ITIA (the Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts, University of St Andrews) is delighted to present the opportunity to work with Sir James MacMillan and research students on a short Scriptural setting for choir, as part of theTheoartistry Composers Scheme.
Composers selected for the scheme will be required to attend two workshops with Sir James MacMillan in St Andrews: on Monday, 7th November, 2016 and Sunday, 19th February, 2017.
Composers will be teamed up with research students working with Sir James in the ITIA masters programme, who will support them by providing theological background, ideas, and a creative sounding board during the scheme. This theologian-composer partnership can be done remotely (through email and skype) or in person (where practicable).
The composers’ Scriptural setting will be performed by St Salvator’s Choir (directed by Tom Wilkinson) at the workshop with Sir James on 19th February, 2017, as well as again by the choir during the liturgical year.
To apply for the Theoartistry Scheme, please send a c.v., one piece of music (which may or may not be choral), and a short statement of what you hope to get out of the process by 23rd September, 2016 to callforscores@st-andrews.ac.uk
The selection is based on potential and not on experience or training. There is no need to have written for choir before and, for some, this will be an opportunity to try something new.
James MacMillan is the pre-eminent Scottish composer of his generation. He first attracted attention with the acclaimed BBC Proms premiere of The Confession of Isobel Gowdie (1990). His percussion concerto Veni, Veni Emmanuel (1992) has received close to 500 performances worldwide by orchestras including London Symphony Orchestra, New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics and Cleveland Orchestra. Other major works include the cantata Seven Last Words from the Cross (1993), Quickening (1998) for soloists, children’s choir, mixed choir and orchestra, the operas Inès de Castro (2001) and The Sacrifice (2005-06), and St John Passion (2007).
He was featured composer at Edinburgh Festival (1993), Southbank Centre (1997), BBC’s Barbican Composer Weekend (2005) and Grafenegg Festival (2012). His interpreters include soloists Evelyn Glennie, Colin Currie, Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Vadim Repin, conductors Leonard Slatkin, Sir Andrew Davis, Marin Alsop and Donald Runnicles, and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon. His recordings can be found on BMG/RCA Red Seal, BIS, Chandos, Naxos, Hyperion, Coro, Linn and Challenge Classics.
Recent highlights include premieres of MacMillan’s Woman of the Apocalypse, St Luke Passion, Little Mass and Percussion Concerto No.2. Future plans include a Requiem and a Stabat Mater, alongside works for leading international orchestras.
St Salvator’s Chapel Choir is the flagship choir of the University of St Andrews, Scotland. The choir’s history extends to the founding of the University in the early fifteenth century. Today, the choir’s thirty students perform a repertoire that spans the six centuries of the University’s existence. In addition to chapel services, the choir enjoys a busy schedule of concerts, tours, broadcasts on radio and TV, and CD recordings. The choir has given many world premieres, and has worked with musicians such as Sir John Eliot Gardiner, James MacMillan, Paul Mealor, and Arvo Pärt.
For more information go to:
http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/music/callforscores/.
