Moving on Music and Improvised Music Company are pleased to announce the award winners of the BAN BAM Commission & Development Award 2020/2021. The award is a new creative commissioning and career development opportunity which was open to Irish-born or resident female and gender-minority composers on the island of Ireland (North and South).

Large numbers of high quality applications, across a broad spectrum of the jazz genre, were assessed and scored by an independent panel of music professionals. A detailed scoring and evaluation process  revealed three clear winners in Úna Monaghan, Cora Venus Lunny and Sue Rynhart, each of whom will receive a commissioning award of €2,500, guaranteed performance opportunities, and a bespoke development programme with IMC and MOM during 2021. 

Úna Monaghan is a harpist and sound artist from Belfast. Monaghan examines the intersections between Irish traditional music, experimental music practices, improvisation and interactive technologies. She frequently mixes electro-acoustic textures and ambient sound recordings with traditional tunes and harp improvisations. Monaghan said “I am very happy to receive this award to support my composition work.It is a valuable and rare thing to have the space to experiment, to make new work, and to benefit from the infrastructure and expertise of two organisations I admire and respect. I am really looking forward to developing this piece.”

Cora Venus Lunny is an improvising violinist, violist, vocalist and composer with extensive performing, touring, and recording experience in contemporary, classical, improvised, and folk music. A member of Yurodny and Fovea Hex, they frequently perform with Crash Ensemble, solo as a free improviser and in free duo with Izumi Kimura. A fascination with consciousness, groove, and the social realities of music drives their compositional curiosity. Lunny said; “I’m thrilled, surprised and delighted to have the honour of being chosen for this award from amongst such a heavily accomplished pool of talent – the support will make an enormous impact on my life as an artist. I’m so grateful that I’ll get to realise my musical idea, and can’t wait to work on getting it performed safely with some of my favourite musicians.”

Dubliner Sue Rynhart has been crafting her unique and captivating blend of neo-folksy, jazz-laden, classically-inspired original music to international critical acclaim, stemming from her groundbreaking work as part of Dylan Rynhart’s 10-piece Fuzzy Logic Ensemble. Her songs, both soulful and severe, are a fine fusion of the avant-garde and the emotive. On receiving the award, she said; “I’m so happy to have received this commission and development award.  I am very much looking forward to the composition period and the 12 months of bespoke creative and career development support and consultation from IMC, MOM and selected industry professionals during 2021.”

Speaking of the commission award, IMC Director Kenneth Killeen said; “We were heartened to see so many applicants for this inaugural Ban Bam award for composition and development, and look forward to working with these 3 winners to develop their original work and resultant opportunities together with them over the next 15 months. Our expert panel certainly had a difficult task given the breadth and quality of the applicants overall. With many strong applications from artists as yet unknown to us, this process has been fruitful on many levels, not just for the 3 deserving winners. Ban Bam exists, ultimately, to raise the profile of as many female and gender-minority composers as possible.” 

Partner organisation Moving on Music’s Creative Producer Paula McColl said; “We are delighted to have partnered with IMC for the first Ban Bam Commission and Development award for women and gender-minority music makers. It was fantastic to see the quantity and quality of applications received. This is just one small step but we hope it will help stimulate further development opportunities, raise awareness of gender imbalance issues within jazz and improvised music, and create more connections among the female and gender-minority artists. Congratulations to the three winners, we very much look forward to working with you!”

Audiences north and south can look forward to performances of new works from the award winners in 2021.

www.improvisedmusic.ie

www.movingonmusic.com

Congratulations to our 2020 Emerging Artists! Five successes this year!

Over the next 12 months each will receive a range of mentoring, business and marketing advice, PR material development, and performance and networking opportunities – all tailored to their specific requirements. 

Now in its fourth and final year, this programme helps musicians make the next step in their career giving support to areas / projects that need developed. Good luck everybody involved. Looking forward to working with you all! 

1) Anselm McDonnell (composer)

2) BAIRIE (neo soul)

3) Cahal Masterson (pianist)

4) Jack Warnock (folk)

5) Laytha Eile (singer/songwriters)

We’re looking for young musicians to take part in an exciting new Jazz and Creative Music Ensemble project as part of Brilliant Corners – a festival of jazz in Belfast 2020.

Young musicians aged 16-21 can apply to take part in an exciting new Jazz and Creative Music Ensemble project.

Directed by internationally acclaimed percussionist and composer Steve Davis, the ensemble will work alongside Jack Kelly (double bass) and Shane Latimer (guitar) throughout the workshops.

Applicant Criteria (for full information please refer to the application form)

Applicants must:

• Be aged 16 – 21
• Play any instrument other than bass / drums / guitar (strings, keys, brass, wind instruments and electronic musicians are encouraged) 
• Have an interest in improvising and a willingness to create new music
• Must be able to demonstrate a high quality of performance practice
• Be available for 5 workshops & final performance (dates noted in application form)

Please note, for participants living outside of Belfast, travel subsidy will be available if required. Please contact for more information.

Application Process

To apply please complete the short application form and return by email along with a short video link / audio clip of you performing on your instrument. 

Applications should be submitted by email to niamh@movingonmusic.com

Deadline for applications is Friday 13^th December 2019, 4pm. 

Applications are now open for the fourth and final edition of Moving On Music’s ‘Emerging Artist Programme’ kindly supported by The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

Emerging musicians (soloists or groups) and composers are invited to apply for a place on the programme. We are interested in applications from the range of under-represented genres that Moving On Music specialise in i.e. Jazz, