Music at Manchester University - News and Updates

Our news has moved!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 15:22:00 GMT

This site is an archive of Music news at Manchester from 2010 to 2016.

For the latest news, please go to the Music website.

http://www.alc.manchester.ac.uk/music/about/news/

Sir Mark Elder to be named Honorary Professor by The University of Manchester

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 18 May 2016 12:37:00 +0100

The University of Manchester is delighted to appoint Sir Mark Elder CBE as an Honorary Professor.

Sir Mark has been Music Director of the Hallé since September 2000 and works as a guest with the world’s leading opera houses and symphony orchestras. He has a wide-ranging discography of award-winning recordings and is International Chair in Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music.

Sir Mark Elder was knighted in 2008 and was awarded the CBE in 1989. He won an Olivier Award in 1991 for his outstanding work at the English National Opera and in May 2006 he was named Conductor of the Year by the Royal Philharmonic Society. He was awarded Honorary Membership of the Royal Philharmonic Society in 2011.

Sir Mark will join the University from 1 September 2016 and will give his inaugural lecture at 3pm on Thursday 29 September at the University’s Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama.

Sir Mark commented, “It is a great honour to be asked to accept an Honorary Professorship in the Music Department of the University of Manchester. I shall be delighted to play a small role in developing future generations of professional musicians”.

Dr Camden Reeves, Head of Music, said “'We are delighted to welcome Sir Mark as an Honorary Professor here at the University of Manchester. His work at the Hallé has made him a musical icon within the city of Manchester, and as such he will be a fantastic inspiration to our students and staff. We are looking forward to working with, and learning from, him in the years to come.'

Photo credit: Benjamin Ealovega

Manchester's "track record for producing composers talent continues apace"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 16:05:00 +0100

On Saturday at the Bridgewater Hall, former Manchester graduates of the University and the RNCM had works performed as part of the BBC Philharmonic's celebration of, and contribution to, the Shakespeare celebrations of 2016.

Conducted by former Joint Course student Andrew Gourlay, the concert included works by Manchester graduates Chiu-yu Chou (PhD, 2010 with Philip Grange), Tom Coult (MusB, 2009; MusM, 2010), and Nina Whiteman (PhD, 2009 with Philip Grange).

The concert has been reviewed here and is due to be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 later today (April 27, then available on iPlayer for 30 days). In her review, Pamela Nash writes:

"Championing new British music is an integral part of Manchester's musical identity and a tradition long upheld by the BBC Phil and the so-called 'Manchester school' (which in fact is two, equally esteemed, schools of the University and the Royal Northern College) whose track record for producing composing talent continues apace."

Manchester remembers Sir Peter Maxwell Davies

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 13:21:00 GMT

On Monday 14 March, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies died at his home in Orkney. Max, as he was known to his friends, was undoubtedly the most-famous Alumnus the Music Department at Manchester has ever produced. He was Patron of our Music Society (MUMS) and a dear friend to many of us here.

Max at the University, upon receiving his Honorary Doctorate in 2011.

It is difficult to overestimate the significance, influence and brilliance of this man. He was one of the most important composers this country has ever produced: right up there with Purcell and Britten. He pretty much singled-handedly dragged the UK kicking and screaming into the twentieth century. Before him, if your music was anything other than the most conservative offering, you didn't stand a chance in the UK. He changed that for good and, for that, every composer in the UK alive today is in his debt.

As a teacher he was second to none, tirelessly supporting each generation of new composers. His approach to teaching composition was as innovative as the music itself: encouraging freedom of creative expression and individual voice over dogmatic theoretical systems or schools of thought. The approach we take to the teaching of composition at Manchester is based on his model.

I spent time working with Max when I was in my twenties, and have known him since then. Anyone who met Max could not fail to be in awe of his fearsome intellect. He seemed to have read everything, to speak all languages and to know everything about music from the most arcane plainchants, to Haydn, to Wagner to the music of our own time.

