The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) today (Tuesday 9 August) launches the second annual initiative to develop the talents of emerging composers, RSNO Composers\u2019 Hub. Aimed at composers in the early stages of their career, this bespoke scheme is an opportunity for a group of composers to write for orchestra in a range of different contexts, develop skills and creative relationships, as well as acquire an understanding of the business of a major arts organisation.<\/p>\n
Up to five emerging composers will be chosen to join RSNO Composers\u2019 Hub and spend the 2016:17 Season with the Orchestra. As well as working with RSNO\u2019s smaller, contemporary group, Alchemy, each composer will write a ten-minute work for full symphony orchestra. The scheme will culminate in a public workshop at the New Auditorium, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, in March 2017, from which one work will be chosen to be performed by the RSNO as part of its 2017:18 Season.<\/p>\n
RSNO Composers\u2019 Hub is also an opportunity to develop a meaningful collaboration with the RSNO and the other hub members over a sustained period and to get to know the Orchestra, staff and its audience, receiving guidance from different artistic and business areas.<\/p>\n
RSNO Executive Producer Manus Carey: \u201cAfter the very successful pilot, culminating in two performances of Lillie Harris\u2019 remiscipate at the end of our 2015:16 Season, we are very excited to be launching the second year of our Composers\u2019 Hub. This scheme aims to give support to Scottish and UK-wide composers, and to provide the creative space for them to explore and develop. The breadth of the scheme will also mean it is an opportunity for our audiences to extend their knowledge of contemporary music and the compositional process.\u201d<\/p>\n
Previous RSNO Composers\u2019 Hub member Lillie Harris, whose work remiscipate, inspired by the demolition of Glasgow\u2019s Red Road flats, was selected to be performed at the last concert of the Orchestra\u2019s 2015:16 Season, said: \u201cIt has been a real honour to have been part of Composers\u2019 Hub – the people and performers of the RSNO have all been incredibly welcoming and generous. The amount of practical workshop time the RSNO gave all five of us feels unprecedented, and I know I have grown so much as a composer this year as a result.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a young composer, to be offered the chance to write such a substantial piece for a large orchestra, and not only hear it played, but to participate in a workshop with some of the best orchestral players around, giving us practical and useful feedback in real time, was utterly invaluable. I am so grateful for the time and attention all five of us were given by the players, conductor Jean-Claude Picard, composers Brett Dean and Stuart MacRae, and all the team at RSNO throughout our time with them. It\u2019s fantastic to learn that Composers\u2019 Hub will run again next year, as such a positive and beneficial scheme for composers deserves to continue, training fresh talent.”<\/p>\n