American artist and composer Ari Benjamin Meyers, in collaboration with Museum Abteiberg, is looking for performers with a strong musical background for the KUNSTHALLE FOR MUSIC in Mönchengladbach. Professional and semi-professional musicians as well as those from related disciplines (visual arts, performance, dance, physical theater, etc.) are invited to apply. In addition to proficiency in at least one of the following instruments—violin, cello, electric guitar, bass, saxophone, piano/keyboard or drums/percussion—a willingness to sing and a genuine interest in movement are highly encouraged.
Ari Benjamin Meyers (b. 1972 in New York) studied composition and conducting at the Juilliard School in New York, Yale University in New Haven, CT, and the Peabody Institute in Baltimore. He has lived in Berlin since the late 1990s. His projects, which have been exhibited worldwide, explore the intersection of music and art, unraveling structures and processes that reshape the performative, social, and ephemeral nature of music. His work highlights overlooked nuances of music-making that are commonly taken for granted.
Founded in 2017, KUNSTHALLE FOR MUSIC operates as a nomadic institution dedicated to creating immersive musical experiences in visual arts venues and public spaces. Initial performances and exhibitions have featured at Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art in Rotterdam in 2018, MCASB in Santa Barbara, and the VAC Foundation in Moscow in 2019, followed by participation in the large-scale urban project Rehearsing Philadelphia in 2022. The KUNSTHALLE FOR MUSIC presentation in Mönchengladbach, which is scheduled to open on April 14, 2024, is the first in a museum setting, surrounded by a museum collection.
AUDITIONS
Auditions will be held at Museum Abteiberg between January 23 and January 25, 2024 (please let us know if you have scheduling conflicts). We ask that you prepare a solo piece or solo performance of your choice (maximum length: 5 minutes). Selected applicants will be invited to a workshop day on January 25.
Applicants must be available during the exhibition (April 14 – May 26, 2024) and rehearsal periods (Phase 1: musical rehearsals beginning March 18 for 5 days, Phase 2: final rehearsals April 8 – April 13, 2024). Performers will receive a fair honorarium for both rehearsals and performances.
APPLICATION
Please submit your application in PDF format (maximum 5 MB) along with your CV, links to previous musical/artistic projects, and a brief letter of motivation via email to: mail@museum-abteiberg.de. We look forward to receiving applications from individuals in a wide range of music and art fields.
The deadline for our Open Call is extended until December 15, 2023.
Image: Yoko Ono, Sky Piece to Jesus Christ, 1965/2017, exhibition view KUNSTHALLE FOR MUSIC, Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, 2018, Photo: ©️ Kunstinstituut Melly