Recent works, graduation from Daiwa Scholarship and future plans!

A busy first half of 2017 has led to a very, very much delayed News blogpost! Here's the basics:

January 2017: Music and soundscapes for Whole Hog Theatre's new adaptation of ''トリスタンとイゾルデ' (Tristan and Isolde), sponsored by Nelke Planning ( ネルケプランニング), produced by Gorch Brothers (ゴーチ　ブラブラザーズ) and supported by The Daiwa Anglo Japanese Foundation Scholarship Programme, performed at the DDD Aoyama Theatre in Shibuya, Tokyo from January 12-15, 2017. Many thanks to Alexandra Rutter at WHT for asking me to collaborate; it was a fantastic experience and a joy to work with fellow composer Mark Choi on the project.

February 2017: ボナンで笙( Bonang de sho) for Makoto Nomura and 千住だじゃれ音楽祭 (Senju Dajare Onagaku improvisors group) and Shin Sakuma, dancer. Originally written for  笙 (sho), 5 bonang, melodicas (as many as possible) and free instrumentation. Premiered by Senju Dajare Ongaku at Tokyo Geidai University Kita Senju Campus, Tokyo, 19th February 2017. Illustrated score designed and created by Senju Dajare Ongaku member and artist, Takuya Kohiyama.  

March 2017: Graduation from the Daiwa Scholarship Programme. I can't stress enough what an amazing experience the past 18 months with Daiwa have been, filled with incredible opportunities and wonderful people. I shall be enternally grateful and am filled with energy and dertimination for my next steps...

From April 2017: Development of a site-specific, chamber opera: 'The Key' (鍵). This has been a dream of mine for many years and now I am finally being bold and brave and developing my passion project! Performances shall be held in Tokyo in May 2018, with a view of also bringing it to the UK. Watch this space for more news on it's development!

Also in April, I began working as an Assistant Music Therapist with NPO Kokoro Talk Music; providing music therapy sessions to individuals and groups of all ages and abilities across the area of Setagaya-ku, Tokyo. I am very grateful to be a part of this NPO, to be gaining hands-on music therapy experience and to be learning from leaders in the field.

And also looking ahead; 'T&I' for E♭ clarinet and piano, commissioned by Paul Vowles, shall be performed in August 2017, Sherborne, Dorset, UK. More details to follow.