Today, Sound and Music and Making Music (the UK’s membership organisation for leisure-time music) are excited to announce the pairings selected for Adopt a Music Creator 2023. The year-long project pairs leisure-time music groups with an emerging music creator for a year, culminating in a premiere performance, recording and radio broadcast.
The project began as Adopt a Composer in 2000, inspiring over 120 hugely diverse works and performances by music creators and leisure-time music groups of all types and genres across the UK. Now known as Adopt a Music Creator, the project has broadened its scope for more opportunities and collaborations.
While music groups get a chance to participate in the creative process and discover new music, music creators have an opportunity to form a close working relationship with their group – something not always possible with professional commissions – allowing them to respond to the group’s unique personality and interests. Each pairing is assigned an experienced mentor to support and guide the creator and group, helping the process run smoothly.
Alongside the pairings of one group and one music creator, a Collaborate Pathway allows two music groups to work together with a matched music creator and a Choose a Creator Pathway, allows one group to choose their creator by running their own selection process.
The Adopt a Music Creator 2023 pairings are
- Peter Falconer with Band of the Surrey Yeomanry
- Robin Fiedler with Regent Brass and Camden Brass Band (Collaborate Pathway)
- Georgina MacDonell Finlayson with Shenstone Singers and Shenstone Roses (Collaborate Pathway)
- Fraz Ireland with Blackheath Choir (Choose a Creator Pathway)
- Joshua Kaye with Orchestra of the City
- Kevin Leomo with Scottish Chamber Choir
- Anselm McDonnell with Northern Ireland Concert Band
Find out more about about the pairings here
Barbara Eifler, Chief Executive of Making Music, said:
‘I look forward once again to some inspiring, surprising and innovative projects from these pairings. The projects are incredibly collaborative and thus often a new experience for the music creators and empowering for the members of the music group, to become part of the creative process. Here’s to some amazing new pieces in 2023!’
Will Dutta, Co-Head of Artist Development, Sound and Music, said:
‘This wonderful programme has a significant track record of supporting composers and music creators in facilitating community work and collaboration. It also provides a hugely valuable opportunity to build a sustained relationship with a music group and this inevitably leads to inventive and joyful new music making. I wish the cohort every success!’
Read about the ongoing 2022 project pairings and their creative journeys at the Adopt a Music Creator opportunities page.
For more information, contact Sally Palmer, Making Music Projects Manager, at sally@makingmusic.org.uk