New Horizons

Celebrating legacy and diversity

Bringing together artists, musicians, professionals, enthusiasts, and amateur music lovers in an exceptional setting in the heart of Paris, enjoy five days of concerts, conferences, workshops, masterclasses, and much more.

During the Congress, Joseph Alfred has been invited as a contributor to the 50th International Viola Congress (IVC) in Paris, France from January 19th to 23rd, 2026.

The proposed contribution is in the form of a workshop titled ''viola and Maqam, an introduction to a practical introduction to Interpretation techniques''

The IVC 2026 Program Committee has selected this contribution from a competitive field of 211 high-quality proposals, on the basis of originality and perceived strength.

As the host organization of the IVC 2026, the French Viola Society fully supports and endorses the ambition of Joseph Alfred to Paris in order to bring his work to the attention of the international viola community.

The International Viola Congress brings together passionate musicians in a different country each year to pay tribute to this exceptional instrument. Through a series of concerts, meetings, and artistic exchanges, it offers violists a unique opportunity to share and deepen their common passion: the viola.

This Parisian edition, organized in January 2026 by the Société Française de l'Alto under the aegis of the International Viola Society, will be themed New Horizons – Between Heritage and Diversity. It reflects a desire to reconcile the rich musical heritage of the French and international viola schools with the boldness of contemporary creations and the diverse ways of integrating the viola into musical projects.

Renowned performers, representing a wide range of styles and generations, will bring the viola to the stage at its highest level, accompanied by partner orchestras and ensembles. They will also contribute to knowledge-sharing through meetings, workshops, and masterclasses.