Download EAST NEUK FESTIVAL WINS ITS SECOND RPS MUSIC AWARD

9May2017
EASTNEUKFESTIVALWINSITSSECOND
RPSMUSICAWARDFORAUDIENCESANDENGAGEMENT
LONDON9MAY2017:ThehighlyprestigiousRPS(RoyalPhilharmonicSociety)MusicAwardforAudiencesand
Engagement2017waspresentedlastnighttoMemorialGround,anewchoralworkbyAmerican,GrammyAward
winningcomposer,DavidLang.Itwasco-commissionedbytheEastNeukFestival(ENF)and14-18NOW-theUK’s
artsprogrammefortheFirstWorldWarcentenary–withthesupportofCreativeScotlandtomarkthecentenaryof
theBattleoftheSomme.Worldpremieredon2July2016attheEastNeukFestivalinFifebysingersfromlocalchoirs,
ScottishChamberOrchestraChorusandTheatreofVoicesconductedbyPaulHillier,itwasthenperformedbychoirs
acrossallfourUKnations.TheRPSMusicAwards,presentedinassociationwithBBCRadio3,arethehighest
recognitionforliveclassicalmusicintheUKandEastNeukFestivalisproudtohavenowwonthesameawardtwice
(previouslyin2007)andalsotohavebeeninthecompanyofsuchauspiciouscontendersasChineke!Orchestraand
#DnA/BirminghamOpera.
MemorialGroundisthelatestinENF’sannualseriesof‘BigProjects’whichaimtocommissionnewworkfrommajor
composersthatbringtogetherprofessionalandcommunitymusicians,andreflectthesharedhistoryandheritageof
theEastNeukofFifewheretheFestivalhappens.
ENFArtisticDirectorSvendMcEwan-Browncommented:"LookingbackoverthedecadesinceENFlastwonthis
award,itgivesmegreatpleasuretoseehowtheFestival'saudiencehasgrownsodramaticallyandhowitsworkhas
evolved.We’reinspiredbyBenjaminBrittenandPeterMaxwellDavies,twocomposersandfestivalfounderswho
showedhow‘community’musiccanalsobeworldclassmusicinitsownright,anddeservesitplaceonthemainstage
ofourfestival.Weaimtodrawouraudienceintothecommissioning,creatingandperformingofnewwork,tobuild
understandingandapowerfulrelationshipthatenricheseveryone’sexperience.Thisworkisfarmoredemandingthan
simplyputtingonaconcertandIwouldespeciallyliketothankcomposerslikeJohnLutherAdamsandDavidLangwho
showsuchinspiringgenerosityofspiritandhavegivenussuchmemorable,enduringandmeaningfulmusic."
WhileENFChairman,DonaldMacDonaldadded:“Wearedelightedtowinthisaward,particularlybearinginmindthe
categoryofAudienceandEngagementwhicharecrucialcomponentsofartisticactivity.ThePulitzerPrizewinning
composerDavidLanghasproducedamovingpiecetowhichindividualchoirs,notjustintheEastNeukofFifebutall
overthecountry,havebeenabletoputtheirownperspectives.Wearemostgratefultooursupporters-14-18NOW
andCreativeScotland-whohelpedmakethisprojecthappen.”
JennyWaldman,Directorof14-18NOW,said:‘It’sfantasticthatEastNeukFestivalhaswonthiswell-deservedand
prestigiousaward.DavidLang’sMemorialGroundwasahighlightof14-18NOW’sseasonofnewcommissions
markingthecentenaryoftheFirstWorldWar.Thenatureoftheworkcalledforaverypersonalresponseexploringthe
tragedyoftheSomme,engagingmanylocalcommunitiesandbringingpeopletogether.’ JaniceKellyofCreativeScotlandsaid:“MemorialGroundisanexcellentexampleoftheculturalcollaborationsthat
havesovividlybroughtintopublicconsciousnessthepersonalsacrifices,stories,andmemoriesinspiredbyWWI.
Asoneofthehigh-profileprojectssupportedthroughCreativeScotland’srelationshipwith14-18NOW,Memorial
GroundmakesasignificantcontributiontoactivityinScotland.WecongratulateEastNeukFestivalforitsambitious
partnershipwithDavidLang,andonwinningthisRPSMusicAward.”
WithMemorialGroundDavidLanghascreatedanactofremembranceandconstructedhisscoretoalloweverychoir
thatperformsittopersonaliseitwiththeirownchoicesoftexts,duration,forces,andscale,therebymakingitunique
totheircommunityandplace.Followingthepremiere,thescoreandawealthofonlinematerials(includingaudioand
videoaids)weremadeavailabletochoirsfree.Afour-monthonlineandsocialmediacampaignwasalsoenactedto
inspireandassisttheminadaptingthepiecetotheirownskillsandWW1stories.Theresultingconcertstookplacein
schools,churches,cathedrals,schools,universities-evenhealthcentres-fromBelfasttoSkipton,Canterburyto
Cumbria,andGosporttoGlasgowaroundRemembranceweekendinNovember2016.Todate,40eventshavetaken
place,involvingmorethan1600participantsperformingtoover5,600people–ahugeaudienceforanewworkof
thiskind.
