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Innovation Award 2019 winner launches new platform for emerging composers

Tue 23 June 2020

Composition alum James Layton presents first ‘Into the Ocean’ digital concert

Curated by James Layton, one of six winners of the inaugural TL Innovation Award, ‘Into the Ocean’ is an integrated concert and recording series showcasing the work of recent graduate composers.

The project has its origins in James’ time at TL studying composition, where a highlight was how frequently his works were performed and recorded. He recognised the importance of this for developing artists, but noticed that many contemporary classical record labels tend to focus on work by established composers. To remedy this, James set up ‘Into the Ocean’, a new platform for emerging writers.

James is launching ‘Into the Ocean’ on Friday 26 June with, a concert streamed on Trinity Laban’s YouTube channel at 19.00.

Originally due to be performed last month at The Hundred Years Gallery, the performance has been reinvented for a digital audience.

Included in the 30-minute programme performed by American violist Stephen Upshaw (TL’s Richard Carne Junior Fellow for Individuals 2016-17) are premieres of Georgina Bowden’s Yaban Arilar (Wild Bees) and Heather Stephenson’s Passacaglia, two new commissions specifically written for ‘Into the Ocean’ by TL alumni.

The evening’s concert offers a taster of the brand-new album of newly commissioned works by emerging composers which is due for release later this year.

For more info on ‘Into the Ocean: The Viola – featuring Stephen Upshaw’ please visit the Facebook event page.

Image credit: Georgina Bowden