Our Experience at the re_cre@ Contemporary Music Performance Competition

On January 25, we received the news of our selection for the re_cre@ contemporary music performance competition. Two weeks later, we were already in Molins de Rei rehearsing to prepare for this competition held in Castellón de la Plana, where we ultimately received second prize. In this blog post, we share all the details of this experience.

On Saturday, February 7, we landed in Barcelona after traveling from Palma, Vigo, Zürich, and Helsinki. The aim of this gathering was to thoroughly prepare our performance for the re_cre@ competition, where we would reunite with our great friend Juan Alonso and his ensemble Argo Kolektiv. Our program consisted of a selection of the following works: Fragments Striés by Hèctor Parra, the études Pypes and Phantom Galop by William Albright, and Der Blutige Schaffner by Robin Hoffmann.

Lítore Quartet and Argo Kolektiv after the final of the re_cre@ contemporary music performance competition. Auditori i Palau de Congressos de Castelló, Spain, 12/02/2026.

Between February 7 and 10, we were once again welcomed by Eva and Jordi, Miquel’s parents, to whom we cannot fail to reiterate our gratitude for their warmth and care. We were also able to enjoy Eva’s incredible cooking and the mild Mediterranean winter that those of us who live far away miss so much.

On Tuesday, February 10, due to a train drivers’ strike, we were unable to use public transport to reach Castellón. We were forced to rent a car to get to our destination, where a hotel night awaited us, kindly offered free of charge by the competition itself. That same evening, we met with our old friend Juan Alonso, who has also been a source of inspiration for us since our beginnings as a quartet. In fact, Juan is part of Lítore’s history, as he substituted for Hugo in 2021 during the Alén concert tour when our tenor contracted COVID. Because of the great affection and admiration we have for him, we will soon dedicate a very special article to him on our blog.

The re_cre@ competition took place on Wednesday, February 11, in the morning, in the Chamber Hall of the Auditorio y Palacio de Congresos de Castellón de la Plana. On this occasion, we opted for a performance format without interruption—that is, with no breaks or applause between pieces. To maintain tension and transition from one work to another, we used stage movement and sonic elements such as air sounds. We also incorporated lighting effects thanks to the help of the technician Pau. The jury, composed of Annesley Black, Alexander Schubert, and Beatriz Traver, awarded first prize to our friends from Argo Kolektiv, and we were therefore granted second prize. As a curiosity, after the jury’s decision, we discovered that Annesley is the wife of Robin Hoffmann, the composer of the last work we performed.

Our congratulations to the re_cre@ competition for its excellent organization and the conditions provided to participants. Of course, congratulations as well to Argo Kolektiv, whom it was a pleasure to meet in person. As a result of the second prize, we will return to Castellón to offer masterclasses and a concert at the Conservatori Superior de Castelló. We take away great learning from this experience and from the jury’s advice. See you soon!