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Composers at York: new music events for University

Posted on 23 April 2015

The University of York’s Department of Music is to host a new series of public presentations, workshops and concerts featuring top composers.

Judith Weir CBE, a guest speaker at Composers at York

Organised by York’s Contemporary Music Research Centre, a series of five events will take place from April to June.

Launching the series on 28 April is an evening with Judith Weir CBE, Associate Composer with the BBC Singers and recently appointed Master of the Queen’s Music.  In conversation with Professor Roger Marsh, she will discuss her life in music and the role of the composer today followed by a Q&A. The free event takes place from 6.30 – 7.30pm at the National Centre for Early Music.

Further events include a composition workshop with York graduate and composer Anna Meredith on 3 May, recently selected for the BBC’s Ten Pieces scheme to inspire a new generation of classical music fans.

A lecture performance by French composer-percussionist Jean Charles Francois takes place on 26 May, and a lecture by composer and archaeologist Sadie Harrison is on 5 June. Concluding the series will be a performance by the Royal Academy of Music’s Peter Sheppard Skaerved on 9 June.

Professor Roger Marsh, organiser of the series, said: “Our Department of Music was set up by Professor Wilfrid Mellers 50 years ago, with a staff of five composers, and since then the composition of music of all kinds has been at the heart of our activity.   We’re really excited to host this series which celebrates the importance of composition at York, through presentations, concerts and discussions with composers and performers working at the forefront of contemporary music.“ 

All tickets for the series are free and can be booked at: http://www.york.ac.uk/concerts/programme/

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