2010 ISCM WORLD NEW MUSIC DAYS SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 30 APRIL – 9 MAY 2010 LIVING MUSIC www.worldnewmusicdays.com.au I NCORPORATING ThE 2010 AURORA FESTIVAL 2010 ISCM World New Music Days 1 From the President of International Society for Contemporary Music On behalf of the ISCM Executive Committee, and all the members of the ISCM, I extend a warm welcome to those who are taking part in the 2010 ISCM World New Music Days in Sydney, celebrating the festival theme of ‘living composers, living performers, living music’. The ISCM World Music Days Festivals held over the many years since the ISCM’s foundation in 1922 have not only provided the opportunity to experience the particular culture and context for contemporary music presented by the hosts of the festival each year. ISCM festivals have also presented a diverse selection of contemporary music from around the world, reflecting the aesthetic, stylistic, and cultural contexts of composers, artists responding to the many influences and inspirations of the artform. As a society of more than 50 member countries, whose composers and sound artists represent a diverse range of aesthetic and stylistic approaches, differing modes of expression, and collectively representing a broad spectrum of cultural contexts in contemporary music across the local, the regional, the national and the international, the ISCM is indeed a unique global network. The challenges presented to the hosts of any ISCM festival in attempting to address such a complex and multi-layered community are great, certainly in terms of finance and organisational resources, but also in relation to the presentation of a program that captures the complex nuances that exist across contemporary music today. The collaboration between the various organisations, institutions, venues, and performing groups in this festival in Sydney that form the foundation for the festival, emulates a model for co-operation that is becoming a more common characteristic of such festivals today. This highlights yet again, in the world of music, and more broadly in society, that exploiting those things which we have in common provides far more constructive and meaningful outcomes than focusing on those things that separate us. On behalf of the ISCM, I salute the hosts of this ISCM World Music Days Festival in Sydney, whose vision reflects in a very direct way the contemporary face of the ISCM and its members, and provides an opportunity for audiences to experience the world of “living composers, living performers, living music”. John Davis President, ISCM Executive Committee 2 2010 ISCM World New Music Days L CIVING OMPOSERS LIVING PERFORMERS LIVING MUSIC From the Artistic Director The world has changed enormously since the inception of the International Society for Contemporary Music in 1922 in Salzburg. For the first time in the history of this prestigious organisation, its showcase of musical excellence, the ISCM World New Music Days, will be held in the Southern Hemisphere: in Sydney, Australia. It is fitting that the 2010 World New Music Days takes place in the New World. Australia is both a very young and very old country. Its Indigenous settlers are estimated to have arrived at least 40,000 years ago, while European settlement only commenced in 1788. Sydney is an international city with a diverse, multicultural population of 4.5 million people. Music should both reflect and shape the diversity of culture and artistic practice in the world. The 2010 World New Music Days will present vital, engaging and interesting music from the 52 sections of the ISCM, alongside recent works by Australian composers. The majority of music will have been composed after 2004. There are a plethora of world and Australian premiere performances. Selected submissions will be played by Australia’s top performers including Ensemble Offspring (ensemble-in-residence), The Song Company, Topology, Goldner String Quartet, The Electric Trio, Match Percussion, Sydney Children’s Choir, Sydney Chamber Choir, Synergy Percussion, Continuum Sax, Chronology Arts, Michael Duke (saxophones), David Pereira (cello), and Timothy Young (piano). Performers from the staff and student body of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music will make an especially large contribution, including the Modern Music Ensemble, Big Band, Saxophone Orchestra, and Keyboard Unit staff and students. The Spectra Ensemble (Belgium) and the NZTrio will be flying to Australia to contribute to the international flavour. I believe this will be the largest contemporary new music festival ever held in Australia. I hope you can attend one of the 24 concerts, sound art installations or even listen to broadcasts or online streams on ABC Classic FM and ABC Digital as the musical world comes to Australia. Dr Matthew Hindson, AM Artistic Director 2010 ISCM World New Music Days 3 Welcome from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Welcome to Sydney and our Conservatorium of Music to attend the global ISCM Festival 2010. Associate Professor Matthew Hindson and John Davis are very valued colleagues who