Cambridge has a long and distinguished history of supporting new music: the Faculty of Music’s teaching staff have included distinguished composers Alexander Goehr, Hugh Wood, Robin Holloway, and the likes of Thomas Adès, Sir George Benjamin, Jonathan Dove, Errollyn Wallen and Judith Weir have studied here. However, the New Music Group was founded relatively recently, in 2007, by composer and conductor Ryan Wigglesworth. Today it operates under the artistic direction of current Professor of Composition Richard Causton.
Performance highlights for the 2022-23 season include 'Alexander Goehr: A Retrospective', to celebrate the composer's 90th birthday.
The New Music Group is currently directed by Richard Causton and designed to offer some of the best student instrumentalists the opportunity of working on performances of the ‘classics’ of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. At the same time, the ensemble is intended to give student composers the chance to have their works performed by musicians experienced in playing new music. In 2014, the ensemble performed in the Harrison Birtwistle Festival ‘Secret Theatres: The Music of Harrison Birtwistle’ and more recently worked with Judith Weir and Mark Antony Turnage, the musicians Donna Bateman, Ligeti Quartet and the conductor, Patrick Bailey.
Following a successful 2018-19 season, with concerts in Kettle's Yard and Stapleford Granary, the New Music Group performed in the Museum of Zoology on 31 January 2020, under the direction of the ensemble's new student president, Darren Bloom.
Alongside its varied concert programme, the New Music Group organises workshop opportunities; recent guests include Mark-Anthony Turnage, Judith Weir and Valgeir Sigurdsson of Bedroom Community. Composition workshops organised by Richard Causton offer weekly occasions for students to hear and discuss new ideas, whilst fortnightly listening sessions address exciting new music outside the classical canon.
Audition applications for the 22-23 season have now closed. If you have any queries, or would like to discuss playing opportunities, email info@cmp.cam.ac.uk.
Performance highlights for the 2022-23 season include 'Alexander Goehr: A Retrospective', to celebrate the composer's 90th birthday.
Past repertoire includes music by Errollyn Wallen, Kaija Saariaho, Schoenberg, Knussen, John Luther Adams and Goehr; and musicians with whom the ensemble has worked include Claire Booth, Oliver Coates and Alexandra Wood.
