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Call to composers

Following an open call for applications, Tŷ Cerdd is to commission a Welsh composer* to write a 5-minute song for soprano Ruby Hughes and pianist Huw Watkins – for performance at St David’s Hall’s NightMusic on 28 March 2023.

 

The selected artist will receive a commission fee of £500, plus support from Tŷ Cerdd and NightMusic curating composer William Marsey during the process, and Tŷ Cerdd will publish the resulting work (100% of royalties going to the composer).

Ruby Hughes.jpg

Ruby Hughes

> biography

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Huw Watkins

> biography

Participants
•    *Welsh composers: If you’re creating original music and you’ve been based in Wales for at least a year, or were born in Wales, you’re eligible.

   Diversity: We are keen to receive applications from individuals who are under-represented / have faced neglect or exclusion from the arts community; we particularly welcome applications from disabled people, Black, Asian and ethnically diverse people, LGBTQ+ people, and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. 
 

If you’re interested, but you have some questions…

…we can chat with you directly by phone or Zoom. Email us to arrange a call. 

To apply…

Upload the following information to our portal

  1. Personal details: your name, email address, mobile number, address, and confirmation that you are over 18

  2. Tell us about your practice:  Tell us what you love to do as an artist and what you’ve been most proud of. (Max 200 words)

  3. Why would you like to be part of this pathway? What would you like to achieve through participating? 

  4. Examples of your work: please attach 2 links or attachments to your music (NB: please send links rather than sound or video files; if you need help creating links, let us know.)

 

Video applications are also welcomed. Record your video answering questions 2 & 3 above (up to 3 minutes’ duration), and upload a link to your video, adding the information requested in questions 1 & 4 to the upload form. If you need help creating a link to your video, email us for help.

 

Timeline & process

  • Deadline for applications: 1200 on Friday 16 December

  • The panel will be Aisha Kigwalilo, Deborah Keyser & Ethan Davies from Tŷ Cerdd staff; plus Steph Power, Tŷ Cerdd Chair

  • We’ll let you know the outcome by Monday 19 December

Access

We want to remove as many barriers as we can – if there’s anything you’d like to talk to us about, please contact Deborah Keyser, who will try to help to find a solution.

 

Welsh soprano Ruby Hughes is a former BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist who has become known for her interpretations of Baroque music, alongside 20th- and 21st-century repertoire. She has collaborated regularly with Huw Watkins (in his guise as both pianist and composer), and their album ECHO was recently release on BIS. Repertoire from that release will feature in this NightMusic recital.

Huw Watkins one of Wales’s, and the UK’s, foremost composers, as well as a sought-after pianist. He has been commissioned to write music for leading performing groups and festivals, and his work has been performed throughout Europe and North America. As a pianist he has worked around the world, regularly collaborating with composers. His own music has been recorded for NMC and BIS labels.

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