NAC announces appointment of Andrew Staniland as Affiliate Composer to Gary Kulesha under the NAC New Music Programme
November 04, 2002 -
Ottawa (Canada) -- The National Arts Centre (NAC) has announced
the appointment of Andrew Staniland as the Affiliate Composer to Gary
Kulesha, one of the three Award Composers under the National Arts
Centre Orchestra's New Music Programme. In March 2002, at the
launch of this Programme, Kulesha, Alexina Louie and Denys Bouliane
were each named recipients of National Arts Centre Composers Awards
of $75,000. Over a four-year period they will compose three works on
commission, function as new music advisors to the NAC and work
closely with the NAC Music Department on a series of new music
education initiatives.
These initiatives include the NAC Young Composers Programme that
will take its place alongside the NAC Young Artists Programme and
Conductors Programme in the summer of 2003. In addition, each Award
Composer chooses a promising young composer to work with in a
mentor-protégé relationship. These Affiliate Composers
will assist the Award Composers in rehearsals for their commissioned
compositions as well as assisting the National Arts Centre in various
educational activities.
Andrew Staniland (age 25) has received awards for his solo,
ensemble, and vocal works, including three prizes in the SOCAN Young
Composers Competition. From his roots as a jazz musician, Andrew
developed an interest in classical music that led to the completion,
in April 2002, of his Master of Music, and his current pursuit of a
doctoral degree in composition at the University of Toronto.
Andrew's music has been commissioned and performed by ensembles
all over Canada. Recent projects include a residency at the Festival
of Sound in Parry Sound, Ontario, and a commission from the Amici
Chamber Ensemble for its 2002-2003 season.
Gary Kulesha says: "Andrew Staniland is one of the most talented
young composers I have ever had the opportunity to work with.
Andrew's striking musical ideas are perfectly complemented by his
superb compositional technique. I am certain that he will emerge as
one of the most individual voices in this country."
Staniland's first project will take place during the NAC
Orchestra's upcoming Atlantic Tour (November 12-20). Gary
Kulesha will be on tour with the Orchestra where his work
Syllables of Unknown Meaning is part of the repertoire. He
will also offer to university music students a series of composition
workshops, one of which is being linked by broadband to music
students from the University of Ottawa and Carleton University in
Ottawa. Andrew will work with the students in Ottawa, while Kulesha
is at Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland, on
Tuesday, November 12.
Staniland will also compose a work for the NAC New Music Ensemble
with guidance from Kulesha for performance in the summer of 2003.
