A Birmingham City University researcher has been commissioned to compose a piece of music for the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) as part LSO On Track, a partnership between LSO and 10 East London music services in collaboration with the Barbican and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
Kirsty Devaney is participating in an LSO On Track project which will see more than 150 schoolchildren from across East London perform in a concert, LSO On Track at 10, conducted by Elim Chan at the Barbican on 5 July 2018.
A full orchestra will play bespoke pieces by Kirsty and fellow composer, James Moriarty. Kirsty’s piece, Urban Nature, will explore the complex relationships between nature and the city, juxtaposing the evolving organic and delicate textures of nature with the mechanistic music of the city.
About Kirsty Devaney
Kirsty Devaney graduated with a degree in music from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2013 and is now a lecturer at the Conservatoire and a research assistant in Birmingham City University’s School of Education and Social Work, where she is completing a PhD on the assessment, teaching and learning of composing in Secondary schools.
She also works as a Young Composers Project (YCP) Leader at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. The project, which was co-founded with Head of Composition, Professor Joe Cutler, offers free courses and workshops throughout the year in which teenage composers can work closely with Conservatoire students, composers and instrumentalists as well as professional musicians.
Professor Joe Cutler said:
‘This is a fantastic achievement for Kirsty and we are all so proud of her. This is another fine example of one of our alumni receiving a commission of great public significance. The LSO are a world-leading orchestra and we wish Kirsty every success with the première.’
Kirsty Devaney said:
‘It is an absolute honour to have this opportunity to work with the London Symphony Orchestra and these inspiring students from East London. Schemes like this can have an incredibly transformative effect on the students taking part, offering access to some of the best creative music education available. With a wide array of musical instruments and influences involved, we will be creating an exciting and unique sound for the audience to enjoy.’
Header photo: Kirsty Devaney
