News – Page 2 – Sound World

Loss of funding

Activities on hold

We are hugely disappointed to announce that our recent application to Arts Council England has not been successful. Unfortunately, we found out I the same week that financial difficulties for another of our funders has led them to withdraw expected support. We understand their position and know they would not have wanted to do this, but it is nevertheless really bad news.

As a result we have had to cancel all the concerts currently planned as part of our residency at The Mount Without – just as things were getting going… So, that’s it from us until further notice, but we will investigate new ways of working, ones that are less reliant on the swings and roundabouts of an increasingly difficult funding environment.

We will be back!

Sound World @ the Crypt III

We are pleased to announced the next concert in our residency at the wonderful Mount Without on Sunday 30th June

The Sound World Group are:

George Blakesley – clarinet, George Owen – cello, Harriet Riley – percussion, Ricardo Brown Roger – violin Alex Wilson – piano

Programme to follow, but we can tell you that the concert will feature Dance of the Wind and the Sea by Vivian Chua, winner of our last concert’s “Listen Again” audience vote.

Sound World @ the Crypt II

Join us for the second concert in our residency at the wonderful Mount Without on Sunday 14th January

George Blakesley – clarinet George Owen – cello Harriet Riley – percussion Ricardo Brown Roger – violin Alex Wilson – piano

performing:

Vellichor – Harriet Riley & Alex Garden
for Boola – Andy Keenan
Bell Music for St. Casimir – Sadie Harrison
Six Court Studies from The Tempest – Thomas Adès HOLO – Charlotte Harding
Piéce pour clarinette et violon – Claude Vivier
Klezmer Dance
Dance of the Wind and Sea – Vivian Chua
The Grace of Silence – Evelyn Glennie
Sinew* – Graham Fitkin

* world première of new version

Sound World Residency

We are very grateful to the Mount Without for generously supporting a Sound World residency at their atmospheric crypt.

The first concert of the residency will take place on Sunday 1st October (7pm) and will see Sound World (the South West’s most exciting new band) zigzag across the boundaries from classical to jazz, to blues and back again in an exciting journey through the wilds of modern music. With new work from Evelyn Glennie & Sally Beamish, virtuoso solos by Jörg Widmann & Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, a vigorous, rarely heard early piece from Iannis Xenakis… and more, this will be a stirring and uplifting evening of great music.

Tickets: £15 or £10 (concessions) plus Eventbrite commission.

For more information and to buy tickets please click or tap here.

Sound World @ the Fringe

Sunday, 23rd July. St Peter’s, Shaftesbury.

We are very excited to announce the first performance of our new band Sound World will be on the final night of the Shaftesbury Fringe Festival. The band will perform an exciting jazz/blues influence set, including the world premières of two Sound World commissions.

Plain Blue/s : Coleridge-Taylor Parkinson
Perpetual Motion : Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson
April (world première) : Sally Beamish
HOLO : Charlotte Harding
The Neglected Child : Judith Bingham
Klezmer DanceDhipli Zyia : Iannis Xenakis
Fantasy : Jorg Widmann
The Grace of Silence (world première) : Evelyn Glennie
Dancing With the Shadow : Eleanor Alberga
2 Coyotes: 1 : Magnus Lindberg
Duo : Jessie Montgomery

Sound World are:
George Blakesley – clarinet
George Owen – cello
Harriet Riley – percussion
Ricardo Brown Roger – violin
Alex Wilson – piano

Please CLICK HERE to order tickets online.

New Sound World band

Following rehearsals held between December 2022 and last March, we are pleased to announce the formation of our new band. Also called Sound World, the group will be Bristol’s only professional contemporary music specialists and will perform their exciting brand of new music at concerts in Bristol and across the South West and beyond…

Sound World are:
George Blakesley – clarinet
George Owen – cello
Harriet Riley – percussion
Ricardo Brown Roger – violin
Alex Wilson – piano

Please CLICK HERE to order tickets online.

John Pickard – 30 years of music.

A concert and reception at Bristol University’s Victoria Rooms today celebrated John Pickard’s 30 years in the Music Dept.

Michael Ellison (mostly hidden) gives a few well chosen words in honour of his long standing colleague

A programme of contrasts included the tragic and moving The Gardener of Aleppo, the playful 3 Chicken Studies and the riveting Verlaine Songs – brilliantly realised by soprano Emma Tring and the Bristol Ensemble.

John is one of the UK’s finest composers and we’re delighted to have him as one of Sound World’s patrons.

Composing Workshops

The first of this year’s composing workshops will take place at Bristol Grammar School on Sunday 19th March.

Our workshops are an opportunity for the next generation of musicians to have their work performed and recorded by professional musicians with guidance from leading composers. These inspiring events provide provide invaluable, high-level guidance to the region’s brightest young musical talents.

We are delighted to have players from the Bristol Ensemble with us on the day and our own Sadie Harrison leading..

SoundWorld auditions

We are currently auditioning some of the region’s most talented young musicians for our new, contemporary music ensemble. A big thank you goes to all those who played for us and to composer Michael Ellison who joined fellow composers Sadie Harrison (Chair of the Sound World trustees) and Julian Leeks (Sound World Director) for the auditions.

Thanks also to Bristol University Music Dept. for hosting.

A second round of auditions will take place in the spring, with an announcement coming shortly after.

Hinrichsen Foundation funding

More good funding news comes courtesy of the Hinrichsen Foundation who will be supporting our 2023 programme. Many thanks to the Hinrichsen trustees for their faith and generosity!