Speak Percussion’s Artistic Associate Matthias Schack-Arnott presents a free artist talk exploring the integration of technology and percussion in his current works. Topics will range from kinetics to Max/MSP programming and audio-visual systems, with particular focus on a new work that Matthias is currently developing, Field Sever Points. Matthias will be joined for this talk by beloved Melbourne broadcaster Owen McKern (PBS 106.7FM) and new media artist Nick Roux.Artist Talk: Matthias Schack-Arnott in Conversation
March 2, 6-7pm
Lucy Guerin Inc Studios, West Melbourne
Atlas of the Sky is a new work of dramatic and ritualistic power by Liza Lim – acclaimed composer and winner of the 2018 Australia Council Don Banks Music Award. The work is scored for solo soprano and three percussion soloists juxtaposed against the driving rhythms, swarming percussion and vocal sounds from a crowd of performers. Atlas of the Sky tells stories about the stars, the power of crowds, and changing constellations of memory. In the 2018 School Holiday Intensive, Sounds Unheard Members will take part in rehearsals and creative development ahead of the June 18 world premiere performance of Atlas of the Sky (see: Sounds Unheard 2018 Artist Program). The crowd will be an on-stage presence for the majority of the hour-long work, performing on small percussion instruments and singing/reciting. During the Intensive, students will be coached by Liza Lim, Speak Percussion and movement director Jo Lloyd. Sounds Unheard Members are invited to an intimate recording session at Run Stop Sound, where Speak Percussion will be working with renowned flautist and collaborative artist Claire Chase (US) and Melbourne-based sound designer, producer and audio engineer Michael Hewes to record an exciting new work by Australian composer Thomas Meadowcroft. This Backstage Pass will be of interest to students interested in learning about the recording process, audio engineering and approaches to interpreting new music. Before Nightfall is a series of artistic encounters between Speak and guest artists, with each encounter occurring across the course of a single day. Starting in the morning, Speak and the guest artist begin the creation of a new collaborative work, developing musical, spatial and conceptual structures that form the basis of a concert-length piece. What results is an intense meeting of minds, culminating in a performance for an intimate audience. For Before Nightfall #7, Speak will be working with internationally renowned flautist Claire Chase at Mission to Seafarers’ Norla Dome. In this Backstage Pass, Sounds Unheard Members will have the opportunity to see the collaborative process in action as this exciting performance takes shape. Participants will also be included in discussions around presentation decisions on lighting, staging and more ahead of the evening’s performance. Sounds Unheard participants are invited to take part in one of the biggest new music events in Melbourne in 2018; the world premiere of Atlas of the Sky, a new work by acclaimed composer Liza Lim. Atlas of the Sky tells stories about the stars, the power of crowds and changing constellations of memory, combining Speak Percussion’s virtuosic instrumentation, Jessica Aszodi’s vast palette of vocal colour, and driving rhythms with swarming percussion and vocal sounds from a ‘crowd’ of performers. Over two weeks in June, the exceptional young musicians taking part in this program will work with a team including Jo Lloyd (movement director), Keith Tucker (lighting designer), Tilman Robinson (sound design) and Sheah Sutton (producer) to prepare for the first performance of this thrilling new work. Please note that participants needn’t be percussionists, and that applications are invited from instrumentalists, composers and electronic artists. For further information, the full rehearsal schedule and to apply for this activity, please download the Atlas of the Sky Application Form. Victorian secondary students are invited to join Speak Percussion and a team of world-class collaborators for the final development of Polar Force before the world premiere performances in November 2018 at the Arts Centre, Melbourne. Featuring a creative team working on composition, performance, instrument design, direction and dramaturgy, sound design, lighting and set design, this Internship is an exciting opportunity for music, theatre and design students to meet professional artists and see how ambitious new projects are brought to life through collaboration, experimentation and rehearsal. Polar Force is an immersive live performance combining custom-built ice instruments with Antarctic field recordings, set within a chilled inflatable performance space; an investigation of extreme wind and temperature through hyper-realistic art. This visceral and multi-sensorial work immerses the audience within an overwhelming sound world and performance environment. Presented within a chilled and gusty inflated space, pristine Antarctic field recordings combine with live ice percussion as the audience are exposed to wind, cold, light and haze. Polar Force explores notions of human fragility and isolation whilst pointing towards climate change. New ice-instruments that produce wholly unique acoustic results will be developed, distorting as they melt and fracture to render the ice and ‘weather’ into audible phenomena. High fidelity field recordings made in the Australian Antarctic Territory of katabatic winds and extreme weather events will form the musical and structural foundation of the work. Dr Philip Samartzis will draw upon the hundreds of hours of recordings made during his two Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowships to underpin the work. The Internship will be presented in eight sessions focusing on different elements of the performance: composition, lighting, stage and set design, instrument building, costuming and more. Students can elect to attend as many sessions as they like, according to their interests and availability. For more information on the Polar Force Artist Internship, please download the Information Pack. To apply, please fill in the online application form. Polar Force is an immersive live performance combining custom-built ice instruments with Antarctic field recordings, set within a chilled inflatable performance space; an investigation of extreme wind and temperature through hyper-realistic art. In this Backstage Pass, students aged 12-18 interested in music, theatre and design are invited to sit in on one of the final rehearsal sessions of this work before the world premiere. Meet the artists, learn about the challenges of making new work and preparing for opening night, and be one of the first in the world to see excepts of this exciting performance! Students may attend one or both evenings according to their availability. Participants will also be offered discounted tickets to attend a performance of Polar Force on Tuesday November 27. Places are limited and applying early to avoid disappointment is advised. To apply, please fill in the online application form. Access international artists, professional experts and a wealth of musical knowledge from your home, school or practice room. These online sessions are presented by some of the world’s most exciting musicians, on topics including performance preparation, approaches to composition, extended techniques and more. Sounds Unheard Experts presenting masterclasses in 2018 include vocalist, improviser and composer Carolyn Connors (AU), and Norwegian percussionist and improvisor Ingar Zach.School Holiday Intensive: Atlas of the Sky
April 10-14, 10am-4pm or 2-9:30pm daily
Arts House, North Melbourne
Backstage Pass: Claire Chase Recording
May 28, 4-6pm
Run Stop Sound, Abbotsford
Backstage Pass: Before Nightfall #7
May 29, 4-5:30pm
Norla Dome, Docklands
Sounds Unheard Artist Program: Atlas of the Sky
June 5-18
Kensington Town Hall / Melbourne Recital Centre
Applications for the Sounds Unheard Artist Program must be received by May 17, 2018.
Artist Internship: Polar Force
October 2-5
Footscray, Victoria
Backstage Pass: Polar Force
November 22, 6-8pm
Arts Centre Melbourne
Online Masterclasses
www.soundsunheard.com/masterclasses/
