Late Music is offering three undergraduate composers the chance to devise new works featuring theatre, improvisation or audience participation for the Late Music Ensemble concert on 1st July 2017.
Download the application guide: Word .docx | PDF
devise.realise
The Late Music Ensemble (LME) is an instrumental group that specialises in pieces combining music with theatre, improvisation and audience participation. devise.realise is a new project led by LME’s director, composer/theatre-maker James Whittle.
The three composers selected for devise.realise will:
- Devise their work with LME at a Devising Workshop Day in York
- Receive a commission fee on delivery of their final score
- Attend a premiere of their new work
- Receive a mastered audio recording plus a film of the premiere performance
- A contribution towards travel expenses to attend the workshop day and concert will be available
Devising Workshop Day
All composers who apply will be invited to attend the Devising Workshop Day.
Led by James Whittle, the workshop day will begin with group activities to introduce all attendees to devising, through playing theatre and improvisation games and exercises.
The morning will continue with a practical demonstration of 20th century pieces selected from LME’s repertoire. Attendees will be able to discuss and play these pieces with LME as a springboard for exploring how to combine theatre, improvisation and audience participation with music.
The afternoon will be dedicated to workshopping and developing work by the selected composers with LME. All other attendees will be welcome to observe these workshops.
Selected composers will be expected to provide workshop sketch materials in advance.
Project Timeframe
- Friday 21st April 2017, 5pm, deadline for submissions
- Monday 24th April selection panel meeting
- Tuesday 25th April notification of result to composers
- Wednesday 10th May, 5pm deadline for workshop sketch materials
- Saturday 13th May, 10am-5pm Devising Workshop Day
- Friday 11th June, 5pm deadline for completed scores
- Saturday 1st July, 3pm LME rehearsal with selected composers
- Saturday 1st July, 7.30pm LME concert in Unitarian Chapel York
What we are looking for
LME is looking for innovative, experimental, fun, challenging ideas that demonstrate the composer’s creativity and enthusiasm to develop new work in a new area.
The selected composers will be encouraged to explore their ideas and creative practice. Applicants are welcome to suggest alternative forms of notation that they will work with, such as open form scores, text scores, or graphic scores.
The final devised works will each be no more than 8 minutes long and for a maximum of 7 LME performers (flute, clarinet, piano, percussion/objects, violin, cello, conductor). LME can move, use our voices, play our instruments, play something else…
Listen to LME recordings here.
Who’s eligible
Composers working in any style are welcome to apply if:
- You are currently studying for an undergraduate degree in Northern England (to check if your institution is in this region, please refer to this list: www.whatuni.com/degrees/find-university.html?region=northern-england)
- You are resident in the UK at the time of application and for the duration of the project
- You are 18 years old or over
- You are able to commit fully to the required schedule
- Confirmation of your availability for the Devising Workshop Day and the LME concert
Late Music is committed to encouraging and promoting diversity.
How to apply
Please email <latemusicyork[at]gmail[dot]com> by 5pm on Friday 21st April 2017:
- 2 recent scores with recordings (PDF only; mp3s or online audio/video links)
- Your proposal for a new work incorporating theatre, improvisation, and/or audience participation (maximum 1 single-sided A4 page). Please explain your idea for the work you want to devise: what your piece will be about; your influences for this idea; how the theatre/improvisation/audience participation may work in your piece; how you would use your workshop time.
- Your CV (maximum 2 single-sided A4 pages)
- Evidence of your degree enrolment at a Northern England higher education institution (e.g. a photo of your student card)
- Confirmation of your availability for the Devising Workshop Day and the LME concert
Selection process
The three composers will be selected anonymously by a panel comprising: James Whittle, two LME performers, Late Music Concerts Programmer Steve Crowther, and an external advisory professional composer.
