Introducing the 2025 Albertine Music Grantees

Raphaël Imbert (FR), Kebbi Williams (US), Célia Kameni (FR), Annabelle Ambler (FR), and Melissa Messina (US)
February 17 – October 31, 2026 | Atlanta, GA; Marseille, FR 

In 2025, through the connection between American curator Melissa Messina and French journalist Annabelle Ambler, Raphaël Imbert visited the Mildred Thompson Estate in Atlanta and discovered the work of this extraordinary artist. Thompson’s art, music, and research resonate deeply with Imbert’s own practice, as both explore improvisation and abstraction, share political commitments, and embrace cross-disciplinary approaches. 

The project will launch as a book-album—a book co-written by Imbert and Ambler, accompanied by a downloadable digital album featuring saxophonist Kebbi Williams and singer Célia Kameni. Its goal is to honor and introduce Mildred Thompson’s legacy to new audiences on both sides of the Atlantic through an interdisciplinary approach that includes music, writing, and visual art. 

Dissemination will be rooted in transatlantic exchange, with concerts, exhibitions, and conferences focused on Thompson’s work, supported by partners in both France and the United States. 

Photo by Muriel Despiau

Thomas Julienne (FR), Alexandre Dupeyron (FR), Ches Smith (US), Ellinoa (FR), Julie Kim (US), Alix Tucou (FR)
February 16 – 22, 2026 | New York, NY 

Dysnomia Live is a unique and immersive collaboration between double bassist and composer Thomas Julienne and photographer Alexandre Dupeyron. The performance is based on Dupeyron’s 2022 book Dysnomia, and takes the audience on a journey through time and matter—from molecules to conscious beings, from Homo sapiens to consumer society. It explores how a materialistic way of life, disconnected from the living world, deconstructs our relationship with nature and leads to our downfall. 

Julienne’s compositions are intricately woven around the book’s narrative, creating a thematic ensemble tailored for this collaboration. His music not only complements but also dramatizes and elevates the meaning of Dupeyron’s photographs. This photo-concert is a dynamic, immersive dialogue between image and sound, inviting audiences to reflect on fundamental questions: Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going? 

Image by Dupeyron

JACK QUARTET (US), Ellen Fullman (US), Natacha Diels (US), Stephen O’Malley (US), Zara Ali (US), Ni Zheng (US)
September 25 – November 23, 2025 | Paris, FR 

In 2025, continuing the Festival d’Automne’s close ties with contemporary American music, Clara Iannotta—serving her first year as Artistic Director of the Music program—devotes the Music Portrait not to a composer but, for only the second time in the Festival’s history, to an ensemble: the American JACK Quartet. Redefining the string quartet, the JACK Quartet will present three radically different experiences, including collaborations with American composers Ellen Fullman and Natacha Diels. 

A program marking Italian composer Luciano Berio’s birth centenary will explore his legacy through new works by American composer Zara Ali and San Diego-based Chinese composer Ni Zheng, offering fresh perspectives on voice, electronics, and memory. Finally, at Église Saint-Eustache, the Festival will present the world premiere of High & Low, a monumental work for organ by American composer Stephen O’Malley, performed by Swedish organist Hampus Lindwall. 

Photo by Cherylynn Tsushim

John Alyward (US), David Sanford (US), Yu-Hui Chang (US), Kate Soper (US), Nina Guo (US), Agnès Audiffren (FR), Charlotte Campana (FR), Linda Amrani (FR), Julia Sinoimeri (FR), Christian Bini (FR), Gérard Occello (FR), Yann Leroux-Sèdes (FR), Raoul Lay (FR) 

May 23 – October 18, 2026 | Marseille, FR; Waltham, MA; Worcester, MA; Northampton, MA; South Hadley, MA; New York, NY 

Sounds, Tears and Skins commissions four American composers to create music inspired by texts from U.S. authors who have written significantly about Marseille: Claude McKay (Banjo, 1929), Mary Jane Gold (Crossroads Marseilles 1940), and James Welch (The Heartsong of Charging Elk, 2000)—all of whom experienced racial or gender-based discrimination. The selected composers are David Sanford (Mount Holyoke College), Yu-Hui Chang (Brandeis University), John Aylward (Clark University), and Kate Soper (Smith College), representing diverse backgrounds and perspectives. 

Spanning different historical periods—before, during, and after World War II—the project explores themes of travel, migration, and minority histories through the lens of the Marseille–U.S. connection. The resulting concert will feature four new works, lasting up to one hour in total, where spoken and sung voices interact with instruments, and intertextuality serves as an artistic expression of diversity. 