TheprojectwasoriginallyintendedtolastthedurationofTheBattleoftheSomme(i.e.to18November2016)but
DavidLanghasmadeMemorialGroundavailableforfreeuntiltheendofNovember2018tomarktheendofthe
GreatWaracenturyago,aswellasthefinalyearof14-18NOW’smajorartsinitiative.Moreperformancesarealready
plannedfor2017.
And,lastbutnotleast,composerDavidLang:“Wow!Thisissoexciting!WorkingonMemorialGroundwasso
meaningfultosomanypeople-mydeepthankstoalltheamateurandprofessionalsingerswhoparticipatedinthese
performances.AndthankstotheRoyalPhilharmonicSocietyforrecognizingourcommitment,ourpassion,andour
hardwork.”
AspecialprogrammededicatedtotheRPSMusicAwardswillbebroadcastonBBCRadio3at19.30hrson
Sunday14May.
TheEastNeukFestival’s‘BigProject’for2017,devisedtoembracebothlocalmusiciansandaudiences,isentitled
DeProfundisandpaystributetotheFifeminingcommunitiesandtheirlegacyofbrassbandmusic.
www.eastneukfestival.com
PRESSCONTACTS
DebraBorastonforMemorialGroundandEastNeukFestival
[email protected]
LaraDelaneyatBolton&Quinnfor14-18NOW
[email protected]
SophieCohenforRPSMusicAwardsT.07711551787E.sophiecohen@blueyonder.co.uk
NOTESTOEDITORS
https://www.1418now.org.uk/memorial-ground/
FreeresourcesavailablehereforchoirsuntilendNovember2018
MemorialGroundwasco-commissionedbyEastNeukFestivaland14-18NOW:WWICentenaryArtCommissions,
supportedbytheNationalLotterythroughtheHeritageLotteryFundandArtsCouncilEnglandandbythe
DepartmentforCulture,MediaandSport,withthesupportofCreativeScotland.
EastNeukFestivalwasfoundedin2004topresentworld-classmusicinthebeautifulcoastalareaof
ScotlandknownastheEastNeukofFife.DistinguishedartistswhohaveappearedthereincludetheAlban
Berg,BelceaandTokyoStringQuartets,ChristianZacharias,ScottishChamberOrchestra,TheTallisScholars
andPaulHillier’sTheatreofVoices.AkeyfeatureoftheFestivalistocommissionworkfromleading
composersforperformancebyamateurandprofessionalmusicianssidebyside.MemorialGroundstandsin
thistradition,whilepreviousprojectsinclude2015’ssuccessfulAcrosstheDistancebyJohnLutherAdams
and2017’sDeProfundiscelebratingthebrassbandtraditionsoftheFifeminingcommunities.Other
highlightsthisyear(28June-2July2017)includeaSchubertiadwith,amongothers,ElisabethLeonskajaand
theBelceaandCastalianQuartets,plusSeanShibe,JulianBlissandaspecialcommissionfromHenning
Sommerro.www.eastneukfestival.com
More…/
14-18NOW is a five-year programme of extraordinary arts experiences connecting people with the
First World War. Working with partners all across the UK, we commission new artworks from
leading contemporary artists, musicians, designers and performers, inspired by the period 191418. These new artworks bring stories of the First World War to life, offer fresh perspectives and
connect a global conflict from 100 years ago with our world today. So far more than 30 million
people have experienced our programme. http://www.1418now.org.uk.
TheannualRPSMusicAwards,presentedinassociationwithBBCRadio3,
arethehighestrecognitionforliveclassicalmusicintheUK.Awards,in
thirteencategories,aredecidedbyindependentpanelsconsistingofsome
ofthemusicindustry’smostdistinguishedpractitioners.Theawards
honourmusicians,composers,writers,broadcastersandinspirationalarts
organisations.ThelistofpreviouswinnersreadslikeaWho’sWhoof
classicalmusic.Thisyear’sRPSMusicAwardscelebrateoutstanding
achievementin2016.www.rpsmusicawards.com
DAVIDLANGcomposerisoneofthemosthighly-esteemedandperformed
composerswritingtoday.Hisworksareheardinconcerthallsandtheatres
aroundtheworldandalsoonfilm:notablyhehasworkedwithPeter
GreenawayandPaoloSorrentino.Vocalmusichaslongbeenkeytohis
work:hewonthe2008PulitzerPrizeinmusicforthelittlematchgirl
passionandhascreatedworksfortheworld’sleadingensemblesincludingTheatreofVoices(whoserecordingoflittlematchgirl
passionwonaGrammyAward),TrioMedievalandAnonymous4,andalsonumerousworksforamateurperformersincluding
CROWDOUTfor“1,000peopleyelling.”http://davidlangmusic.com