MERITA Platform supports the European circulation of the new generation of professional chamber music ensembles, running until August 2029.
This cycle opens up possibilities for 44 new ensembles (22 string quartets and 22 piano trios), including paid concert engagements, the chance to design innovative outreach and special projects through online training and residencies, and the opportunity to connect with a network of over 22 international cultural institutions.
Among the new 44 selected ensembles, each one will get free access to online training on one specific topic (available March 2026 and November 2026) and to a 5-day training in person (artistic residency) in order to develop an outreach / special project based on one of the 6 topics. The residency period will be sometime from December 2026 to November 2027 and is held in historic houses in Europe.
After the completion of online and on-site training, each concert society, institution and festival member organisation can choose its favourite outreach / special project proposal and will hire the ensembles for performing at least 3 concerts in its seasons, festivals or concert series, between December 2026 and August 2029.
Each musician will receive a cachet of 1,000 EUR per concert, inclusive of all taxes and social costs. For each concert, an extra contribution to travel and daily allowance of the ensemble will be given in the form of a lump sum by the hiring member organisations, considering also the travel expenses for the cello.
Moreover, 4 concerts are planned in non-EU countries (USA, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia): 4 ensembles will be selected (2 string quartets and 2 piano trios). The cachet for each of these extra-EU concerts is 1,000 EUR for each musician, inclusive of all taxes and social costs; an extra contribution to the daily allowance and travel of the ensemble will be provided.
