PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE THIS DOCUMENT IN A DIFFERENT FORMAT Call for Embedded Opportunity: BCMG Apprentice Composer in Residence PLEASE CHECK YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO TAKE UP THIS OPPORTUNITY BY READING THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA CONTAINED WITHIN THIS DOCUMENT Embedded is a Sound and Music composer and creative artist development programme. Funded by The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Embedded places a selection of composers from a range of disciplines into extended relationships with leading national arts organisations. Embedded is a bespoke programme, providing practical hands-on experience and a range of significant creative opportunities. So far over forty artists have benefited from Embedded, and there is overwhelming evidence that it can be a transformational experience in terms of talent development, artistic ambition, professional experience and growing networks. As part of the Embedded programme, Sound and Music and BCMG are offering an opportunity for a composer to spend time in residence with the ensemble. This yearlong association will allow the chosen composer to develop a broad range of skills through spending time with and contributing to the life of a professional ensemble in all aspects of its work, including its performance work, Learning and Participation programme and administration. It allows the ensemble to benefit from a sustained relationship with a composer contributing across a range of areas. The opportunity is focused on artistic development and the successful applicant will be encouraged to explore their ideas and creative practice. We want to foster networks between Embedded composers and creative discussion across musical disciplines, so the opportunity also encompasses sessions where all the current participants in our Embedded residencies meet and share ideas. Scope: This residency provides the selected composer with the opportunity to immerse themselves in BCMG s activities from September 2015 to summer/autumn 2016, developing an insight into a broad range of BCMG s work. There will be the opportunity to write a new ensemble work for the ensemble for premiere in 2016 as well as a potential short solo piece for a young performer early on in the residency as part of BCMG s Learning and Participation programme. The scope of the ensemble
work is flexible in terms of instrumental forces (see parameters below), performers and programme context and will be decided in discussion with BCMG s Artistic Director, Stephen Newbould. A workshop and some individual player time can be scheduled to test ideas and develop the final work over the residency period. The scheduling of your contact time with BCMG across the residency period is flexible and is arranged in agreement with the group. It can work effectively to schedule cluster days of visits. The financial support for the opportunity includes: agreed expenses for travel and accommodation a bursary of 2,000 to cover the selected composer s time, writing of new works and the cost of producing score and parts agreed budget for developing work with the ensemble Details of the development process: During the year the chosen composer will have the opportunity to observe and participate in all aspects of BCMG s work. The framework for the residency includes: Getting to know the group: participating in the life of BCMG through visits and engagement with a broad spectrum of their work. This could include observation at planning meetings, rehearsals and performances. Outreach work: observation of and participation in BCMG s learning programme. Composition: writing a piece for BCMG within the parameters of 10-15 minutes and 10-12 players, to be premiered towards the end of the residency. Development time: the opportunity for a mid-year workshop. A certain amount of development time with individual players can also be available in order to work with specific instruments and players or test and develop new ideas. Mentoring: working with a mentor throughout the residency chosen in consultation with you. Shadowing: Observing closely the development and realisation of a new commission for BCMG by another composer, where appropriate. Attending Embedded sessions during the residency period, sharing ideas with the other participating composers Being featured in the British Music Collection as an annual cohort of New Voices composers consisting of: o being given support to create the best profile possible o being featured in New Voices print which is circulated widely to national and some international contacts o a 300 bursary towards documentation and dissemination of work
