New music is at the heart of this season with over 40 world premieres, many from our ongoing 200 PIECES project, from composers including Gerald Barry, Jessie Cox, Adam Gorb, Michael Zev Gordon, Preetha Narayanan, Gwilym Simcock, Howard Skempton, Augusta Read Thomas, Sohrab Uduman and Ryan Wigglesworth, to name a few.
Semyon Bychkov makes a welcome return to conduct the Academy Symphony Orchestra (programme tba), and the Academy’s Barbirolli Chair of Conducting, Sir Mark Elder,returns for Stravinsky’s Symphonies of Wind Instruments (1947 version) and Sibelius’s Symphony No 3 in C. Our newly appointed Visiting Professor of Chamber Orchestras,Lorenza Borrani, directs the Academy Chamber Orchestra in Mozart’s Maurerische Trauermusik, K 477, and Schubert’s Symphony No 4 in C minor.
In another vibrant season for jazz, the Academy Big Band is joined by alumnus Gwilym Simcock for a 40th birthday concert featuring his own music and works written specially for the occasion. The annual Academy Jazz Festival returns with a week of concerts, Monday to Saturday at 6pm, led by some of the best jazz artists in the UK and Europe: Josephine Davies, Jasper Høiby, Soweto Kinch, Kit Downes, Jim Hart and Dave Okumu.
Programmes may be subject to change or cancellation in line with the latest coronavirus guidance. Please check our website or YouTube channel for the most up-to-date information.
The Academy’s Principal, Jonathan Freeman-Attwood CBE, said:
‘Performing to live audiences lies at the heart of what we do here, and we can’t wait to welcome visitors back into our building. In the meantime, we are continuing with the next best thing – our highly successful series of livestreamed events. Staging concerts has become more of a team effort than ever before, especially with the essential trust and refined ensemble skills required in socially distanced performance. We hope that you will continue to join us virtually to enjoy a typically rich and varied Academy season.’
For full Spring listings, visit https://www.ram.ac.uk/diary-of-events