The neglect of contemporary chamber music in the activities of most conservatoires and music academies has motivated the Pro-Bio Foundation in establishing the first Summer School for Contemporary Music , scheduled to take place at the Hindemith Music Centre, Blonay, Switzerland from June 13-24, 2006. All the costs for tuition and lodging for the selected quartets will be borne by the Pro-Bio Foundation.

The principal objective of the summer school is to train young professional quartets in some of the major quartet literature of the 20th/21st century. The renowned Arditti Quartet has agreed to be the quartet-in-residence who will ensure that the participating quartets will have the benefit of their 35-years' experience in the performance of cutting-edge music of the avant-garde. Helmut Lachenmann who has long experience and intimate knowledge of contemporary music and has composed three extraordinary quartets, will be the composer-in-residence. Mr. Lachenmann will analyse and discuss the quartets that will be studied by the participants at Blonay.

Since the first announcement of this summer school many young quartets applied to participate. Eventually five quartets with demonstrated musical proficiency as well as a commitment to contemporary music were selected. These quartets are based in Berlin, Paris, Boston, Carlisle and Moscow.

During the summer school there will be open master classes when the Arditti Quartet and Helmut Lachenmann will work with each of the quartets. In special public lectures Helmut Lachenmann will analyse some of the music studied by the quartets There will also be an open masterclass when the Arditti Quartet will work on Lachenmann’s 2nd Quartet with the composer’. At the end of the period there will be a concert when all the participating quartets will perform one of the works that has been studied during the period.

The Pro-Bio Foundation anticipates that the Blonay summer school will become an annual event leading to a better appreciation of contemporary chamber music by young musicians.