invites to Sound and Music events for example an annual Composer Conference and other networking events Composers who are selected to take a place in the Embedded programme will be offered an opportunity to participate in a Coaching programme run by Sound and Music. Coaching is a one-to-one relationship that supports a person to improve aspects of their performance at work or work-life balance. This may include focus on particular working relationships, delegation or decision-making as well as overall career direction and focus Timings for the project: Noon, 8 July 2015 Deadline for applications w/c 17 August 2015 Notification of interview Tuesday 25 August 2015 Interviews & notification of acceptance (details to be negotiated between composer and BCMG) September 2015 onward Core development period of residency: Attending rehearsals, workshops, performances, meetings; development of new work, presentation of work. Summer/Autumn 2016 Residency period ends BCMG 2015/16 season plans: BCMG s provisional concert, audience development and recording activity includes: Large and small-scale concerts at CBSO Centre, Birmingham conducted by Oliver Knussen, Dominic Muldowney, Richard Baker and an unconducted chamber concert Premieres of BCMG commissions by Melinda Maxwell, Howard Skempton, Edmund Finnis, Benedict Mason, Richard Baker, John Woolrich, Luke Bedford and Zoë Martlew most commissioned through the Group s Sound Investment scheme Site specific performances as part of the Birmingham Weekender festival in September 2015 Collaborations with Ikon Gallery and MishMash productions A performance in December 2015 at London s Wigmore Hall conducted by Dominic Muldowney and featuring the London premiere of Howard Skempton s new work for baritone Roderick Williams A concert in Mexico as part of the Festival Internacional Cervantino, Guanajuato (part of the UK/Mexico year of culture) in October 2015 BBC Radio 3 broadcasts and CD recordings Learning projects include: Families@ Performance events on the afternoon of some of BCMG s concerts at CBSO Centre, presenting pieces from the evening programme to a family audience Musicadoodle-do A new strand of our family work, Musicadoodle-do provides creative interactive musical activity for children under 7. Music Maze 8 day-long weekend composing and performing workshops, across the year, for young people aged 8-11 at CBSO Centre.
Zigzag Ensemble 8 day-long weekend composing and improvising workshops for young people aged 12-16 at CBSO Centre. Feel the Buzz Two 2-day composing workshops (autumn and spring holidays or weekends) for young people aged 14-18 led by various composers. Birmingham University Student Composer Workshops 4 x ½ day workshops rehearsing/recording 12-14 student composer pieces with a large 15 piece BCMG ensemble, and augmented by a series of instrumental seminars Birmingham Conservatoire Student Composer Workshops A series of ½ day workshops rehearsing/recording 15-20 student composer pieces with an 8-piece BCMG ensemble BBC Inspire Birmingham Lab day BCMG once again expects to host the Birmingham regional Composer Lab Day for young composers of the BBC Proms Inspire programme Selection process: A selection panel will shortlist individuals for interview. The panel will include Stephen Newbould (Artistic Director, BCMG), a member of the Sound and Music team and an independent composer. Interviews will take place on 25 August 2015 at CBSO Centre. The selected composer will be chosen following the interview. Eligibility: you must be resident in the UK at the time of application and for the duration of the scheme you must not be in full time undergraduate education this must represent a significant development opportunity for you you must be available for interview in Birmingham on the appointed date we suggest you should be able to invest circa 10 weeks of time in residence throughout and have time to write a new 10 15 minute piece for BCMG and a 2 minute work for a young performer you must be available to join other Embedded artists with Sound and Music for 1 away day you may apply for more than one Sound and Music professional development scheme (Embedded and Portfolio) but no single composer may take up parallel residencies within any one scheme. E.g. you may only take up one residency at any one time. If you choose to do so, please submit separate applications for each call. No single composer can take up more than two consecutive residencies (Embedded/Portfolio) within any one scheme. E.g. a Portfolio residency followed by another Portfolio residency. However you may take up two different schemes consecutively, providing each residency presents a significant development opportunity for you. a composer engaged in a current Sound and Music project (e.g. Adopt a Composer, Composer-Curator, Touring, Higher Education Programme) may apply to a residency in a different scheme and vice versa. E.g. you can take up a Portfolio or Embedded residency at the same time as another project. Sound and Music actively seeks to encourage a diversity of applicants to its programmes. If you are selected, we will do our best to accommodate any particular
