits: Dovile Sermokas