Music comes alive when it is shared.
From 5 to 12 July 2026, 33 young musicians aged 15–26 from Poland, Germany, Ukraine and Greece came together in Krzyżowa for the fifth edition of Music for Future.
For one week, they rehearsed, experimented, learned from one another and spent time together – with and without their instruments. Led by conductor Anna Sułkowska-Migoń, the young musicians prepared a programme for string orchestra featuring music by Mozart, Skalkottas, Grieg, Skoryk and Kilar.
But the week was about much more than rehearsals. Each day included warm-ups, group activities and time to reflect together. Participants explored traditional dances and music from different countries, shared their experiences and got to know one another beyond their musical roles. There was also time to explore Krzyżowa and the region together – from a visit to Książ Castle to an evening around the fire.
Creating together, inspiring each other.
This year's Music for Future was guided by conductor Anna Sułkowska-Migoń and musicians Wiola Jakubiec and Doris Błaszczyńska-Mogilska of SEKUNDa.
While Anna led the orchestra through rehearsals and helped shape the musical programme, she also shared her experience with the participants beyond the music itself – exploring topics such as stage presence, performance confidence and what it means to feel comfortable and authentic on stage.
Doris and Wiola invited participants to explore music beyond the traditional score. During their world music workshops, young musicians from different countries worked in small international groups and created their own arrangements of traditional melodies from different cultures. They were encouraged to experiment with singing, movement, improvisation and new sounds, discovering what can happen when different musical traditions and creative ideas meet.
Throughout the week, Wiola and Doris also supported participants in developing improvisations and solos, while Wiola led a workshop on traditional singing. Together with the orchestra, they also prepared premiere arrangements of music from SEKUNDa's album Tchnienie, which became part of the final concert programme.
Discovering new ways to create.
One of the project's guests was Mateusz Smoczyński, who joined the group for a masterclass on improvisation and composition. He spoke about finding your own artistic voice, experimenting and drawing inspiration from different musical worlds. Together with the orchestra, participants explored improvisation through a blues performance, with young musicians stepping forward to play their own solos. The day ended with a jam session, where everyone could contribute a musical idea and listen and respond to one another – creating something together, in the moment.
The week culminated in two concerts – first in Krzyżowa on 10 July, and then in Wrocław on 11 July. The programme brought together the classical repertoire prepared by the orchestra and the premiere arrangements of SEKUNDa's music created especially for this year's edition.
The concerts also brought together participants of Music for Future, Creative Holidays and Art Without Borders. Young dancers and acrobatic performers joined the musicians on stage, creating an interdisciplinary finale that brought together different artistic practices and different groups of young people.
After the concert in Krzyżowa, participants, organisers and members of the local community gathered for a shared barbecue – ending a week filled with music, new experiences, conversations and countless moments of creating and being together.
Music for Future 2026 was made possible thanks to the support of our partners: the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Wrocław, the Freya von Moltke Stiftung, and Stiftung Mensch und Mensch.
