COMPOSER-IN-RESIDENCE OPPORTUNITY

Downshire Brass is seeking to appoint a composer-in-residence to work with the Band over a two-year period from 2009 - 2011. The appointed composer will help develop new repertoire and arrangements for the Band and will work directly with the Band's Musical Director, Professor Michael Alcorn.

Downshire has a strong interest in new music with no fewer than four professional composers within its ranks. This initiative, which is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, adds to the Band’s strong commitment to fostering the next generation of musicians in Northern Ireland. Downshire already has a thriving Junior Band and it has engaged in conducting masterclasses for aspiring conductors.

For those not familiar with brass bands, they have proved to be one of the most versatile and popular performance groups in these islands and beyond. The instrumentation includes cornets, tenor horns, baritone horns, euphoniums, tenor trombones, bass trombone, tubas and a vast array of tuned and untuned percussion. Downshire Brass prides itself in the fact that it is comfortable performing music in a wide variety of musical styles from arrangements of pop, jazz and big band music through to marches, transcriptions and new music specially written for brass band.

Applicants for the residency should send copies of 3 scores (and recordings, if available) and a CV outlining prior compositional experience. The deadline for receipt of applications is 9th October 2009. Applications should be sent to: Professor Michael Alcorn, Head of School, Music and Sonic Arts, Queen’s University, Belfast, BT7 1NN.

For queries or further information, please contact us.