We're delighted to announce that four projects have been selected as creative responses to the climate emergency, as part of our Climate. Sound. Change. open call.
After a nationwide call for applications, which saw over 140 responses, we’re excited to announce the winners of the open call. Each will be presenting new works that respond creatively to what is unequivocally the most urgent and far-reaching issue of our time.
The grant winners are Yshani Perinpanayagam, Gwen Sion and Jessica Slowen, as well as Buster Woodruff-Bryant who we are very pleased to announce as the winner of the Young Person’s opportunity.
Once completed, the four works will be launched and hosted on the British Music Collection and shared via our social channels and newsletters over the coming months. You can learn more about the winners below, and read about their projects on the British Music Collection.
Climate. Sound. Change. Selected Artists
Yshani Perinpanayagam
In collaboration with PROTODOME
As a multi-genre chamber musician, orchestral pianist and music director, Yshani has performed at venues including Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Barbican Theatre and various West End Theatres; at events including the Oxford Lieder Festival, Kammer Klang and Live at the London Palladium, and with such varied artists as City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Nina Conti.
Gwen Sion
Gwen Siôn is an experimental composer, pianist, producer and multidisciplinary artist. Her work is primarily sound-based, although she often incorporates elements of sculpture, moving image, photography and text to create multi-sensory installations. Her practice explores the architectural qualities of sound and often explores the idea of translating landscapes into sound, combining elements of ambient and electroacoustic music, minimalism and musique concrète.
Jessica Slowen
Jessica Slowen is a songwriter and composer, currently based in the Midlands. Whilst teaching in schools across the UK, she developed a keen interest in directing school choirs and organising concerts, writing and arranging musical programmes. This interest developed into a passion for writing children’s choir songs, exploring social and emotional issues that children can relate to and reflect on.
Climate. Sound. Change. Young Composer Award
Buster Woodruff-Bryant
Young Person's Award Recipient
Buster Woodruff-Bryant is a London based self-taught multi-instrumentalist and composer, with his main instruments being tenor saxophone and guitar. Constantly striving to express his spiritual beliefs through music, his two favorite genres are jazz (particularly the music of John and Alice Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders) and dub / reggae.
Having spent time performing as a side man with a number of different artists in London, across an eclectic range of genres (including Soothsayers, Nia Smith, Muva and Wu-Lu) - Buster is now looking to form his own ensemble, synthesising his influences and beliefs to find a sonic identity of his own.
Using the grant from the British Music Collection, Buster is going to compose and record a two track, audio-visual suite. The compositions and visuals will be addressing the lack of spirituality in society, which Buster believes to be the root of many of its ills.