University signs New Music Players as Ensemble in Residence
Posted on 23 March 2000
The Players will give three concerts a year in the University's prestigious concert series and they will collaborate with staff and students in the department of Music on research projects in composition and performance.
The Players were founded in 1990 by composer Edward Dudley Hughes and soon acquired a reputation for bringing new insights to earlier repertoire through the performance of classic pieces alongside the most daring compositions of recent times. They have toured extensively in the UK and Europe and have been regular visitors to the Huddersfield and Brighton Festivals among many others.
Their highly-acclaimed Radio 3 programmes have included works by Birtwistle, Finnissy, Dillon and Skempton, and future concerts include appearances in the Brighton Festival and Dartington Summer School with commissions and premieres from Gordon McPherson, Jo Kondo and others.
Their appointment continues York's long tradition of hosting resident professional ensembles and string quartets. Previous resident ensembles have included the Fitzwilliam and Sorrel String Quartets and the current Ensemble in Residence, Capricorn.
"The New Music Players are more than simply a new music group," said Professor Nicola LeFanu, head of the department of Music. "The Players have extensive experience in the classical repertoire, early music and jazz, and will make a significant contribution throughout the Music Department. In particular, they will contribute to our research in composition and performance, and we are looking forward to their contribution to the coaching of the highly successful Chamber Music Project."