hcmf// is a partner of the Sounds Now network: nine European music festivals and cultural centres promoting contemporary music, experimental music and sound art. Sounds Now aims to actively stimulate inclusion across the industry, opening up the capacity and possibility for different experiences, conditions and perspectives to shape the sonic art that reaches today’s audiences. One such project initiated to achieve this is Freedom to Move.
Freedom to Move
Freedom to Move aims to explore the dynamic between the freedom and boundaries of genre in relation to contemporary classical music, stretching the field of contemporary music. As the human voice is the most personal instrument, singers are among the musicians most connected to their cultural background. With so many people from different cultures living together in a city or a country, Freedom to Move sets out to bring these different voices together.
In five different locations around Europe, five local professional or trained singers will be selected to take part in a three-day residency with Sofia Jernberg (Sweden) as their Artistic Coach. The three days will consist of workshop sessions, culminating in a public performance on the final day.
All public presentations will be recorded on video, portrait photographs will be taken of each singer and everyone will be interviewed for a podcast or radio documentary, as part of our aim to portray each participating singer with their own personal story.
The residency
– At hcmf//, the residency will take place on Saturday 19 November, Sunday 20 November and Monday 21 November in Huddersfield
– The public performance will take place on Monday 21 November as part of hcmf// shorts at hcmf// 2022
– Two instrumentalists will also be invited to support the workshops and performance
– Score reading is not required
– Singers will each receive a fee of £500, plus travel/hotel costs
Sounds Now is looking for five professional or trained singers who…
– Want to work with singing beyond language or on the border between language and sound
– Want to push the boundaries of their creativity and go outside of their comfort zone
– Come from fields of music that otherwise are not presented at these contemporary music festivals
– Are from marginalised backgrounds, particularly people of colour or LGBTQ+-identifying singers
– Are based in the UK
How to apply
To apply, please send a letter or short video describing your motivation to take part to Laura Firby at l.firby@hud.ac.uk. The deadline for applications is Wednesay 12 October at 12 noon.
The selection panel will include Sofia Jernberg (Artistic Coach, Freedom to Move), Graham McKenzie (Artistic Director, hcmf//) and one other external panel member. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their submission during the week commencing Monday 17 October.
About Sofia Jernberg
Like some people collect stamps, Sofia Jernberg collects vocal disciplines. Born in Ethiopia in 1983, the Sweden-based artist mastered myriad styles – from classical singing to pitchless singing – to accommodate just as many creative fields, namely music theatres, visual art, film, orchestral & jazz ensembles. Jernberg reconciles the art of improvisation and composition, both under her own name and as key member of Trondheim Jazz Orchestra.
About hcmf//
hcmf// is an annual, international festival of contemporary and new music, taking place over 10 days and consisting of approximately 50 events – including concerts, music theatre, dance, multimedia, talks and film – with a related Learning & Participation programme devised and implemented to reflect the artistic programme and respond to regional need.
hcmf// aims to provide life-changing and unique artistic experiences to as wide an audience as possible; to be an international platform for new music and related contemporary art forms in Britain; to enthuse existing audiences and draw in new ones through adventurous programming and informed, stylish presentation, and to be an active cultural partner within the region.
The Sounds Now Freedom to Move partners are:
hcmf// (UK), November Music (NL), Wilde Westen Kortrijk (BE), Onassis Stegi Athens (GR), Ultima Oslo (NO).