bring distinction and valued leadership to Australia’s musical community, enjoying prestige both here in Australia, and abroad. Their suggestion to host this international forum in Sydney provides us all with a very special opportunity to bring the leading contemporary creators together and afford a sounding experience here on the tip of Asia. At the Sydney Conservatorium of Music we are committed to being a global centre of excellence in music; providing leading-edge education, research and performance. Nothing could fit that challenge better than contributing to hosting the ISCM Festival. May these few days be an opportunity for all of us to support the vivid creativity of the dynamic composers, excel in shared intelligence and inspiration through your many talents and diverse contributions. The 21st century offers and demands such interdependent, contextual programming and a vital forum to progress these visions. Please share our joy in welcoming you. Please bring all musical sounds, discussions and traditions into this great dialogue. We are much honoured by your presence and wish the Festival tremendous success and long-lasting benefits! Professor Kim Walker Dean and Principal Sydney Conservatorium of Music Welcome from ABC Classic FM The ABC welcomes everyone to the 2010 ISCM World New Music Days. This is an event which enjoys great prestige, and ABC Classic FM is proud to be associated with the first in our hemisphere. For almost as long as the ISCM has been a leading advocate for new music – nearly 90 years – radio has been a principal means of disseminating it. It is the most natural thing for new music and radio to join together. This year, in association with other key Australian organisations, we invite you to join us at the ABC’s Ultimo Centre for six concerts and a range of ISCM Annual General Assembly events, to enjoy listening to the festival on ABC Classic FM and on the Festival digital radio station ABC ISCMNewMusic, and to visit our special Festival website www.abc.net.au/classic/iscm2010. Richard Buckham Manager, ABC Classic FM 4 2010 ISCM World New Music Days Welcome from the Venue Presenters in Western Sydney C AMPBELLTOWN ARTS CENTRE Welcome to Campbelltown Arts Centre for the 2010 Aurora New Music Festival, a concert program of new and recent work by living composers and artists. Campbelltown Arts Centre is a multidisciplinary contemporary arts centre located in Western Sydney. Campbelltown Arts Centre is a multidisciplinary contemporary arts centre located in Western Sydney. Since opening in 2005 the Centre has pioneered a contemporary arts program that engages with critical issues of our times. Campbelltown Arts Centre produces international multidisciplinary contemporary arts projects that include commissions, artist residencies, publications, community projects, education and public programs to examine issues and events that influence and shape contemporary life. Campbelltown Arts Centre has developed its profile as a leader for the contemporary arts across multiple art forms including music. The Centre has actively supported the commissioning and presentation of new Australian music. In 2010 Campbelltown Arts Centre appointed Dr Matthew Hindson AM as its inaugural Guest Music Curator. From 2010 to 2012, Campbelltown Arts Centre will present an annual music program that features a selection of Australia’s finest musicians as well as leading international ensembles and composers. J STOAN U hERLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre is delighted to present performances from the ISCM / Aurora Festival in May. For the past twenty years, the Joan has continued to attract musicians and performers of the highest international standard and has developed a deserved reputation as a performance venue with world class acoustics and facilities. In 2006, following completion of a $14 million building upgrade the Joan is also now home to the relocated Q Theatre Company (formerly Railway Street Theatre Company and originally the Q) creating one of the best theatre and music venues in the Greater Western Sydney region. BLACKTOWN ARTS CENTRE We look forward to welcoming the ISCM/Aurora Festival and presenting the performance Les Murray’s Octave by the Song Company, Thursday 6 May, 8pm. Blacktown Arts Centre (BAC) is a centre dedicated to contemporary interdisciplinary and cross-arts practices. BAC takes a leadership role in the development of Western Sydney artists and the promotion of their work to regional, national and international audiences. BAC operates on two key principles – a commitment to excellence in arts development and the empowerment of the Western Sydney community. The Centre‘s focus is primarily on arts development in the visual and performing arts. The Centre offers a range of support structures for artists – intensive residencies, mentoring, access to networks and professional development opportunities. BAC also cultivates partnerships with key cultural organisations to build a healthy sector for arts development in the region, ensuring our projects are adequately resourced, artistically challenging and critically responsive.