Yikes! Only a week to go...

10.02.09

Yikes! Only a week to go...

With the first workshop weekend in Amsterdam fast approaching, the PhD writing up is officially ‘on hold' (my decision: what a brilliant excuse!) and I'm having a go at a few sketches to take with me instead. After weeks of writing words it's such a relief to be working with sound again and I'm particularly looking forward to experimenting with the huge range of colours available within the Nieuw Ensemble. Of course, I do have to get over my guitar ‘thing'... It will be good to meet the ensemble next week and to start the collaboration, and to meet the other composers too. I hope to be inspired and educated, and to come back armed with ideas and a better working knowledge of the guitar and mandolin. And, of course, going to Amsterdam can't be bad... Wahey!!

Jenny Jackson

Jenny Jackson (b. 1971) is currently studying part-time for a PhD in composition with George Nicholson at the University of Sheffield. She is one of four composers selected to join this year's HCMF & Nieuw Ensemble Composers' Professional Development Programme, which sees emerging composers spending two weekends of workshops in Amsterdam working alongside the Nieuw Ensemble, trying out new ideas with the ensemble and receiving advice and guidance from the tutors. Each composer will have their piece performed by the Nieuw Ensemble at HCMF 2009. The first set of workshops runs from 20-22 February and the second set from 24-26 April.