News

5 Oct 2017

Why is gender still an issue in music? - Hilda Paredes

On 23 November, 2017, at the Creative Arts Building in Huddersfield, Hilda Paredes will participate in a panel which will address why gender is still an issue in music and how the music community can work to break down these barriers.
2 Oct 2017

‘The Scream’ for String Orchestra - Thomas Simaku – World Premiere

Based on Edvard Munch’s iconic painting, Thomas Simaku’s new work, The Scream, will receive its world premiere in Cambridge on 17 November 2017. It will be performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by King’s College Director of Music Stephen Cleobury.

Of this substantial piece lasting 20 minutes, Thomas Simaku writes:

‘The iconic painting by Edvard Munch was the main impulse for writing this piece - hence the title. Its “silent scream” whose echo spans (and can be heard) well beyond the painting's time and frame, struck a chord with me for its resonance with our modern times.

In no way programmatic, the music here focuses on the concentrated form of expression that emanates from the space, the colours, and the gritty intensity of the “deafening silence” in Munch's painting.
26 Sep 2017

Violin Muse CD release

On 20th October, Madeleine Mitchell’s new CD, Violin Muse, which features new music by British composers,will launch. This CD features the work Aurea Luce which was written by our house composer, Sadie Harrison, for Madeleine.
14 Sep 2017

20th London New Wind Festival goes International!

UYMP is very pleased to report that Catherine Pluygers has announced the programme for the 20th London New Wind Festival, which for the first time is featuring international composers.
1 Sep 2017

Jo Kondo - 70th Birthday Concert

Here at UYMP, we are very pleased to announce that a chamber concert, on Tuesday 31st October 2017, will be held at the Tokyo Opera City to celebrate our house composer, Jo Kondo’s 70th birthday.
21 Aug 2017

James Weeks - Primo Libro premiere

In New York, on October 7th, the Ekmeles Ensemble will premiere James Weeks’ piece for six voices, Primo Libro, in the Crypt of the Church of the Intercession, Manhattan.
17 Aug 2017

Sadie Harrison - ABRSM Oboe Examination Compositions

UYMP is very pleased to announce that two compositions by our House Composer, Sadie Harrison, have been chosen by ABRSM as Grade 6 and 7 Oboe examination pieces.
14 Aug 2017

New Music USA Commission for Evis Sammoutis for 'Nicosia Etudes'

We are thrilled that earlier this year, Evis Sammoutis was awarded a commission from New Music USA towards the composition of ‘Nicosia Etudes’, a series of 6 etudes for solo violin, composed especially for Peter Sheppard Skaerved.
26 Jul 2017

Sadie Harrison’s Hällristningsområdet released on Prima Facie Records

http://ascrecords.com/primafacie

We are delighted that Sadie Harrison’s new work Hällristningsområdet (Rock Carvings) for solo double bass has just been released on the enterprising label Prima Facie Records (Postcards from Oslo (PFCD071), performed by the Swedish virtuoso Dan Styffe.

Sadie writes: The area of Tanumshede is situated on the south western coast of Sweden. Archaeologically, it is renowned for its unique series of Bronze Age rock carvings dating from between c. 1800 to 500 BCE.
19 Jul 2017

Jeremy Dale Roberts

UYMP is very sad to learn of the death of Jeremy Dale Roberts, a most distinguished composer with whom it was an absolute pleasure to work, and whom we were proud to have in our catalogue. We offer deepest condolences to his family.
18 Jul 2017

PRSF Composers’ Fund award for Sadie Harrison

We are extremely pleased to announce that Sadie Harrison’s Residency at the Kunstler Bei Wu Sculpture Park in Wessenburg Germany has been generously supported by a grant from The Composers’ Fund from the Performing Rights Society Foundation. The Fund will support her work as the Park’s first Composer-in-Residence, a post evolving over two years within a vibrant, pioneering gallery-studio environment. Located in the marshlands of Wessenberg, the Park’s focus is on German and Australian sculpture with concerts exploring the relationships between music, artworks and landscape.
21 Jun 2017

Ed Hughes in first Robot Opera

Ed Hughes has been involved in an exciting new project at the University of Sussex, bringing programming and music together to create singing robots. Hughes wrote the second of two arias with librettist Eleanor Knight entitled, ‘Opposite of Familiarity’.