University of York Music Press

13 November 2024

New Sound World Podcast About the State of Music in the UK Interviews Sadie Harrison

We are excited about a new and important podcast initiative recently launched by the charity SOUND WORLD, including an interview with house composer Sadie Harrison. The podcast asks: "is our musical culture facing an existential threat? With ever smaller numbers of young people learning instruments, the gradual erasing of music from state education and years of declining funding, things may be worse than you think. Sound World investigates the state of music today and looks at what we can do to safeguard it for future generations".

In the first episode, the podcast looks at the value of music both to individuals and to society and asks why those in power don't always recognise this value. In the second, guests talk about how they discovered music and what enabled them to develop their interest into a life-long passion; it also asks whether they would have had such opportunities had they been growing up today.

The series is written and presented by Julian Leeks with series guests Sally Beamish, Daisy Fancourt, Peter Flach, Jess Gillam, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Sadie Harrison, Iain McGilchrist, Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, Nico Muhly, John Pickard, and Jörg Widmann.

12 November 2024

Thomas Simaku Broadcast in Mexico

Thomas Simaku’s work Soliloquy I for solo violin, performed by Peter Sheppard-Skaerved, was broadcast by the Unam Radio (click here to listen) in Mexico City on 9 October 2024 in a programme of classical and contemporary music, which included works by, among others, Bach, Barber and De Falla, and contemporary composers from Japan and China, Toshio Hosokawa and Wenchen Qin.

8 November 2024

Sadie Harrison Featured on the Isbourne Trio's Debut Recording

We are absolutely thrilled that house composer Sadie Harrison is one of the featured composers on the Isbourne Trio’s first recording. The trio comprises Alison Lambert (clarinet), Hannah Davey (soprano) and Pippa Harrison (piano), a group who are passionate about discovering and commissioning new works for the combination.

About the recording, the Isbourne Trio write: "Our innovative ‘She-Notes’ recording project shines a spotlight on six fascinating works for the ensemble by female composers. This is the foundation of the trio’s creative mission to further diversify the repertoire, generating exciting new work by composers of all genders to complement the historical masterpieces. We selected music from around the globe, featuring living female composers alongside historical figures. In support of our pledge to work with the next generation of composers, the trio partnered closely with RWCMD student composer, Imi Oldham in recording the premiere of her work ‘Music When Soft Voices Die’. The value of music in education is a strong motivational force for us as a trio. Moving forward, we will continue to nurture our musical partnership with the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, whilst expanding our reach into schools and colleges to inspire the younger generation and celebrate the value of collaborative music-making and performance."

29 October 2024

Late Music York November 2nd concerts

Late Music York have two very good concerts coming up this Saturday. Late Music write: "Join us for two terrific concerts on Sat 2nd November. First at 1pm we have Lithuanian pianist Jelena Makarova marking 100 years since Stravinsky’s Sonata 1924 with a programme of music from the last 100 years. Then the Amabile Clarinet Trio will showcase their renowned sensitive ensemble playing with Beethoven, Bernstein, Taverner, alongside a number of new works and Carl Frühling’s rarely heard Trio, 7:30pm (6:45 pre-concert talk with a free glass of wine or juice)."