Composer in Residence opportunity with the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) in partnership with The McCusker Charitable Foundation. On offer for aspiring jazz musicians is the opportunity to compose and premiere new works as part of the 2015 Perth International Jazz Festival, through WAYJO’s National Emerging Jazz Composers Program.
Read about Andrew Murray’s experience as the 2012 Composer-in-Residence.
“My experience as the 2014 Composer-in-Residence has been incredibly inspiring and valuable to my development. I am very proud of the music I created for this program, and greatly appreciate being able to perform the composition at the Perth International Jazz Festival.”
JK: What difference has the program made to your artistic outlook?
AM: With each composition you write, you gain a greater perspective of how you create your music and what direction you would like to head with your future artistic outlook. Writing a bulk of music for the Composer in Residence really enhanced my vision as to what I wanted to focus on over the following few years with my writing, what my strengths currently were and more importantly the weaker areas I wanted to develop.
JK: How has the program helped your career?
AM: I was able to create a whole new series of works that 2 years down the track would form the bulk of a new CD I have just recorded with my own big band called ATM15 in Melbourne. It has helped contribute to the repertoire the band still plays once a month at their gigs. Creating these compositions assisted in becoming more at ease with writing for an ensemble of this size, and its specific instrumentation.
JK: What advice do you have for participants?
AM: The Composer in Residence offers you the chance to experiment with something you’ve never written before, or continue to develop your confidence in the style of writing you’ve developed so far.
Either way, put in as much work as you can into the compositions, as the finer details are never wasted when it comes to finally rehearsing the band/music. Most of all be sure to enjoy this rare opportunity, and have heaps of fun creating the music you want to create!
This program provides one of the very few opportunities in Australia for emerging jazz composers to work with jazz big bands and truly develop their talents.
Applicants are sought nationally and locally.
The Composer-in-Residence program is open to Australian jazz composers aged 30 years or younger. The successful applicant will receive:
$5,000 in composition fees to produce at least three original compositions
Flights and accommodation (if not a Perth resident)
Advice / mentoring from WAYJO Music Directors and / or other industry professionals
Opportunities to rehearse and perform with WAYJO’s top band, the 18-piece Composers Ensemble
An opportunity to present the new compositions in a world premiere showcase concert
The Associate Composer-in-Residence program is open to Western Australian composers aged 21 years or younger, residing in Western Australia. The Associate Composer will receive:
$2,000 to produce at least two original compositions;
Advice / mentoring from WAYJO Music Directors and / or other industry professionals
Opportunities to rehearse with an 18-piece WAYJO band
An opportunity for a public performance of at least one composition
Works will be premiered at the Perth International Jazz Festival on the WA Day long weekend 29 May-1 June.
All applicants will be required to submit a completed application form, three examples of their musical works and a music résumé, applications for both positions will close on Monday 9 February 2015.
Since the program’s inception in 2009, WAYJO have engaged eight Composers-in-Residence, commissioned twenty-five innovative new musical works, and provided emerging composers the rare opportunity to work with industry professionals, rehearse and perform with WAYJO’s 18-piece Composers’ Ensemble.