But none of us at Manchester knew him better than Professor Philip Grange, who studied with him in the 1970s and 1980s. Phil says the following:

'I was indeed fortunate to study with Max between 1975 and 1981, both privately and at the Dartington Summer School of Music. As a teacher he was ground-breaking. At Dartington he created a course that integrated the study of a wide range of music (anything from Bach to Boulez or Machaut to Maxwell Davies) with the composing of pieces that would be played by his own fantastic ensemble, The Fires of London. That model of exposing students to an eclectic range of music followed by the composition of pieces that are always performed is now central to how composition is taught in many places in the UK, including at Manchester. When Max visited the Music Department here in 2009 we were pleased that he was delighted to see that we were continuing this approach, and to hear that there was no 'house style' among the students. As a private student of Max's I was required to do 10 assignments a month, as well as compose pieces and do my university work. It was an incredibly demanding apprenticeship, but highly rewarding. I'm sure there will be students of mine who may now understand why I ask so much of them.

'Of course, first and foremost Max was a great composer and I was fortunate to attend premieres or early performances of many of his pieces. Particular highlights for me include hearing his Ave Maris Stella at Dartington in 1975, the premiere of the First Symphony in 1978, the second performance of Image, Reflection, Shadow in Geneva in 1982 and the premiere of the Fifth Symphony in 1994 - they all made a profound impression on me at the time and continue to do so to this day.

'Although I knew that Max had been ill for some time, his death has come as a great personal shock. The world may have lost a great composer and this country one of its greatest musicians, but I have lost my teacher, mentor and friend.'

We at Manchester will remember him fondly, miss him terribly and forever owe him everything.

Camden Reeves, Head of Music

Rebecca Herissone wins American book prize

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 18:53:00 GMT

Rebecca Herissone's latest book, Musical Creativity in Restoration England, has just been awarded the Diana McVeagh Prize for the North American British Music Studies Association (NABMSA).

The book is one of the main outcomes of a six-year research project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council in the UK, and is the first full-length study of seventeenth-century musicians' approaches to creating their materials. Avoiding composer-centred analyses, it uses a new methodology that places individuals within the institutions and cultures in which they trained and worked, revealing creative practices that were often collaborative, and where pieces could be influenced creatively by a host of musicians in addition to named composers.

http://nabmsa.org/members/diana-mcveagh-prize/

Rebecca is Professor of Musicology at the University of Manchester.

Manchester Masters alumnus represents Britain at forthcoming ISCM World Music Days

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 9 Nov 2015 15:52:00 GMT

Another composition success story, this time for Manchester alumnus Patrick Friel. Patrick has been selected by Sound and Music to represent Britain at the forthcoming ISCM (International Society for Contemporary Music) World Music Days in Tongyeong, South Korea.

Read more here:

http://www.soundandmusic.org/projects/patrick-friel-selected-british-composer-iscms-world-music-days-2016

David Berezan to feature at dBâle 2015 Electronic Music

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 09:35:00 +0100

Composer David Berezan is featured in a solo portrait concert at the dBâle 2015 Electronic Music Festival, 2 - 4 October 2015, in Basel, Switzerland.

He will present his Nautical Cycle (Buoy, Moorings, Lightvessels and the world premiere of Starboard) as well as Cyclo, and he will give a separate artist talk entitled 'Hyperrealities and Sonic Illusions in the Nautical Cycle'.

Other festival guest composers include Michel Chion, Trevor Wishart and Gilles Gobeil, and the theme this year is Sound: Evolution and Design.

Masters student receives special award for excellence in Indian classical music

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 7 Jul 2015 13:09:00 +0100

One of our MusM students, Karthika Devarakonda, has been awarded a 'Scholarship to Young Artistes' from the Government of India. This is a senior level scholarship awarded to candidates (between the ages of 21 and 45) with exceptional talent in the field of music, dance, drama and other fine arts. Karthika received her award for excellence in South Indian (Carnatic) classical music and here at Manchester she is currently working on her dissertation on women in Indian music with Dr Caroline Bithell and is specialising in Ethnomusicology.

Manchester is a hotbed for barbershop!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 7 Jul 2015 12:56:00 +0100

Barbershop, and a cappella music in general, is a style of music that is growing in popularity by the day. Thanks to films such as Pitch Perfect, television shows like America’s The Sing Off and the possibilities of videos going viral on Youtube and other social media channels, there has never been a greater interest from young people in singing all styles of a cappella.

