Organised by the Western Balkans Youth Orchestra, Be Embraced & Music of Today 2026 are immersive orchestral and chamber music initiatives that bring together outstanding young musicians from across the Western Balkans, Europe, and beyond. The programme welcomes applicants aged 16 to 27 from the WB6 countries, the EU, and beyond who play an orchestral instrument professionally and have a background in advanced music studies or professional training. Spanning 48 days from late July to mid-September, the project offers a transformative artistic journey that combines high-level musical training, international collaboration, and cultural exchange.

 

At its core, the programme is both an educational platform and a touring performance experience. Participants engage in intensive residencies in Shkodra, Albania and Essen, Germany, where they work closely with distinguished European mentors through orchestral rehearsals, sectionals, and specialised chamber music masterclasses. These periods of focused artistic development are complemented by an international concert tour across the Western Balkans and Germany, featuring symphonic and chamber performances in prominent concert halls and historic venues.

 

The repertoire reflects both tradition and innovation, combining major works from composers such as Beethoven, Wagner, Britten and Respighi with newly commissioned pieces by emerging Western Balkan composers.

 

As part of Music of Today, the project Breathing reeds (WBYO residency in Germany) aims to actively promote contemporary music and provide fresh artistic inspiration by directly involving young musicians in the creation and performance of new works. The world premiere of Stefan Heucke’s Accordion Concerto Op. 144 (Soloist Marko Kassl), alongside other new compositions, creates a dynamic creative space that combines artistic development with international collaboration.

 

This balance underscores the project’s dual mission: to uphold the classical canon while actively supporting contemporary musical voices from the region.

 

Beyond performance, Be Embraced & Music of Today fosters a strong sense of community and professional growth. Young musicians collaborate across borders, build lasting artistic networks, and gain first-hand experience of life within a professional touring orchestra. The programme is fully funded, ensuring accessibility and allowing participants to focus entirely on their artistic development.

 

More than a summer programme, the project represents a platform for cultural dialogue, creative exploration, and personal transformation — uniting the next generation of musicians in a shared journey of excellence, collaboration, and discovery. 

 

July 28 to August 14, 2026

WBYO 2026 1st orchestra residency, Shkodra, Albania

Daily masterclasses in orchestral training, chamber music and meetings with young journalists from the WB6 countries

 

August, 8, 2026, 7 PM

Church of the Stigmatines Sisters, Shkodra, Albania

Music of Today

WBYO 2026 1st Chamber music concert

 

August 10, 2026, 7 PM

Migjeni Theatre, Shkodra, Albania

Benjamin Britten’s Young Persons’ Guide to the Orchestra

WBYO 2026 1st Family Concert

 

August 12, 2026, 9.30 PM

Cinema Square, Kotor, Montenegro

Be Embraced

WBYO 2026 1st Orchestra Concert

Works by a. o. Ducas, Enescu, Respighi, Wagner, and

premiered works by young composers from the Western Balkans

 

This concert will take place as part of the International KotorArt Festival

 

August 13, 2026, 8 PM

Municipality Square / Migjeni Theatre, Shkodra, Albania

Be Embraced

WBYO 2nd Orchestra Concert

Works by a. o. Ducas, Enescu, Respighi, Wagner, and

premiered works by young composers from the Western Balkans

 

August 17 2026, 8 PM

Ohrid, North Macedonia

Be Embraced

WBYO 3rd Orchestra Concert

Works by a. o. Beethoven, Ducas, Enescu, Respighi, Wagner,

and premiered works by young composers from the Western Balkans

 

This concert will be part of the International Ohrid Summer Festival

 

August 19, 2026, 8 PM

Kursumli Ann, Skopje, North Macedonia

Be Embraced

WBYO 4th Orchestra Concert

Works by a. o. Beethoven, Ducas, Enescu, Respighi, Wagner,

and premiered works by young composers from the Western Balkans

 

This concert will be part of the International

Music Festival “Skena e Muzikës Serioze Shqiptare”

 

August 21, 2026, 8 PM

Zahir Pajaziti Square, Prishtina, Kosovo

Be Embraced

WBYO 5th Orchestra Concert

Works by a. o. Beethoven, Ducas, Enescu, Respighi, Wagner,

and premiered works by young composers from the Western Balkans

 

This concert will be part of the International DAM Festival in Kosovo

 

August 25, 2026, 8 PM

National Theatre, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Be Embraced

WBYO 6th Orchestra Concert

Works by a. o. Beethoven, Ducas, Enescu, Respighi, Wagner,

and premiered works by young composers from the Western Balkans

 

August 27, 2026, 8 PM

Synagogue, Novi Sad, Serbia

Be Embraced

WBYO 7th Orchestra Concert

The program includes works by Beethoven, Ducas, Enescu, Respighi, Wagner and premieres of new compositions. It also features music by emerging composers from the Western Balkans.

 

 

August 29 to September 4, 2026

WBYO 2026 2nd orchestra residency, Essen, Germany

Breathing Reeds – Accordion and Orchestra remixed

 

Rehearsal of the new work commissioned by the WBYO: “Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra, Op. 144” by Stefan Heucke. Masterclasses

in solo performance, orchestral playing, and chamber music.

 

 

September 5, 2026, 7 PM

Theater Aachen, Großer Saal

Be Embraced – Seid umschlungen

WBYO 8th Orchestra Concert

The concert programme features popular orchestra works

by Ducas, Enescu, Respighi, and Wagner, as well as the

WBYO-commissioned Accordion Concerto Op. 144 by Stefan Heucke.

 

 

September 6, 2026, 4 PM

Concert Hall Four Seasons of the Good Hope Residency, Oberhausen, Germany

Music of Today

WBYO 2026 2nd Chamber Music concert

 

September 7, 2026, 6.30 PM

Concert Hall of the VHS, Essen, Germany

Music of Today

WBYO 3rd Chamber Music Concert

 

September 9, 2026, 8.30 PM

Open-Air Stage of the Spittal’s Museum, Aub, Germany

Be Embraced – Seid umschlungen

WBYO 9th Orchestra Concert

The program includes works by Beethoven, Ducas, Enescu, Respighi, Wagner and premieres of new compositions. It also features music by emerging composers from the Western Balkans.

 

September 11, 2026, 11 AM

Philharmonie Essen, Germany

Benjamin Britten’s Young Peoples’ Guide to the Orchestra

WBYO 2026 1st School Concert

 

September 11, 2026, 6.30 PM

OrchesterZentrum Dortmund, Germany

Be Embraced – Seid Umschlungen

WBYO 2026 10th Orchestra Concert

The program features popular orchestra works by Ducas,

Enescu, Respighi, and Wagner, as well as the WBYO-commissioned Accordion Concerto Op. 144 by Stefan Heucke.

 

 

September 12, 2026, 3 PM

Philharmonie Essen, Germany

Benjamin Britten’s Young Peoples’ Guide to the Orchestra

WBYO 2026 2nd Family Concert

 

September 13, 2026, 5 PM

Luise-Albertz-Halle, Oberhausen, Germany

Be embraced - European Youth Excellence

WBYO 2026 11th Orchestra Concert

The program features popular orchestra works by Ducas,

Enescu, Respighi, and Wagner, as well as the WBYO-commissioned Accordion Concerto Op. 144 by Stefan Heucke.

 

Opening Event of the Democratic Week &

the International Concert Series of the City of Oberhausen

 

 

September 14, 2026

Departure day for all participants