Car radio in a traffic jam, demolition without a permit, the echo of a siren in the distance. From the scaffolding on the corner, a solo clarinet. A brass band at the traffic lights plays to every green. String quartet in the underpass tunes a chamber A endlessly. Trombone section performs to the rhythm of children’s swings. One hundred musicians, two hundred children, thirty bicycles, and two fire engines attempt to sustain a long unison in the square. Imagine that this could truly happen.
Tuning of the City is a collective sonic situation for the city of Trenčín created by Fero Király, Eva Vozárová, and Petra Fornayová. Its performers are musicians — amateurs and professionals, adults and children — who have been preparing for this moment for an entire year.
The premiere — and the only public presentation — will take place on 22 May 2026 in the centre of Trenčín. We invite you to be there.
Tuning of the City emerges as a new, site-specific work for Trenčín 2026. Within the context and time-space of the European Capital of Culture, we build on the tradition of Slovak conceptualists of the 1960s and 1970s, such as Ladislav Kupkovič, Milan Adamčiak, and many others.
Bringing together numerous and diverse musicians in public spaces requires the courage to experiment and to search for what we share.
Can we come into tune?
Practical info
- Tuning of the City begins with mini interventions in the streets (Urban Preludes) at 17:00 at various locations across the wider city centre. Keep an eye on squares, benches, street corners, hidden spots…
- The Preludes last from a few minutes to an hour and a half. Most will be repeated several times between 17:00 and 18:30.
- The joint concert, where all musicians will come together (tutti), begins at 18:30 in front of ODA.
- On the day of the event, maps with the detailed programme of the Urban Preludes will be available in the afternoon in the city.
- It is not important to see everything — what matters is to experience and hear the city differently.
- Admission is free.
- We recommend coming on foot, by public transport, or by bicycle. Leave your car at home or park outside the city centre.
- Tuning of the City is a contemporary art event; you may hear music that is unfamiliar or not to your taste — that is perfectly fine, and as you move through the city you may come across other Preludes that catch your attention.
Selected Urban Preludes
Table Tennis Club Keraming Trenčín & G. Cremaschi & T. Novák: Ritmico Epico Virtuoso
Two table tennis paddles, two double basses, one underpass. A rhythm section unlike anything any city has ever witnessed. In the underpass near M. R. Štefánik Park.
17:00 – 17:10 | 17:15 – 17:25 | 17:30 – 17:40 | 17:50 – 18:00
Milan Adamčiak: ParkingSong
A wind ensemble performs the licence plates of parked cars according to an instructional score by the renowned Slovak artist M. Adamčiak, across four car parks around Rozmarínová Street.
17:00 – 18:00
Extra BIO – mobile City Prelude
The Bratislava Improvisation Orchestra travels along unknown routes, equipped with megaphones, responding to sound events it encounters along the way.
17:00 – 18:20
Peter Machajdík: Concerto Meccanico Epico
A composition for three Linde forklifts in front of Hotel Elizabeth. Performed 3 times.
17:45 – 17:52 | 18:00 – 18:07 | 18:15 – 18:22
Rehearsal of the Škrupinka Men’s Choir
Everything you always wanted to know about the rehearsals of Trenčín’s renowned ensemble — find out at OD PRIOR.
17:00 – 18:30
Balconico Epico
Nylon Union temporarily occupies the director’s balcony at the Creative Institute Trenčín with an electric guitar, playing preludes for the intersection below.
17:00 – 17:10 | 17:30 – 17:40
Strings. Membranes. Pipes.
Two youth ensembles with handmade instruments meet in the middle of Mierové námestie. The gauntlet has been thrown.
17:10 – 17:20 | 17:25 – 17:35 | 17:45 – 17:55
Not Music Noise Noise Makes Music
Clients of DEMY Trenčín, in collaboration with actress Anna Čonková, bring the Atrium beneath the City Tower to life.
17:00 – 17:05 | 17:10 – 17:15
Adorabile for Public Transport Passengers
The Bratislava ensemble EIAPUF celebrates public transport passengers with a fanfare at the new stop on Jozefa Braneckého Street. Thank you for travelling sustainably.
17:20 – 18:25
Hoppa topla popla hopla
What happens when children from Private Combined School Nová Dubnica meet random passers-by in front of the Ľ. Štúr Grammar School?
17:46 – 17:50 | 17:55 – 17:59 | 18:05 – 18:09
Jeux d’eau (Hommage à Maurice Ravel)
The Banská Bystrica ensemble KOMPOST, founded at the Academy of Arts in Banská Bystrica, under the direction of composer Daniel Matej, will bring the fountain on Hviezdoslavova Street to life.
17:25 – 17:35 | 17:55 – 18:05 | 18:20 – 18:30
…and many more.
Participating organizations
Musicains and performers
Lecturers
Vojtěch Šembera (CZ)
Michal Svorada (SK)
Michal Matejka (SK)
Matej Sloboda (SK)
Martin Jánošík (SK)
Marek Kundlák (SK)
Jana Ambrózová (SK)
Eva Šušková (SK)
Erika Coyle (SK)
David Danel (CZ)
Barbora Tomášková (SK)
Anna Čonková
