Renowned for building deep and long-standing relationships with composers, the members of Riot Ensemble are contemporary music’s guardian angels, recognised as one of the foremost groups for guiding radical sounds into the world. In recent years, their work with young composers has been unparalleled: they’ve put their faith in artists such as Laurence Osborn, Lisa Streich, Evan Johnson and many more, taking their intense and challenging works around the world.
Not only do the Riot Ensemble perform these works, but they act as their representatives: through interviews and artist coverage, the group lends its voice to the artists around them. Founded in 2009, it feels as if they’ve always been here. Their appearance at hcmf// 2017 featured works by Laurence Osborn, Nikolet Burzyńska, Katherne Young, Stephanie Hanesler. In 2019, they returned to the festival with two concerts – one featuring music by Lisa Streich, Omri Abram and Evan Johnson, and the other serving as a showcase for the work of Irish composer Ann Cleare.