Iwan Hewett review of the Aarhus Concert at Sounds New in the Daily Telegraph

“All the pieces were suggestive and quick on their feet, as were the two new British pieces by Hugo Ribiera and Benjamin Oliver (which seemed distinctly English in this company, perhaps because Birtwistle’s savage musical machines were their common ancestor).”    
Iwan Hewett in The Telegraph, 25 May 2011

Aarhus Sinfonietta at Sounds New, Tuesday 24th May

The Århus Sinfonietta are performing my ICP winning work Smash and Grab at the ‘Sounds New’ festival in Canterbury. The concert is being recorded for BBC Radio 3. The concert is taking place at Augustine House in Canterbury at 7.30, you can download the poster here. This is an exciting performance for me – I can’t wait to hear what this amazing ensemble do with the work!

The Workers Union at the University of Leeds, Friday 4th March at 1.05pm

The Workers Union Ensemble are performing my new work Ripped Up for ensemble and live electronics as part of the University of Leeds lunchtime concert series at 1.05pm in Clotherworker’s Hall this Friday. I’m conducting my piece and Matt Kaner‘s Gauguin Sketches. Should be a good gig!

Musarc performing ‘Interplay II’ at St. Bartholomew the Great, Friday 10th December, 2010

I’m delighted that Musarc, under the expert direction of Cathy Heller Jones, are performing ‘Interplay II’ again this Friday in London.  I’ll be playing piano for my piece and for the carols and various other Christmas treats.  It promises to be a fantastic concert in an amazing space!

ICP

I’m pleased to say I was chosen as one of two winners of the ‘International Composers Pyramid’ on Saturday for my piece Smash and Grab.  The jury panel were Paul Patterson and Rolf Hind for the UK and Philippe Boivin and Philippe Hurel for France.  I’m very excited to have been chosen and look forward to the various opportunities it will lead to – watch this space for what they are!!

Hertfordshire Youth Choir – St. Albans, 10th November 2010

Hertfordshire Youth Choir will be singing ‘Interplay II’ for choir, piano and electronics in St. Saviours Church in St. Albans on Wednesday.  We had a rehearsal last night and it sounded great.  It promises to be a great concert with an interesting and varied programme and it kicks off at 7.30.

New Postdoctoral position at the University of Southampton

I recently started work as the AHRC Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Composition for Cochlear Implant Users at the University of Southampton.  This exciting job involves helping devise and run workshops, developing a music training program and writing new pieces for CI users.  I’m working in the Music Department, the Institute for Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR) and the South of England Cochlear Implant Centre (SOECIC) at the University of Southampton.  I’ve been finding my feet for the past few weeks and am really enjoying the work.  You can read some info about the project at the Southampton website.  I’ll keep updating about any new pieces and activities as they come up!