Image by Pierre Gondard

Carol Robinson (FR/US), Nate Wooley (US), David Behrman (US), Éliane Radigue (FR) September 29 – October 9, 2025 | New York, NY 

ISSUE will present a series of performances and outreach activities featuring Franco-American composer and clarinetist Carol Robinson, alongside U.S. collaborators David Behrman and Nate Wooley. The programs will highlight works by pioneering French composer Éliane Radigue, including OCCAM River III (2014), performed by Robinson on birbynė and Wooley on trumpet; David Behrman’s ViewFinder, which blends electronic and acoustic music with Behrman manipulating a computer program while Robinson plays birbynė and bass clarinet; and a recent composition by Robinson. Robinson will also perform Les si doux redoux for basset horn, from The Weather Pieces, evoking the transition from cold to warmth and inspired by the French term “redoux” for moments of unexpected warmth in harsh winters. 

Photo by Igor Juget

Miriam Elhajli (US/MAR/VE), Victor Campbell (US/CU)
November 1, 2025 – April 1, 2026 | New Orleans, LA; New York, NY 

In Search Of A New World is a gathering of musicians from the Pan-African diaspora, now rooted across the three continents of the New World: South America (Miriam), Central America/Caribbean (Victor), and North America (where they currently reside). The project explores Afro-Indigenous oral traditions—storytelling, song, and enchantment—with the aim of connecting these forms and bringing them into the modern performance space, remaining true to their idioms while also innovating. 

The ensemble will learn and share repertoire from their native lands and new homes, tracing rhythms and songs back to their African heritage with the assistance of musicologists and ethnomusicologists at the Association for Cultural Equity. Time will be spent in the archive transcribing forgotten songs, rearranging them for the ensemble, and then performing and recording them for audiences in New York City, New Orleans, and abroad. 

Image by Alfred Colema

Lucia Peralta (FR), Alec Hall (CA), Michelle Agnès Magalhaes (BR/FR), Alyssa Regent (FR)
April 10 – 18, 2026 | New York, NY; Boston, MA 

Courants / contrecourants is a cross-cultural collaboration that brings together diverse voices in new music. The project features works by Alec Hall, Michelle Agnes Magalhaes, and Alyssa Regent, each representing unique generations and cultural backgrounds. Additional compositions by Zosha di Castri, Tristan Murail, and Pascale Criton—two of whom have strong ties to the United States—will also be performed. The program will be presented in New York (as part of the Qubit concert series), Boston (at Boston University) and Paris (at Reid Hall), and will include workshops in collaboration with NYU. 

This initiative reflects L’Itinéraire’s commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and innovation in new music. By commissioning works from composers of varied backgrounds, the ensemble aims to remain at the forefront of musical exploration, honoring both tradition and experimentation. 

Image by Antonio Gonima

Sophia Domancich (FR), Lesley Mok (US), Nick Lyons (US) and Théo Girard (FR) 

March 26 – April 4, 2026 | New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; Baltimore, MD; Minneapolis, MN; Madison, WI; Chicago, IL; Milwaukee, WI 

The Franco-American quartet Mobke was founded by Théo Girard in 2022 with support from Le Comptoir and a residency grant from the Albertine Foundation. The project developed through residencies in both France and the U.S., culminating in the recording of an album set for release in fall 2025. 

Since then, the members have actively expanded their careers: Lesley Mok won the German Award for Best Debut Album (2024), Sophia Domancich released a notable solo album and collaborated with the French National Jazz Orchestra, Nick Lyons launched new projects, and Théo Girard created large-scale works with Discobole. With support from CNM, Festival Jazz sous les Pommiers, and The Bridge network, Girard returned to the U.S. to build key connections for the tour. To mark the album’s release, Mobke will tour Europe in fall 2025 and the U.S. in spring 2026. 

Image by Lina Azouni

Christophe Panzani (FR), Keith Witty (FR/US), David Frazier Jr. (US)
October 23 – November 3, 2025 | Philadelphia, PA; New York, NY; San Francisco, CA; Portland, OR; Seattle, WA 

THIEFS is releasing its third studio album, Survivalism, in the fall of 2025. The French-American band will tour both the US and France to present this new music—previously commissioned by FAJE (French-American Jazz Exchange)—and to build upon a decade of work that has been recognized as vital and unique by numerous presenters and media outlets. For this project, concerts and related activities are planned in New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Portland (Oregon), and Seattle. 

Image courtesy of the artist

Sylvain Darrifourcq (FR), Valentin Ceccaldi (FR), Manuel Hermia (FR)
September 28 – October 11, 2025 | Houston, TX; Dallas, TX; Lubbock, TX; Bloomington, IN; Grand Rapids, MI; Toledo, OH; Pittsburgh, PA 

Darrifourcq / Hermia / Ceccaldi is a “brutal jazz” trio formed in 2012 by drummer Sylvain Darrifourcq, saxophonist Manuel Hermia, and cellist Valentin Ceccaldi. United by a shared vision of free jazz, improvisation in service of storytelling, and temporal elasticity, the three musicians infuse their compositions with elements that allow them to explore the extreme dynamics of music: free jazz, rock, noise, contemporary, and world music all serve as catalysts for the singular and enthusiastic expression of a universe where minimalist, tranquil landscapes meet the most violent sonic hurricanes. 

