Had a fantastic time last week doing SHIFTS with students and colleagues from University of Southampton Music Department and brilliant percussionist Joley Cragg. Videos to come soon but here are a few pics, thanks to Amy Williamson.
In 2017 I made a postcard for the London Sinfonietta for their 50th Anniversary celebrations. In the exhibition my card appeared between George Benjamin and Steve Reich… not too shabby.
Super excited about a project I’m directing next month, SHIFTS, which will feature students from the University of Southampton Music Department performing as part of the Hartley Loop Orchestra at Turner Sims. We’ll be performing music by Steve Reich and Lois V. Vierk as well as new pieces by my super cool colleagues Drew Crawford and Brona Martin. I’ve written a new version of a solo percussion piece I wrote for the London Sinfonietta a few years ago – this time featuring large ensemble and called Changing Up + (rather than Changing Up!). Fellow Workers Union family member Joley Cragg is coming to play the solo part. More details on the poster below!
Really delighted to be performing The Virus Within: Hearing HIV again in March next year thanks to funding from the University of Southampton Public Engagement with Research Team. Workers Union Ensemble will perform the work twice at Turner Sims as part of the University of Southampton Science and Engineering Day 2019. Here’s a promo vid for the piece:
Was great to hear OUT-TAKE‘s version of my Brexit ode B.m.B. this week. Was a really great gig, held at Arch 04 in Southampton. Looking forward to the ensemble recording the piece in the not too distant future.
Joe Cutler’s album ‘Elsewhereness‘ is just out. It includes Workers Union Ensemble (with me waving) recording of Joe’s For Frederic Lagnau, which we recorded in 2013. Really pleased with the recording and delighted to be on a NMC record – one ambition in life achieved!
I had a great time at the Cohan Collective Residency in Bournemouth last month. I was one of four composers and four choreographers on the course, which was directed by Robert Cohan and Eleanor Alberga with Kim Brandstrup and Ken Hesketh mentoring. It was super intense. I think we pretty much wrote half an hour of music in 2 weeks! Felt like being an undegrad again – good for my teaching and, in the end, for my work. Met some great people who I hope to work with again. Few pics…
I’m excited to be going Bournemouth in a couple of weeks to take part in The Cohan Collective 2018 residency. This project brings together choreographers, dancers, musicians and composers to explore collaboration. Mentoring comes from choreographer Kim Brandstrup and composer Kenneth Hesketh, with founding directors Robert Cohan and composer Eleanor Alberga leading the residency. The project is led by Yorke Dance Project in partnership with Pavilion Dance South West and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. I can’t wait to get working with dancers again…
Dorothy Chan
I had a great time at the MISE-EN Music Festival in New York last week. Great to meet and talk with composers from all around the world and to hear their pieces and presentations. Pianist Dorothy Chan performed my Mr. Turquoise Synth (2017) brilliantly, alongside Mr. Turquoise Synth himself of course. We hope to find a way to work together again in the future. Thanks to Moon, Jordann and everyone at Ensemble Mise-En.
Mr. TS resting before the concert
Brooklyn Bridge
Felt like a grown up presenting at the OCI Conducting Studies Conference on Saturday. Had a great time at the conference; heard some excellent papers and great to talk with some like-minded people. Looking forward to the next one in a couple of years…
Photo by @jaemiblairloeb
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