At the weekend I was selected by an international jury as one of three prize winners in the International Composer Pyramid 2011. I am very honoured to therefore move through to the final phase of the competition, organised by Sounds New and Coups de Vent, to be held in 2012.

Here is a recording of my piece played by the ICP Ensemble, conducted by the masterful French conductor Philippe Nahon. He did an absolutely fantastic job with the ensemble, which is formed of British musicians from the Ossian Ensemble (director Darren Bloom) and players from Coups de Vent.

Momentum by ben_oliver_music

I should have more news soon about performances that will arise from being selected as a prize winner.

Here’s a recording from the performance of my new work for ensemble and electronics ‘Ripped Up’ from the premiere by the Worker’s Union a few weeks ago.

The Workers Union Ensemble are performing my new work Ripped Up for ensemble and live electronics as part of the University of Leeds lunchtime concert series at 1.05pm in Clotherworker’s Hall this Friday. I’m conducting my piece and Matt Kaner’s Gauguin Sketches. Should be a good gig!

I’m pleased to say I was chosen as one of two winners of the ‘International Composers Pyramid’ on Saturday for my piece Smash and Grab.  The jury panel were Paul Patterson and Rolf Hind for the UK and Philippe Boivin and Philippe Hurel for France.  I’m very excited to have been chosen and look forward to the various opportunities it will lead to - watch this space for what they are!!

I recently started work as the AHRC Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Composition for Cochlear Implant Users at the University of Southampton.  This exciting job involves helping devise and run workshops, developing a music training program and writing new pieces for CI users.  I’m working in the Music Department, the Institute for Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR) and the South of England Cochlear Implant Centre (SOECIC) at the University of Southampton.  I’ve been finding my feet for the past few weeks and am really enjoying the work.  You can read some info about the project at the Southampton website.  I’ll keep updating about any new pieces and activities as they come up!

I’m off to the International Composers Meeting in Apeldoorn in a few weeks which is pretty exciting!  I’ve written a new piece, Broken Society, especially for the meeting for ‘orkest de ereprijs’.  If anyone wants to come and lives in Holland then the concert featuring all fifteen works by young composers from around the world is on 19th February in Apeldoorn.  You can read more and get details on the ‘orkest de ereprijs’ website.

I’m performing a new piece for prepared piano and electronics at the University of Sussex as part of the Beckett and Music Symposium. The piece, which I’m currently composing, is based on Beckett’s Stirrings Still and I will perform it evening of 26th February in the recital room at the University of Sussex campus in Falmer.

I will be performing a new piece for improvising keys, electric guitar and electronics with Arthur Carabott and an improvisation with Sam Hayden (laptop) in a gig featuring Sussex University music postgraduate work.  Should be fun and some interesting sounds..