This past week in Athens has been, for me, a rare and inspiring experience. I was the composition mentor in the Building Performance Practices workshop, designed together with Àktapha , which came to an end — leaving behind a sense of shared discovery, reflection, and genuine connection.

Over five days, we delved into new music through composition lessons, reading sessions and rehearsals, experimentation sessions, lectures, presentations, and round table discussions. What defined these days was the spirit that emerged among us: a welcoming, collaborative, and supportive environment, where every idea found room to unfold. It felt less like a seminar and more like the formation of a collective — a space where composers and performers met as equals to explore what music can become when guided by trust and generosity, openness and curiosity.

And this is only the beginning. The second stage of Building Performance Practices will take place in February 2026, again in Athens; another week of creation and exchange, culminating in the performances of the participants’ final works, as the collective outcome of this evolving process.

I’m grateful to the participants who traveled from all over the world to be here and to the musicians of Aktapha Ensemble for their attentiveness and willingness to experiment. These days reaffirmed for me how powerful music praxis can be when grounded in listening, empathy, and shared exploration.