Within the UK, the barbershop youth scene is flourishing, and the University of Manchester is becoming well-known for bringing new students into the barbershop community year after year, and with success too. Over the last three years, the British Association of Barbershop Singers’ (BABS) National Chorus and Quartet competitions have had a strong Manchester presence - notably, all four members of the 2015 champion quartet Tagline having studied Music at the University, and in 2014 the men’s chorus Mantunian Way finished in third place in the Chorus competition. Alongside the continuing success of the University’s ladies’ chorus, Ultraviolet, the presence of barbershop on Oxford Road continues to grow.

Barbershop’s roots at the University were started by Antoine Kaiserman, then in the third year of his Music degree in 2010. Having sung barbershop while at school, and being a member of the youth quartet Mach 4 and the National Barbershop Youth Chorus, Antoine introduced some of his fellow music students to the genre and set up the Manchester University Barbershop Chorus. Thanks to his contacts in the barbershop community, the chorus developed a close relationship with Sheffield’s Hallmark of Harmony and many MUBC members have sung and competed with the chorus in recent years. In 2012 a ladies’ chorus was set up by Pippa Goodall, and the following year the choruses joined together to become one society, the Manchester University Barbershop Singers.

MUBC members shortly after going onstage with Hallmark of Harmony in the BABS 2012 Chorus Competition

The two choruses were renamed, the men’s chorus now called Mantunian Way and the ladies’ Ultraviolet, and thanks to the exposure at the Students’ Union Welcome events, both choruses quickly gained a significant number of members from outside the music department. This allowed Mantunian Way to become the first University chorus in the country to compete in the BABS Chorus competition and finish in an unprecedented third place. As a result of the extra networking opportunities that this kind of national exposure, Ultraviolet have developed a close relationship with Crystal Chords, one of the top female choruses in the country.

Tagline receive the BABS Quartet Champions Trophy in Llandudno, 2015

Many Manchester students have gone on to have success in the BABS quartet championships in recent years, with two of the last three champion quartets having at least one Manchester alumnus. Antoine’s quartet The Emerald Guard won the competition in 2013, and Tagline, Ben Ferguson, James Gower-Smith, Chris Langworthy and Rob Foot, all of whom graduated from the University’s Music course in 2014, winning the 2015 championship.

Tagline’s performance of L-O-V-E in the 2015 BABS Quartet Semi Finals

Supernova performing in the 2015 LABBS Prelims

Current and former members of Ultraviolet are also beginning to experience success on a national level. In June 2015 Supernova, Martha Tomlinson, Gina Hallums, Rachel Graff and Hannah Rose-Ford, qualified as Mic-Warmers for the upcoming Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers’ National Quartet Semi-Finals at the convention in Bournemouth, where Pippa will also compete in the Mixed Quartet competition with Patchwork.

Despite only becoming popularised on campus five years ago, Manchester is already a well-established hub for British barbershop. Current students and alumni are not only becoming well known for their quartets, as Antoine is one of the most in-demand learning track artists in the country, Pippa is the director of Capital Chorus and Ashley Baker, a 2007 Maths graduate, is the Administration Director for the BABS board. As each year goes by the influence of Manchester graduates on the barbershop scene increases, and it does not look like slowing soon.

'Unforgettable, and somehow far better than perfect': how we remember Peter Cropper, who has died aged 69

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 2 Jun 2015 16:02:00 +0100

Peter Cropper, founder-member and for 40 years leader of the Lindsay String Quartet, died yesterday from a heart attack at the age of 69. The Quartet was in residence with us from 1976 to 2005, helping to establish and maintain the ethos of performance – alongside the traditional university strengths of composition and musicology – that we remain proud of to this day and for which the Quatuor Danel continues to fly the flag. John Suchet’s tribute for Classic FM dubs the Lindsays ‘the finest string quartet this country has ever produced’. At the University of Manchester we knew that long ago, and we knew that Peter Cropper was the quartet’s indispensable driving force.

