Tickets are available from Pontio Box Office (01248 382 828)
What better way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Bangor Music Festival than to include concerts that captures its main principles, that of the new, innovation and the experimental while weaving them naturally around the timely theme of Health and Wellbeing!? Consequently, the festival will be presenting the innovative ensembles UPROAR and Electroacoustic WALES, the talented pianist Siwan Rhys, before closing with an experimental production by Exploration in Sound, all forming exciting and captivating performances within the majestic Pontio building.
New music is further celebrated with the commissioning of Juan Pablo Barrios and Tom Sissons, new pieces by Jordan Hirst, Ashley John Long, Niamh O’Donnell, David Roche, Joss Smith and Jerry Zhuo as part of the CoDI SOUNDS project, music especially written for the Astrid street organ, amongst many new pieces by composition students at the School of Music and Media, Bangor University.
Music is available to all members of our community and it is a pleasure to be able to collaborate with like-minded organisations to present Steps in Music to the youngest generation, Yoga sessions for all ages and the opportunity to hear performances of Discover the Song.
18:00-19:15
Pre-concert talk with Deborah Keyser (Tŷ Cerdd) and the composers from the CoDI SOUND Concert. Drinks reception to follow.
19:30-21:00, White Box, Pontio
(in collaboration with Tŷ Cerdd and the School of Music and Media, Bangor University)
UPROAR and Michael Rafferty
with Electroacoustic WALES and Andrew Lewis
The highlight concert of the CoDI SOUND project with Tŷ Cerdd, where UPROAR and Electroacoustic WALES have been collaborating to create new works by young and emerging composers Jordan Hirst, Ashley John Long, Niamh O’Donnell, David Roche, Joss Smith and Jerry Zhuo.
Price: £16.00, £15.00 (concession), £5.00 (students/children)
10:00-11:00, 11:00-12:00, 12:00-13:00 Level 0, Pontio
On the theme ‘People in our Lives’, Marie-Claire Howarth will be introducing music to children aged 6 months – 3 years old and 4-7 years old (in collaboration with Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias)
Price: £5.00 (per child)
Booking a place is essential and parents/guardians must stay with the child during the workshop.
10:30-12:00, PL2, Pontio
The Resillient Composer: failure, feedback and courage
Led by Richard Whitelaw (coach, counsellor & trainer)
It is evident that starting out as a professional composer is very hard: although you might be making it harder than it needs to be.. In this session we’ll explore how your perspectives on your past, your behaviour in the present and your approach to the future might be working against you. You might be getting in your own way and sabotaging yourself without even knowing it. You’ll come away with some new strategies and maybe a new perspective on your whole story.
12:00-12:45, PL2, Pontio
The festival’s Artistic Director, Dr Guto Pryderi Puw will be looking ahead to the afternoon concert with commissioned composers Tom Sissons and Juan Pablo Barrios, joint winner of last year’s William Mathias Composition Prize.
13:00-14:00, Studio, Pontio
Siwan Rhys (piano)
Taking Transit by Dutch composer Michel van der Aa as a starting point, this concert will explore loneliness as its artistic inspiration, where composers Juan Pablo Barrios a Tom Sissons will further add their own impression on the theme with their new festival commissions (as part of the William Mathias Composition Prize). In addition, a sense of longing and nostalgia will be the focus in Joanna Bailie’s recent piece Roll Call.
Price: £13.00, £12.00 (concession), £5.00 (students/children)
14:15-14:45, 14:45-15.15, 15:15-16:00, White Box, Pontio
Calm the mind with a Yoga class. Two taster sessions for children and a session for adults.
Price: £5.00 (adults), £3.00 (children)
14:15-15:00, Level 2, Pontio
(in collaboration with Canolfan Gerdd Wiliam Mathias)
‘Every person has a song to sing and every person deserves the opportunity to discover and share their song’
Our project aims to use music as a tool to maintain and improve mental health and wellbeing. Through regular musical participation, we aim to provide opportunities to perform and provide a series of concerts that our groups in Caernarfon, Pwllheli and Harlech will be able to connect with each other and their communities, as well as showcasing their ideas, skills and talents – essentially ‘discovering and sharing their song’
Our inclusive music groups for adults with and without lerning disabilities come together as equals to perform, improvise, create, compose and socialise.
Come and enjoy alongside our Caernarfon group who will take you on their musical journey by introducing songs that are important to them, original songs and raps as well as imporivisations that will truly inspire.
15:00-16:00, Level 2-4, Pontio
Bangor New Music Ensemble
New compositions inspired by musical dialogue by composition students at the School of Music and Media, Bangor University.
15:00-16:00, Lefel 2-4, Pontio
12:00 – 13:00, Bangor Clock, High Street
16:00-17:00, Level 2, Pontio
(in collaboration with the Vale of Glamorgan Festival)
Francis Stapleton and David Roche
Performances of pieces by ten composers.
18:00 & 18:45
Short presentations on recent Case Studies by postgraduate students Alistair O’Mahoney and Rachel Priamo with a discussion led by Dr Gwawr Ifan. Followed by a drinks reception at 18:45.
19:30-20:30, Theatr Bryn Terfel, Pontio
Exploration in Sound
Katherine Betteridge (violin)
Sioned Eleri Roberts (clarinets)
Duncan Chapman (sonic art)
Bangor University Chamber Choir
Bangor University String Quartet
The composers and performers Katherine Betteridge (violin), Sioned Eleri Roberts (clarinets) and Duncan Chapman (sonic art) will explore our relationship with nature while taking us on a journey through Celtic sea mythology.
Step into a mythical world of selkies and sea creatures, and allow your senses to be guided through a watery jouney back to the sea, back to the self. Returning is a multi disciplinary production, using music, light and movement to explore an ancient water-based legend. Prepare to drift into another lifetime, a time long ago, and to delve into human psyche.
Price: £16.00, £15.00 (concession), £5.00 (students/children)
Tickets are available from Pontio Box Office (01248 382 828)