needs you may have. A copy of our Equality Policy is available on our website here: www.soundandmusic.org/knowledge-hub/evidence-hub How to apply: If you wish to apply, please complete the online form available here: http://www.tfaforms.com/377735 You must include your name in the title of every attachment you send. Please also include your name and the opportunity you re applying for in the header of each document. You will be asked to include: 1. your CV and including a list of key performances (as one document, 2 sides maximum) 2. your biography (no more than 100 words) 3. a statement of no more than 1 side of A4 addressing the following questions: a. Why do you want to work with BCMG? b. Where are you currently with your creative practice and how would this residency develop it? c. What professional development are you hoping to get from this? d. Brief information about any experience in learning work to date e. Do you have an idea at this early stage of what ensemble work you might wish to develop as part of the residency? f. What are your other commitments for 2015/16? 4. Documentation of two contrasting examples of your work, including one piece for chamber ensemble if possible. If you are submitting media (audio or visual) do not send files or Dropbox links, as these will not be accepted or downloaded. Instead please provide links to a website streaming service where we can access the material e.g. Soundcloud, Vimeo, your own website. For other forms of work please upload as pdfs any scores or textual descriptions, alongside links to any media. Please ensure you provide any relevant passwords for private files. 5. A completed equal opportunities form which will follow on from the online application form linked to above For any queries please contact Nicole Rochman at Sound and Music (Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesday mornings) on nicole.rochman@soundandmusic.org or 020 7759 1819 Deadline for applications: noon on Wednesday 8 July 2015 Late applications cannot be considered We will acknowledge receipt of your application automatically once you submit your online form. Shortlisted composers will be notified by w/c 17 August Interviews with shortlisted composers scheduled 25 August
BCMG Emerging from within the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in 1987, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group quickly established a reputation for exciting performances, innovative audience-building and learning initiatives, and a central commitment to composers and the presentation of new work. The Group thrives on innovation and invention and is critically acclaimed for championing the most forward-looking music regionally, nationally and internationally. As a world-leading contemporary ensemble, BCMG has premiered over 160 works, most commissioned through its pioneering Sound Investment scheme, with a family of Investors supporting each new piece. In addition, BCMG s extensive Learning and Participation Programme supports young people as composers, performers and listeners of new music through an exciting range of projects in- and out-of-school. The BCMG/Sound and Music Apprentice Composer-in-Residence Scheme provides access for emerging composers to the full range of the Group s work. Recent BCMG highlights include the European premiere of Gerald Barry s opera The Importance of Being Earnest with Thomas Adès; 80th birthday concerts for Harrison Birtwistle last year with Oliver Knussen in Birmingham, Cambridge, and the BBC Proms and Barbican Centre in London; and the premiere of David Lang s giant participatory work Crowd Out for 1,000 voices, co-commissioned with Spitalfields Festival in London and the Berliner Philharmoniker. 2015/16 sees the Group premiere 10 new works in Birmingham, with artists such as Oliver Knussen, Richard Baker, Roderick Williams and Rebecca Bottone; make its debut at the El Cervantino Festival, Mexico with Christian Karlsen and Huw Watkins as part of the UK/Mexico Year of Culture; and return to London s Wigmore Hall with new and recent works by Howard Skempton and Dominic Muldowney. BCMG features on numerous CDs, including an ongoing series of NMC discs devoted to British composers, with recent recordings of music by Charlotte Bray, Oliver Knussen, Tansy Davies, Alexander Goehr and Richard Causton. The Group has two Artists-in-Association, Oliver Knussen and John Woolrich, and Sir Simon Rattle is the Group s Founding Patron. Sound and Music s vision is to create a world where new music and sound prospers, transforming lives, challenging expectations and celebrating the work of its creators. Our work includes composer and artist support and development, partnerships with a range of organisations, live events and audience development, touring, information and advice, network building, and education. We champion new music and the work of British composers and artists, and seek to ensure that they are at the heart of cultural life and enjoyed by many. www.soundandmusic.org