Nomination for the Fair Practice Award 2026: Dianto Reed Quintet
It is with great excitement that I share the nomination of the Dianto Reed Quintet for the 2026 edition of the Fair Practice Award for their project, DNA, and for commissioning two brand-new pieces: my piece, "Echoes of the Buried Lullaby," alongside another piece by Fuensanta Méndez, titled "Las Patronas."
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 that were 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 2026, with more than twelve performances in the Netherlands and Spain. In addition, the complete programme, including both commissioned works, will be professionally 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
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 Díaz González, 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, and I am truly proud to be part of their journey with this project. DNA tour will continue to resonate at several more stages in the Netherlands. Also, later this year, the music album for this project, 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."
The presentation of the Nieuw Geneco Fair Practice Award 2026 will take place on Friday afternoon, September 11, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Club9, TivoliVredenburg Utrecht.
The presentation is part of the Mapping Fair Practice Across Europe program. The language of the event will be English this time. Admission is free, RSVP. You can register via the link below.
