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21 January 2019

An innovative choral work commissioned by NYCGB has been announced as one of 19 new pieces selected for a major national festival of contemporary music.

The New Music Biennial is a free festival held at venues in Hull and London over two weekends in July. The 19 pieces, which will all be performed in both cities, are in a wide range of genres including classical, jazz, folk, and electronic music.

One of the pieces selected is a new choral work by the BAFTA Award-winning composer Jessica Curry. Commissioned by NYCGB and titled ‘She Who’, the 15-minute work uses words by the Californian poet Judy Grahn and addresses themes of beauty, humanity and connectivity.

Jessica Curry said:

“My work has always been about how it feels to be human and alive. For this work, I want to continue my exploration of the fabric of our lives, how it weaves together, how it frays and tears and is repaired.”

The National Youth Chamber Choir will perform She Who at the New Music Biennial weekends in Hull and London; the work will also be given an advance premiere at Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall by the National Youth Choir, a further performance at Snape Maltings later in the year, and pop-up performances in Hull, London and Nottingham.

Other artists performing at the New Music Biennial include the BBC Concert Orchestra, Chineke! Orchestra, turntable artist Shiva Feshareki and poet and performer Kate Tempest.

The 19 pieces were selected by a panel chaired by BBC Radio 3 Controller Alan Davey.

Find out more about the 2019 New Music Biennial

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