Winner of the Fair Practice Award 2026: Dianto Reed Quintet š
Updated: Sep 12
Iām over the moon š and incredibly proud of my beloved friends at the Dianto Reed Quintet for being awarded the 2026 Fair Practice Award for their phenomenal project, DNA.
The jury, consisting of Huba de Graaff (composer, board member of Nieuw Geneco, and jury chair), Anthony Fiumara (composer), and Aleksandra MarkoviÄ (Ph.D. Manager New Titles, Rental/Sales, Donemus Publishing BV), acknowledged this collaboration and explained the nomination as follows:
"The jury has chosen the Dianto Reed Quintet as the winner in this category. With their project āDNAā, the quintet demonstrates how a composition commission can develop into a multi-year, international adventure: from premiere to extensive tour, to album and video recording, and from artistic concept to a sincere exploration of the musiciansā own heritage. The commissioned composers, Ramin Amin Tafreshi and Fuensanta MĆ©ndez, received not only fair remuneration but also an artistic environment in which their work was given a permanent place alongside classical, traditional and folk repertoire. The Dianto Reed Quintet proves that a relatively small ensemble, when it invests persistently in new repertoire and in the composers who write it, can grow into a large-scale cultural project with clear social significance. The fact that this ensemble has only been in existence for a short time makes its achievement all the more remarkable: in a short space of time, it has managed to establish a āfair practiceā ethos, thereby demonstrating to younger and newer initiatives that commissioning can ā and must ā be fair from the very outset."
As one of the composers involved in this project, I feel especially grateful to have been part of their journey through the commissioning of my Echoes of the Buried Lullaby, alongside Fuensanta MĆ©ndezās Las Patronas; two brand-new works created especially for DNA. Read the full report here:
My sincere and deepest gratitude to Nieuw Geneco and the esteemed jury for this incredible recognition.
Award Ceremony together with Dianto Reed Quintet Ā© photo by Maarten Mooijman
DNA: The "Most Personal Project"
With their multidisciplinary project DNA, Dianto Reed Quintet created a touching concert experience exploring themes of migration, identity, and belonging through music, poetry, theatre, and personal testimonies. For this production, they commissioned two new works, presented alongside traditional, classical, and folk repertoire. Together with theatre director Wieger Meulenbroek and lighting designer Wout Jansen, they created a powerful concert that connects culturally diverse musical works with socially and politically relevant themes through a multidisciplinary approach. Moreover, the ensemble not only plays their original instruments (reed instruments) but also uses instruments such as the gaita, the Galician bagpipe, guitar, voice, and percussion.
What makes this project particularly remarkable is the ensemble's commitment to new music in curating their programs and trying to make them find their right audience. In that regard, DNA premiered at Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ on 23 November 2025 and continues to tour throughout 2027, with more than seventeen performances in the Netherlands and Spain. In addition, the complete programme, including both commissioned works, has been recorded for the ensemble's upcoming album, made possible through a successful crowdfunding campaign that exceeded its target by reaching 127%. Furthermore, the premiere concert has been recorded professionally in video format so that the whole concert can reach an online audience. Watch the full video here šŗ
On the other hand, the project also makes a meaningful contribution to Dutch musical life by celebrating cultural diversity through an original artistic programme. For this project, the five musicians of Dianto Reed Quintet took part in DNA testing to explore their origins and discover which (new) families they belong to. The predominantly Spanish quintet (with one member from South America) turned out to have roots stretching from Greece to Scandinavia, from Mexico to the Balkans, and all the way to the Middle East. Inspired by that result, the project brings together musical traditions from across the world while incorporating testimonies from contemporary migrants, including the commissioned composers. The result is a socially relevant concert that encourages dialogue, empathy, and cultural exchange while presenting newly commissioned works by composers based in the Netherlands.
Echoes of the Buried Lullaby
Inspired by the concept behind the DNA project and inspired by Kurdish lullabies from western Iran, the piece was written in response to the tragic lives and suffering of thousands of kolbars who risk their lives every day carrying goods across the dangerous mountainous borders of Iran. In connection with the piece, I have written a short testimony, narrated by Ella Tempel, with a Spanish version narrated by Marina DĆaz GonzĆ”lez, reflecting on the never-ending tragedy endured by these people. Read more about the piece: Echoes of the Buried Lullaby
This collaboration with the Dianto Reed Quintet has been one of the highlights of my artistic career, resulting in one of my most personal works. I am truly proud, honoured, and extremely grateful that this piece is in their good hands, and will continue to live on through this journey.
The DNA tour will continue its journey, reaching several more stages across the Netherlands. And later this year, on 6 December, the album of the programme, recorded by Guido Tichelman, will be released on all major streaming platforms. Stay tuned!
Here is the full video of the premiere of "Echoes of the Buried Lullaby."
Fair Practice Code - Nieuw Geneco
Nieuw Geneco (het Nieuw Genootschap van Nederlandse Componisten) is the Dutch professional association representing composers and supporting their position within the music sector. Founded in 2014 under the direction of Esther Gottschalk, Nieuw Genecoās goal is to promote the creation of new music and increase the visibility of composers working in the Netherlands. The organisation therefore advocates for broader support for composers and the development of additional funding opportunities. One of Nieuw Genecoās initiatives is the Fair Practice Code for Composition Commissions, which provides guidelines for fair and transparent collaboration between composers and commissioners. It covers fair remuneration, clear agreements, copyright, production costs, and creating lasting opportunities for new works to be performed and remain part of the repertoire. In essence, it aims to ensure that commissioning a new work is a fair and sustainable process for everyone involved. As part of the 7th edition of the Nieuw Geneco Fair Practice Award, Nieuw Geneco nominated the following composers, ensembles, orchestras, and projects in recognition of their commitment to fair and sustainable commissioning practices:
Berlage Saxophone Quartet Ā· Brassband David Zwolle Ā· Calefax Ā· Dianto Reed Quintet Ā· Dudok String Quartet Ā· Gulbenkian Orkest & Philzuid Ā· Joe Puglia Ā· Koor Het Zingend Hart Ā· Nederlands Studenten Orkest Ā· Orkest de Ereprijs
What a phenomenal line-up this is! Congratulations to everyone who was involved in this edition.
Premiere of DNA by Dianto Reed Quintet at Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ. Ā© photo by Maarten Mooijman. Premiere of DNA by Dianto Reed Quintet at Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ. Ā© photo by Maarten Mooijman. Rehearsal of my Echoes of the Buried Lullaby together with Dianto Reed Quintet.
*Photos on this page are all by the one and only Ā© Maarten Mooijman.
