Banff Centre Commissions 12 New Works By Canadian And International Composers This Summer

Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is proud to commission an extraordinary 12 new works by Canadian and international composers as part of its 2018 Summer Music program - a series of three unique residencies designed by co-artistic directors, world-class musicians Claire Chase and Steven Schick. All 12 new works will be given their world premieres by Summer Music program participants, alongside faculty and guest artists, over the course of seven concerts starting in June 2018. Tickets are on sale now at banffcentre.ca/summer-music-series

"Collaboration and the creation of new works are the through lines of our exciting new residencies at Banff Centre this summer," said Chase, who is the founder of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), and a recipient of a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship in 2012 and the 2017 Avery Fisher Prize from Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. "This new music will involve participants in the most important process of the musical world: the creation of new art, resulting in an explosion of creativity, conversation, and transformation in the most inspiring setting imaginable."

The commissioned composers and concert dates are as follows:

• George Lewis | June 29 at 7:30 p.m.
• Peter Evans, Matana Roberts, Cory Smythe, and Mazz Swift | June 30 at 2 p.m.
• Vivian Fung, Sabrina Schroeder, Michael Oesterle* | July 7 at 7:30 p.m.
• Cris Derksen | July 19 at 7:30 p.m.
• Zosha di Castri | July 20 at 7:30 p.m.
• Tyshawn Sorey | July 27 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sofia Jernberg and Imani Uzuri | August 3 at 7:30 p.m.

Banff Centre's Summer Music program gives emerging and established musicians, composers, improvisers, and scholars the opportunity to create rich collaborative relationships and enjoy intense experiences in music-making under the mentorship of internationally distinguished faculty. Over 140 participants from across Canada and around the world will take part in the three residencies this summer: Ensemble Evolution (June 18 - July 7), EQ: Evolution of the String Quartet (July 9 - 28), and (R)evolution: Resonant Bodies (July 30 - August 4).

"Imagine over 100 passionate participant musicians with an extraordinary cutting-edge faculty together connecting new music to older music, embracing the past and creating the future, all in the spectacular Canadian Rockies. That's Summer Music at Banff Centre," said Schick.

Faculty for the Summer Music program include composers Vivian Fung, Sabrina Schroeder, Michael Oesterle, Cris Derksen, Zosha di Castri, Chaya Czernowin, Anna Thorvaldsdottir, and George Lewis; the JACK, Eybler, and Parker Quartets; members of ICE; and, Resonant Bodies Festival artists (among them Pamela Z, Tony Arnold, and Anthony Roth Costanzo). Additional guests include the Canadian-British theorist-musicologist Suzannah Clark and Juilliard's Ara Guzelimian.

Banff Centre has been training musicians since 1936, when the first program in musical composition, interpretation, and performance for piano was introduced. Over the decades the Centre has become a leading force in the education of musicians from across Canada and around the world through its innovative and intensive programs.

To learn more about the Summer Music program at Banff Centre, visit banffcentre.ca/summer-music-programs. To purchase concert tickets, visit banffcentre.ca/summer-music-series

(*Note: Michael Oesterle's new work was co-commissioned by Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and Soundstreams in Toronto)

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