Meet the artists involved in our upcoming event at St John’s Waterloo, curated by Associate Composer Simon Knighton.
More info + tickets // Thu 22 Sep >>>
Simon Knighton
Nonclassical Associate Composer Simon Knighton is a composer and sound artist whose work investigates the interplay of acoustic instruments and electronic music. He works closely with musicians to create music which incorporates his unique approach to composition and sound, blurring the boundaries between concert, installation, ritual and theatre. Simon has been working alongside mathematician Professor Lasse Rempe on a series of compositions taking inspiration from Lasse’s research into Dynamical Systems.
As part of his curated programme, Simon will present two new works on the 22 September. Sound Sculpture No. 5 opens the performance – the fifth in Simon’s series of ensemble works incorporating creative sound design. The second half will begin with a new work Simon created using RNCM PRiSM’s Artificial Intelligence facilities: An Algorithmic Dynamical System.
Amy Gray
Amy Gray is a freelance percussionist based in Manchester who has just completed her undergraduate degree at the Royal Northern College of Music. She started playing percussion with her local brass band at the age of fourteen and has since participated in many contests in highly acclaimed venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and Birmingham Symphony Hall. During her time are RNCM she performed as principal percussionist in the RNCM Symphony Orchestra, Session Orchestra and Opera. Alongside classical playing, Amy performs regularly with various musical theatre companies and is set to do her first professional show this winter.
Amy will give a rendition of Rolf Wallin’s Stonewave for solo percussionist – a work inspired by fractals. She will also be joined by saxophonist Carl in Emily Howard’s work Leviathan, and will open the programme with Simon’s ensemble piece Sound Sculpture No. 5.
Carl Raven
Carl is a freelance saxophonist, improvisor and educator based in Manchester, UK. He performs regularly with Halle, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Scottish, RLPO, RPO, Manchester Camerata, Opera North, Northern Sinfonia. He is also a member of House of Bedlam, a UK based contemporary music ensemble released on Nonclassical and is a member of the Apollo Saxophone Quartet. He has solo recordings on Naxos and Odradek, with NMC and Nonclassical with House of Bedlam and appears regularly on BBC radio. Carl is a saxophone tutor at the RNCM, Manchester University and at Chetham's School of Music.
Carl's current solo project involves computer generated electronics, electronic sensors on the saxophone, an on-board Arduino computer and MaxMSP programming. He has been working with John Butcher, Mauricio Pauly, Matt Wright and Rodrigo Constanzo for a solo project which premiered at Dartington Summer Festival last year (2021). In October Carl is looking forward to premiering a new work by long time collaborator Larry Goves with Juliet Frazer and House of Bedlam.
In addition to performing chamber works by Simon and Emily Howard, Carl will be performing ØX for saxophone and electronics by Maja Solveig Kjelstrup Ratkle.
Dimitri Djuric
Chihiro Ono
Born in Chiba, Japan, Chihiro Ono is a London-based Japanese violinist and sound artist specialising in classical and contemporary chamber music, experimental music and sound art. She has performed at major festivals and venues across the UK and worldwide, and regularly works with esteemed experimental and classical ensembles including Ensemble Modern, ARCO, Apartment House, CHROMA, London Mozart Players, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and more.
Alongside performing, Chihiro’s work as a composer and sound artist has led to her producing works for radio, theatre and film productions in the UK. Her work draws on influences from a rich variety of repertoire, encompassing folklore, field recording, improvisation and more.
Chihiro will be performing a new commission at the event created in partnership with the Artificial Intelligence facilities at RNCM Centre for Practice & Research in Science & Music (PRiSM) – read more about her creative process for the piece here.
Gemma Bass
Violinist Gemma Bass moved to Manchester in 2004, first studying Music at the University and then the RNCM. She is now a member of Manchester Camerata and BBC Philharmonic. In 2015 she co-founded the Vonnegut Collective, a multifaceted chamber ensemble with a focus on collaborative music-making and improvisation. Interested in music as a therapeutic and educative tool, Gemma regularly leads and assists on learning and community projects such as Music in Mind and Special Virtuosi. She also teaches the violin at the University of Manchester and freelances with Royal Northern Sinfonia and other chamber ensembles across the UK.
Gemma will perform in Simon’s Sound Sculpture and alongisde cellist Peggy in Martin Suckling’s duo Nocturne. She’ll also perform a selection of Caprices by Salvatore Sciarrino.
Peggy Nolan
Peggy Nolan is a cellist based in Manchester enjoying a varied performance career playing with ensembles of all shapes and sizes. As cellist of the Eblana String Trio she has performed in widely since 2006 across the UK, Ireland and further afield. In 2021 the trio released their album, ‘The King’s Alchemist’ to critical acclaim. The album was selected as chamber CD of month in a 5-star review in BBC music magazine and praised for its “splendidly stylish and affectionate performance” (Gramophone).
Peggy has appeared as a guest with Manchester Collective, Marsyas Trio, and contemporary music groups Psappha, Vonnegut Ensemble and the Crash Ensemble. She is the cellist of Amika, a string quartet who fuse the craft of chamber music with contemporary techniques and approaches. Amika have collaborated with a diverse range of artists, with live performances bringing them to the Manchester, London and Cambridge Jazz festivals, as well as broadcasts from BBC Maida Vale, Abbey Road and Metropolis Studios.
As well as chamber music by Simon and Martin Suckling, Peggy will perform Spins and Spells by Kaija Saariaho – an evocative work requiring retuning of the cello and extended techniques.
Photo: Fiona Brehony
Simon Knighton curates: Dynamical Systems and Natural Environments
7.30pm, Thu 22 Sep 2022 | St John’s Waterloo
Sound Sculptures, Dynamical Systems, Natural Environments celebrates the unpredictable beauty that lies within both the natural world and the realm of sound.