Here was a force of nature: a violinist like no other, a musician who knew how to let the music play through him, the face gurning, the breath gasping, the shirt-tails flying, and all without an atom of self-consciousness. That’s no simple matter. To abandon oneself as a performer, trusting that the results will be inspiring rather than embarrassing, takes an outstanding combination of technique, intelligence and culture. With Peter there were certainly spills as well as thrills. But that was the point. To make music with him was like white-water rafting: uniquely risky, yet uniquely exhilarating. At the other extreme, he could bring a god-like serenity to Beethoven and Schubert slow movements, making all in hearing distance feel god-like themselves.

Unforgettable, and somehow far better than perfect.

Audiences loved him because he dared to play with the swashbuckling passion of an amateur while commanding the skill of a top professional. Dozens of British composers are in his debt for the commissions and premieres he inspired. Hundreds of our students, and solo and chamber performers the world over, were touched by his irrepressible energy, enthusiasm, imagination and artistry. Known in the profession as the Mick Jagger of the string quartet, he was indeed a star.

David Fanning

Music PhD students wins prestigious Manchester prize

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 27 May 2015 17:02:00 +0100

After recently submitting his PhD composition portfolio, Igancio Pecino has been awarded the UoM President's prestigious Distinguished Achievement Award.

Ignacio’s recent Portfolio of electroacoustic works focuses on Dynamic Audio Composition via Space and Motion in Virtual and Augmented Environments. That means that his work explores alternative approaches to music composition using 3D simulation environments and procedural sound. Explaining his work, Ignacio said:

"I proposed the use of real and virtual space as a new medium for the creation and organisation of sound events via computer-simulated audio-sources. In such a context, the role of the performer is sometimes assumed by the listener herself, through the operation of an interactive-adaptive system, or it is otherwise replaced by a set of automated but flexible procedures (procedural composition)."

Although all his works are sonic centric in nature, they often present a visual component that reinforces the multimodal perception of meaningful musical structures, either as real space locations for sonic navigation (locative audio), or live visualisations of physically-informed gestural agents in 3D virtual environments. In such context, space and the real-time generation, control, and manipulation of assets play an important role in broadening the routes of musical expression and the accessibility of the musical language.

Some of his recent works (Swirls, Alice - Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady, and Alcazabilla), are interactive in nature and they required the creation of custom software solutions (SonicMaps) in order to deal with open-form musical structures that can be navigated using GPS-enabled mobile devices. The SonicMaps Locative Audio platform was subsequently opened to the general public in 2012 as an iOS/Android app, and it currently includes more than 500 registered users and published projects around the world (www.sonicmaps.org).

Other pieces (Singularity, Apollonian Gasket, Boids), are based on fractal or emergent behaviour models and algorithms, and they propose a non-interactive linear organisation of sound materials via real-time manipulation of non-conventional 3D virtual instruments. These original instrumental models exhibit strong spatial and kinematic qualities with an abstract and minimal visual representation, resulting in an elegant and efficient way to build spatialisation patterns, texture, and musical gesture, while preserving the sonic-centric essence of the pieces.

Ignacio’s work has been presented in numerous international festival and conferences such as ICMC’13 (Perth), ICMC’14(Athens), ZKM (Karlsruhe, Germany), AudioMostly’12 (Corfu), NIME’15 (Baton Rouge, US), and MANTIS Festival (Manchester, UK).

Manchester alumni feature heavily in forthcoming BBC Philharmonic event

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 11 May 2015 16:52:00 +0100

On May 8 the BBC Philharmonic revealed their 2015/16 concert season and the Music Department is delighted to announce that of the five young composers commissioned to write pieces for the orchestra’s flagship event on April 23, 2016, three are recent graduates of the department.

Nina Whitman completed her PhD in Composition in 2009, Chiu-Yu Chou completed her PhD in Composition in 2012 and Thomas Coult completed his MusM in Composition in 2011 (having previously completed his MusB with us as well).

The concert, which will take place in the Bridgewater Hall, will be conducted by Andrew Gourlay who graduated from the University of Manchester/RNCM Joint Course in 2004.

Third-year student, Beth, on her time at Manchester

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 20:42:00 +0100

Beth has some excitied plans lined up for life after her Music degree. Read on ...

What are you working on right now?

I'm doing my dissertation on arts council and central government-led counter-terrorism strategies involving the arts, another essay on Wagner's influence on Irish literature around 1900 and another on the relevance of Adorno's aesthetics today. I'll also have some Spanish exams next month and an advanced study Verdi exam.

What is the most exciting and nerve-racking thing about this final part of the year?

A lot of the work seems to have built up quite quickly and most of my grade depends on the work I do in the next 5 weeks.

What are your plans for the six months after graduation? Have you anything lined up for the next year or more?

First I'll be teaching in Spain for 3 weeks and then working for a charity called NCS with young people. In October I start a 3 year graduate trainee scheme with accountancy firm KPMG in the deal advisory division, which involves advising businesses on mergers, insolvencies and other major transactions.

How has your degree and your time at the University of Manchester helped you towards these next steps?

I've been a member of the trading and investment society and have studied Spanish as part of my course.

What memories will you cherish most from your time in the Music department?

I've made lots of lovely friends who I'm going to maintain contact with after graduation.

What will you miss the most once you graduate?

The fact that a lot of my work can be done from home.

What will you miss the least?!

Staying up late to get things done at busy times.

Third-year student, Graihagh, on her time at Manchester

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 14:13:00 +0100

Graihagh is a joint course student, in her final year of the MuB here at the University, looking ahead to her fourth year at the RNCM. (Students on the Joint Course undertake the entire three-year MusB at the University of Manchester as well as 2 of the 3 strands that comprise the BMus at the RNCM, which is a four-year programme. In addition to their MusB with us, they gain a GRNCM at the end of the fourth year from the College.)

What are you working on right now?

The end of third year is so incredibly busy that I feel like I’m working on something different every single day! I’m currently finishing assessed coursework for my final modules, such as completing a 6,000 word essay on Shostakovich’s symphonies, my 12,000 word dissertation on the music of WWII Internment camps on the Isle of Man, and putting together presentations for musicology modules. There’s also practicing for my final recital, learning repertoire for external work, and completing coursework and preparing for my recital at the RNCM. I don’t know how I even have time to sleep!

What is the most exciting and nerve-racking thing about this final part of the year?

Knowing that you’re about to finish something you’ve spent 3 years working towards that ultimately might help determine what you do with your life is unbelievably nerve-racking; the looming prospect of deadlines and finals keeps me in a perpetual state of fear! Even so, there’s a great deal of excitement bound up in the fear, not only for the fact that the stress will finally be over but also because it’s the start of the rest of our lives - it’s actually starting to feel like I’m an adult!

What are your plans for the six months after graduation? Have you anything lined up for the next year or more?

As a Joint Course student, I have another year to complete at the RNCM, which gives me time to think about what I want to do after I’ve finished my undergraduate studies. I’m currently deciding between doing an academic masters at the University or continuing at the RNCM on a performance masters, but I’ve yet to make up my mind whether it will be the classroom or the opera stage - I’m secretly hoping somebody will invent a Joint Course masters then I won’t have to decide…! Either way, I’m looking forward to spending the next year concentrating on singing and my vocal development, doing some work back stage, and finally finishing the Joint Course.

How has your degree and your time at the University of Manchester helped you towards these next steps?

Having an academic grounding as solid as that provided by the music degree at the University of Manchester has already proved itself as completely essential to my musical and personal development. Should I chose to complete an academic masters, the undergraduate degree at the University has given me a good foundation for postgraduate study and the broad yet comprehensive scope of the course across the whole three years has given me inspiration for further original study. If a career in performance is on the horizon, this degree has been equally as important: the harmonic principles you learn in tonality classes and the context taught through musicology modules have shed so much light on works I perform as a singer; an academic degree has made helped to make me a rounded performer, giving me the confidence I would need to start a career in the music industry. Generally, it’s also given me the confidence I need to go forward and achieve the things I now know are possible; I’ve been taught to live life with an open and inquiring mind, and I know that if I work hard enough, I’ll get where I want to be.

What memories will you cherish most from your time in the Music department?

The last three years have been such a whirlwind that I couldn’t possibly select particular memories. I’ll just miss the general camaraderie, the mutual stress (especially in this last year), the MUMS socials and the friendships - though I know I’ll never lose touch with them.

What will you miss the most once you graduate?

