On October 14, 2025, the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation announced the recipients of its prestigious Ensemble Prizes for 2026. The awards, each endowed with €75,000, were granted to the Canadian collective NO HAY BANDA and the Ensemble for New Music Tallinn from Estonia. Selected from a strong applicant pool spanning 13 countries, the two ensembles were recognized for their exceptional artistic profiles and potential for growth.
Founded in Montreal in 2016, NO HAY BANDA has developed from a trio into a flexible group of over ten musicians. The ensemble is dedicated to avant-garde repertoire—from its post-war foundations to the present—while actively incorporating DIY culture, improvisation, and elements of popular music into its practice. Its work is characterized by a spirit of boundless curiosity and sonic experimentation. “NO HAY BANDA is, above all, the people,” said artistic director and percussionist Noam Bierstone. “The creativity, enthusiasm, and curiosity that everyone contributes inspires and drives our projects.”
The Ensemble for New Music Tallinn, founded in 2013, has established a significant presence in Estonia and on international stages. The ensemble’s repertoire spans a wide spectrum of contemporary styles, with a particular focus on alternative tuning systems and microtonal music. This focus fosters an experimental approach that re-examines music history while exploring new sonic dimensions. Violist Talvi Nurgamaa noted the ensemble provides “a rare and enriching opportunity to experience music within a truly unique sound world.”
Both prize-winning ensembles are scheduled to perform at the Warsaw Autumn Festival in September 2026. The official award ceremony will take place on May 23, 2026, at Munich’s Prinzregententheater, alongside the presentation of the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize and the Composer Prizes.
Concurrently, the foundation has announced that the application period for the Ensemble Prize ‘27 will open on January 1, 2026, and close on March 1, 2026. Applications must be submitted through the foundation’s official website.
The original press release was published by the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation.