Dear fellow music students,
If you like new music, performing, composing, discussing issues surrounding
composition and the contemporary composer, or just to listen to all of that
going on around you, then this year's Conference Weekend at the York Spring
Festival of New Music 2010 is definitely for you! This two-day event will
feature showcases of student compositions, composition workshops, seminars
about new music and collaborations with other fine arts, concerts and more.
Taking place at the University of York on 15th and 16th May 2010, this
annual festival is being run for the second time by students, for students.
Last year's Collaboration Day saw four ensembles from universities across
the UK come together to perform each other's pieces and experience each
other's different attitudes and outlooks on new music composition and style.
This year we have expanded into a two-day event to incorporate more time for
discussion and research about and around composition, new music, and also
exploring cross art form practice and how the music relates to other fine
arts. Moreover, the weekend's events are all entirely free of charge!
The Conference Day on Saturday 15th May will feature talks by composers and
writers who have worked together; round-table discussions of new music for
all involved to debate and discuss issues surrounding contemporary
composition; workshops, and an evening concert given by the Black Hair
Ensemble will round off the day.
Sunday 16th May is the Collaboration Day: an opportunity for you to have
your piece performed by an ensemble from another university, and to meet
other new music enthusiasts. Continuing the theme of 'Words and Music', a
composition workshop run by the newly formed Chiasmus Ensemble from
Manchester, offers the chance to write a short piece to a predetermined
narrative written by creative practitioner in writing and storytelling, Gina
Perry. Composers and performers will also have rehearsal time to collaborate
and work together towards the final performance in one of two showcases
during the day of your compositions, pieces which you have submitted for
ensembles at other universities to perform.
If you would like to be involved in the Weekend, or would like more
information, please email James at conference@yorkspringfestival.co.uk .
Alternatively, feel free to call me on my mobile number below if you need
more information. The deadline for an ensemble, department, performer or
composer to register as participating in the day, for logistical and
planning reasons, is Friday 4th December, and an initial deadline for
compositions to be submitted to the respective performers is Monday 12th
January. If you are part of, or know of a new music ensemble in your
department, ask them about it and please do get in touch! The more people
here to share the experience and participate in the spirit of collaboration,
the better it will be!
James Whittle
Conference Weekend Manager, Spring Festival of New Music 2010
conference@yorkspringfestival.co.uk
07973 424537