Strangely, I will miss the utter madness that is Joint Course. It has been such a privilege to study at two eminent institutions and, whilst we complained no end about running between the two and the amount of work, it was such a pleasure to have a haven in each for when the going ‘got tough’ at either institution and I was able to take such different things from each place. Learning something new every day, both from lectures and from friends, has been truly incredible and I will miss everybody I’ve been lucky enough to encounter in the last three years.

What will you miss the least?!

The stress of Joint Course! I’m ready for some much needed relaxation!

Third-year student, Elizabeth, on her time at Manchester

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 13:12:00 +0100

Elizabeth is a third-year student. Here's her perspective on her time at Manchester.

What are you working on right now?

I am currently working on finishing writing up my dissertation on feminist musicology and aesthetic discourse and its pertinence to the composer Kaija Saariaho, as well as rehearsing and preparing for the performance of my final instrumental composition, which is for a somewhat large and eclectic chamber ensemble. I am also preparing for essays and exams in the Aesthetics and World Music courses.

What is the most exciting and nerve-racking thing about this final part of the year?

This part of the year is exciting because I am so focused on fully realizing and expressing the ideas I have been working on and building up to all year. It gets me excited about what I'm doing and where the work could go in the future, which makes the end product fresh and charged but is also nerve-racking because I really want it to be the best culmination of everything I've done over the last year or two.

What are your plans for the six months after graduation? Have you anything lined up for the next year or more? How has your degree and your time at the University of Manchester helped you towards these next steps?

Hopefully I will be carrying on with my studies with a Masters degree in Composition at the University, which is something I never guessed I would be doing before my undergraduate degree. It has only been over the course of the degree that I first started composing, so the programme has really shaped my goals and interests and allowed me to explore my own capabilities.

What memories will you cherish most from your time in the Music department? What will you miss the most once you graduate? What will you miss the least?!

I will always cherish the memory of the feeling of opportunity that I had early on in the course, when I was realizing how wide the field is and the new possibilities available to me that I hadn't thought of or experienced before. I will also always remember the feeling of being surrounded by so many musicians as classmates (and housemates) for the first time. I will miss some of the musical and social busyness and energy of the undergraduate culture in the Music Department, and will probably miss the three-hour lectures least!

Third-year student, Codee, on her time at Manchester

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 10:12:00 +0100

Like James and Ellie, Codee is entering the final lap of her degree with us. Here's what she had to say last week when I spoke with her.

What are you working on right now?

I am currently working on my dissertation, piano recital repertoire and film music composition.

What is the most exciting and nerve-racking thing about this final part of the year?

I am excited to finally complete my dissertation and to perform my recital as I have been working on both for the past year. However, I am nervous about results!

What are your plans for the six months after graduation? Have you anything lined up for the next year or more?

After I finish university, I am going to go travelling around Europe and Southeast Asia. In September I will be starting my graduate job working as a trainee accountant at PwC.

How has your degree and your time at the University of Manchester helped you towards these next steps?

A Music degree is multi-faceted, involving essay writing, analysis, performance, creativity, teamwork and leadership. As a result, my time management skills have improved. All of these skills and experiences are sought after by graduate recruiters and helped me to find a job.

Outside my degree, the Careers Centre helped me to find an internship, volunteering experience and guided me through the application processes. I have also had the opportunity to be Treasurer of the Music Society and a Student Ambassador. The University of Manchester is also highly regarded by recruiters giving its graduates an edge.

What memories will you cherish most from your time in the Music department?

I will cherish memories of all of the performances I have done at University.

What will you miss the most once you graduate?

I will miss being able to research and learn about musical topics that I find especially interesting with lecturers who are leaders in their field. I will also miss having a flexible timetable, the free professional concerts in the Martin Harris Centre and being able to practice on a Steinway every day!

What will you miss the least?!

I will not miss the cold and wet weather in Manchester!

Third-year student, Ellie, on her time at Manchester

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 13:15:00 +0100

Following on from the responses by James, here is Ellie with her thoughts.

What are you working on right now?

I am currently working on my final composition which is a piece for seven upper voices and tubular bells. I'm also preparing scores to conduct in the Estival concerts and the tours (orchestral and choral).

What is the most exciting and nerve-racking thing about this final part of the year?

The fact that all of this work counts for such a large part of my overall degree grade. Plus the idea of going out into the real world in a few months time!

What are your plans for the six months after graduation? Have you anything lined up for the next year or more?

Next year I'm taking up the post of Musical Director for Hallam Choral Society and am hoping to find more work as a conductor in the area. I'll also apply for a Masters course in conducting for the following year.

How has your degree and your time at the University of Manchester helped you towards these next steps?

I began conducting at the University and the opportunities and tuition I have had here to develop my skills have been unparalleled. I am so grateful for the experience.

What memories will you cherish most from your time in the Music department?

The concerts: in particular, the MUMS Opera 2015 Handel's Acis and Galatea and the performance of Mozart's Requiem. I will miss the fun and friendly atmosphere in the department too.

What will you miss the most once you graduate?

Being around such talented musicians and friendly faces on a daily basis. Having the opportunity to work with all of the ensembles in the department as a conductor.

What will you miss the least?!

Essays!

(All next week we'll be posting more interviews with final-year students, showcasing the variety of things our students get up to, and the variety of paths they will pursue after graduation.)

Third-year student, James, on his time at Manchester

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 09:30:00 +0100

During this week, we'll be posting a number of posts where final-year students reflect on their time at Manchester and their plans for the future. First up, it's James, who is on the Joint Course programme.

You're coming to the end of the MusB programme. What are you working on right now?

I’m currently working hard on my dissertation on the relationship between Freudian Pscyhoanalysis, Sexuality and Schoenberg’s monodrama Erwartung. I’ve also got my final recital coming up at the RNCM and my exams to study for (Aesthetics and Wagner in European Thought and Culture) so at the moment, there is hardly a moment’s rest!

What is the most exciting and nerve-racking thing about this final part of the year?

Without a doubt the most exciting part has been the fact that the lecturers largely give free reign as to how we interpret the questions. This has led me to write some intellectually stimulating essays and get to grips with some of the really dense and seminal musicological literature. Of course, one of the most nerve-racking times has been getting back essays that I have taken a risk on - thankfully so far, it’s paid off!

What are your plans for the six months after graduation? Have you anything lined up for the next year or more?

At the moment I have to make a choice as to what postgraduate course I do next year. I currently have offers for the MPhil in musicology courses at Manchester, Oxford and Cambridge. I also have an offer from the London School of Economics for a diploma in accountancy and finance. To be honest, I am just getting through the year and then making up my mind. I’m sure the choice will become clear.

How has your degree and your time at the University of Manchester helped you towards these next steps?

Without the academic rigour and breadth of the Manchester Music Degree program and the high regard in which both it, and its lecturers are held, I would not have such an abundance of options for next year. Being on the Joint Course with RNCM has also enabled me to (attempt to) perfect my time management skills and diplomacy (and of course my singing!). Having been on the joint course, I feel very well prepared for either further study, or indeed, working life.

What memories will you cherish most from your time in the Music department?

Without a doubt the most fun I have had has been sparring in lectures with both students and lecturers alike. If the university has taught me anything, it’s that there are numerous ‘right’ points of view - as long as you feel ready to defend it! I feel that the course actively encourages alternate ways of thinking and that even the lecturers are willing to be swayed if you can make a strong enough case for your hypothesis.

What will you miss the most once you graduate?

Manchester. It really is the perfect student city. I felt unsure coming to such a big city to study (even though I come from London) as I had always imagined I would end up at a campus university. In reality, the city is exactly what you make of it. With some of the best live music performances on every week, some fantastic bars (which unlike London, we can afford to visit every now and again) and a student infrastructure second to none, there really is nothing more you could ask of your place of study.

What will you miss the least?!

The rain! Bring a decent coat - it’s too windy for an umbrella!

Manchester conference explores Music under German Occupation

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 11:24:00 +0100

Between 30 March and 1 April the Music Department hosted the international conference Music under German Occupation: Complicity and Resistance.

30 papers were read, by speakers from the UK, USA, Canada, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Russia. Discussions are now under way for a published volume arising from the conference, which was organised by Joanne Bolland (PhD student, University of Manchester), David Fanning (Professor of Music, University of Manchester) and Erik Levi (Professor of Music, Royal Holloway University of London).

