Published on September 12th, 2016 | by Liam McMahon
PRS Foundation announces New Music Biennial Composer Residencies & Minute of Listening as part of Hull UK City of Culture 2017
PRS for Music Foundation announces New Music Biennial Composer Residencies and Minute of Listening in Hull as part of UK City of Culture 2017
We are pleased to announce the Composer Residencies and Minute of Listening strands of the New Music Biennial 2017, which supports and provides a platform for talented organisations and music creators who are pushing the boundaries of new music in the UK. Part of Hull UK City of Culture 2017, these two exciting additional projects will involve local residents, community groups and primary schools across Hull in the creation and performance of new music in the city, over the next two years.
The New Music Biennial Composer Residencies will kick off in September 2016 to give local communities in Hull the chance to spend time and create music with five of the New Music Biennial’s brilliant music creators, folk legends Sam Lee and Eliza Carthy, classical composers Errollyn Wallen and Brian Irvine and beatbox/electronic artist Jason Singh.
The Composer Residencies will continue beyond July 2017 with local student music leaders mentored by New Music Biennial composers.
New Music Biennial – Minute of Listening is a special edition of Sound and Music’s innovative digital learning tool, which provides primary-aged children with the opportunity to experience 60 seconds of creative listening each day of the school year. Minute of Listening will be celebrating the unique sounds of the city of Hull; from regional artists, locally sourced music and recordings and new tracks by New Music Biennial composers.
The New Music Biennial Minute of Listening will run in parallel with the residencies until 2018.
The New Music Biennial Minute of Listening will be officially launched on 18th October 2016 and is available to schools now on request please contact: education@soundandmusic.org
Vanessa Reed Executive Director of PRS for Music Foundation said, “We’re delighted to bring the Composer Residencies and this special edition of Minute of Listening to Hull as part of the New Music Biennial 2017. Both initiatives will play a significant role in the build up to Hull UK City of Culture festivities in 2017 and beyond. The residencies will add an exciting opportunity for local communities, groups and schools in Hull to participate not only in the Festival weekends in 2017 but in the creation and performance of new music with some of the UK’s most talented composers. In addition, the Minute of Listening gives primary school children a fantastic opportunity to explore new music and sound as part of their daily learning activities in schools.”
Martin Green, CEO and Director of Hull 2017 commented: “A key ambition for Hull 2017 is seeing as many people in every neighbourhood having the opportunity to participate in a variety of cultural activity across the city. The New Music Biennial Composer Residencies and Minute of Listening programme is a chance for local groups and schoolchildren to make or listen to music by highly respected musicians. It has an important part to play in our learning and participation programme and wehope it will unleash their creativity and develop their passion for music for years to come.”
Susanna Eastburn, CEO of Sound and Music said, “Minute of Listening is a powerful tool for listeners of all ages, including those with no specialist music training, to explore and reflect on the rich variety of new music and sound. We’re delighted to be working with the New Music Biennial 2017 to create a special edition for Hull and have already had a lot of fun in curating the first pack of sounds. Creative listening to music and sound can be a transformative experience, as well as a way to explore unfamiliar repertoire, and we are really looking forward to seeing how this project unfolds, and its impact and legacy across the city.”
PRS for Music Foundation’s New Music Biennial is an exciting and free new music festival, presenting 20 pieces of new music across two festival weekends, in Hull as part of UK City of Culture 2017 (30th June – 2nd July 2017), and at London’s Southbank Centre (7th – 9th July 2017). The New Music Biennial will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
Find out more about the New Music Biennial Composer Residencies, Minute of Listening and the festival weekends at www.newmusicbiennial.co.uk