Earlier this year I got the good news that I was one of twenty composers to have a commissioned project accepted for the PRS Foundation's New Music Biennial award in partnership with Hull City of Culture 2017. I'm thrilled that Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton chose to commission me and that I will be writing a composition for the Nu Civilisation Orchestra in association with Tomorrow's Warriors. The 15 minute commissioned work, 'A Journey with the Giants of Jazz' will take inspiration from 6 artists born in 1917: Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Rich, Mongo Santamaria, Ella Fitzgerald, Tadd Dameron and Theolonius Monk. It will be generated through a process of deconstruction and recomposition of themes and motifs that I will be gathering from recordings of those artists. It's really exciting to get the opportunity to work on a project so closely related to some of my musical heros. I will be posting about my progress on my blog and will announce the performance dates in 2017.
For more information about the New Music Biennial 2017 follow these links
http://www.prsformusicfoundation.com/2016/01/18/new-music-biennial-2017-commissions-announced/
https://www.turnersims.co.uk/news/turner-sims-commission-selected-for-new-music-biennial-2017/