Photo: Deutche Presse/Archive Photos F1159P7

International prize for PhD composer Mario Duarte

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 9 Apr 2015 12:11:00 +0100

PhD composer Mario Duarte, recently had his woodwind quintet Xinachtli awarded second prize at the 2015 Foro Internacional de Música Nueva Manuel Enríquez, held in Mexico City.

Born in Mexico City, Mario studied guitar, musicology and composition at Musical Studies and Research Centre (CIEM) and Hispanic Literature at Autonomous National University of Mexico (UNAM). In 2013 he started a PhD in Electroacoustic Composition at the NOVARS Research Centre, University of Manchester under the supervision of Prof. Ricardo Climent.

https://soundcloud.com/mario-duarte-2

International recognition for Taiwanese composer Chia-Ying Lin

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 8 Apr 2015 13:23:00 +0100

More great news for student composers at Manchester!

For her piano work The Gaze, Taiwanese student Chia-Ying Lin was awarded third prize and 5000 euros at the First Jean Sibelius Composition Competition which took place on 25 March in Hämeenlinna.

The competition had 639 entries. The members of the jury were Kaija Saariaho (chairman), Mark Andre, Liza Lim, Magnus Lindberg and Jukka Tiensuu.

Lillian is currently studying for a PhD in Composition with Prof Philip Grange, having joined the department in 2012 on the MusM in Composition.

New Hallé role for Manchester graduate Jamie Phillips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 5 Mar 2015 15:09:00 GMT

We are delighted to hear that former Manchester student Jamie Phillips will become Associate Conductor with the Hallé at start of the 15-16 season.

Jamie graduated from the 'Joint Course' here at Manchester in 2012 and was appointed as Assistant Conductor to the Hallé in September that year.

Here at Manchester we look forward to many more opportunities to seeing (and hearing!) Jamie conduct the Hallé just up the road at the Bridgewater Hall.

For the full story, visit the Hallé website.

Brass Band goes one better ... and wins UniBrass!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 3 Mar 2015 09:46:00 GMT

Last year we reported on the Music Society Brass Band's success in finishing a close second to Huddersfield in the annual UniBrass Championship. This year they went one better, and picked up a few more gongs along the way, too. Congratulations to all involved!

Read more ...

John McCabe: composer, pianist, friend

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:45:00 GMT

We at the University of Manchester are saddened to hear of the death of our alumnus the distinguished composer and pianist John McCabe, who passed away on 13 February, aged 75. John was born near Liverpool on 21 April 1939, and read Music at the University of Manchester before pursuing piano and composition at the then Royal Manchester College of Music (what is now the RNCM). As well as a composer and pianist of outstanding facility, John was a valued supporter of composition and classical music in Britain. We in Manchester will remember his extraordinary contribution to the musical culture of the Northwest of England in particular. He continued to compose despite illness, and had plans for many further works.

New digital archive documents music in Pinochet's prisons

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 15:59:00 GMT

A digital archive documenting music from the torture chambers, concentration camps and prisons of the former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet was launched on 8 January 2015.

The archive, called Cantos Cautivos (Captive Songs), is the brainchild of Dr Katia Chornik (pictured), a staff member of the Music Department. It is part of her Leverhulme-funded research ‘Sounds of Memory: Music and Political Captivity in Pinochet’s Chile (1973-1990)’, and was developed in partnership with the Chilean Museum of Memory and Human Rights, and former political prisoners.

The archive includes songs written, sung and listened to in political detention – and the stories behind them. The archive uses crowd-sourcing and is constantly growing as survivors send their materials.

Some are songs penned by the prisoners themselves, and in some cases recorded clandestinely in detention – all of the recordings are available to listen to from the website.

Other entries deal with music from the outside world, ranging from well-known popular Latin American songs of the time, to Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’, the African-American anthem ‘We Shall Overcome’, and music from the Spanish Renaissance. A number of entries deal with music activities imposed by the detention system.

The launch of the archive – which featured live music performed by former inmates including a choir originally founded in a detention centre and other musicians who composed and performed extensively whilst imprisoned – has received wide print, radio, online and TV press coverage in Europe and the Americas.

The archive (in Spanish) is freely accessed at www.cantoscautivos.cl.