Now, with UNICORN AND FLEXIBILITY, the trio delves even deeper into the groove that has earned them recognition across Europe. The wild energy and astonishing intensity they unleash remain dedicated to a unique temporal experience, now more than ever marked by rhythmic rupture. Slow developments are interrupted by abrupt changes in timing, tempo, and sonic material. 

Image courtesy of the artists.

Eve Risser (FR), Red Desert Orchestra (FR)
May 20 – 27, 2026 |Chicago, IL; Baltimore, MD; Philadelphia, PA; New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA 

Following strong interest from U.S. presenters during recent tours, Eve Risser Red Desert Orchestra will tour the East Coast of the United States in May 2026 with a newly developed, scaled-down version of the ensemble. This tour will serve as a key phase in preparing for a new recording and a choreographic collaboration scheduled for July 2026. By engaging with American audiences and guest artists, the orchestra aims to refine its musical project, gather valuable feedback, and strengthen transatlantic partnerships ahead of its upcoming album release. 

Image by Marc Chesneau

Joëlle Léandre (FR), David Dove (US), Myra Melford (US), Nicole Mitchell (US)
October 3 – 12, 2025 |Houston, TX; Austin, TX; Dallas, TX; Ann Arbor, MI 

In October 2025, renowned French double bassist Joëlle Léandre will embark on a four-city, six-concert tour of the United States. During this tour, she will perform solo, in a duo with trombonist David Dove, and as part of the Tiger Trio with pianist Myra Melford and flautist Nicole Mitchell. In addition to these performances, Léandre will also lead two workshop sessions. 

Image by Joelle Leandre

Gérard Assayag (FR), Marco Fiorini (IT), Lara Morciano (IT), Thierry Miroglio (FR), José Miguel Fernández (CL), Mikhail Malt (BR)
May 15 – June 15, 2026 | Riverside, CA; Santa Clarita, CA; San Diego, CA; Irvine, CA; San Bernardino, CA 

This tour will bring the IRCAM-based REACH collective of musicians and researchers to California for a series of workshops, masterclasses, and concerts at a minimum of five venues. REACH has developed Somax2, a highly successful AI-driven improvisation system. Showcasing creative and ethical live human–AI collaboration, the tour will engage performers, composers, and researchers in exploring AI’s role in music creation across diverse genres, including contemporary, electronic, and jazz music. 

Activities will include workshops and masterclasses—where participants interact with Somax2 using their own musical projects—lectures on AI’s impact on creativity, aesthetics, and ethics, and concerts featuring live interaction between REACH members, local musicians, and AI. By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue between music, AI, and the humanities, this project will expand artistic and academic cooperation networks, enhance accessibility through recorded sessions, and lay the groundwork for future AI-assisted creation. 

Image courtesy of IRCAM – Somax

Mario Caroli (FR), François Draux (FR), Alex Mincek (US), Eric Jurenas (US), Nuiko Wadden (US), Stephanos Thomopoulos (FR), Josh Modney (US), Yona Zekri (FR), Mariel Roberts (US), Noé Constant (FR)  

November 5 – 16, 2025 | New York, NY; Baltimore, MD; Chicago, IL; Nice, FR; Athens, GR 

DIALOGUE: POETRY AND COLORS OF AMERICA brings together Ensemble Mêtis (Nice) and Wet Ink Ensemble (New York) to explore poetry and color as creative and emotional forces. In a world of increasing divisions, this project fosters intercultural dialogue through contemporary music, highlighting composers from diverse backgrounds. The program features five new works by French and American composers, alongside George Crumb’s Vox Balaenae, blending music, poetry, and technology into an immersive experience. With performances in Nice, the United States, France (Abbey of Thoronet), and Greece (Athens), the project promotes bold artistic creation and lasting international collaborations. It also includes educational initiatives and roundtables on contemporary music. Dialogue reaffirms the commitment of Ensemble Mêtis and Wet Ink Ensemble to artistic innovation and global cultural exchange. 

Photo courtesy of the artist.

Ryan Keberle (US), Frank Woeste (FR), Vincent Courtois (FR)
March 1 – 14, 2026 | Denton, TX; Greeley, CO; Arcata, CA 

In March 2026, the acclaimed French-American chamber jazz ensemble Reverso will lead educational residencies at the University of North Texas, the University of Northern Colorado, and Cal Poly Humboldt. Through performances, workshops, ensemble coaching, and masterclasses, Reverso will engage jazz and classical students in collaborative, cross-genre learning. Featuring original works inspired by early 20th-century French composers Germaine Tailleferre and Lili Boulanger, the project highlights underrepresented voices and addresses gender equity and genre silos in music education. The residencies aim to foster inclusive, interdisciplinary dialogue and artistic exchange across communities and generations. 

Image courtesy of the artist.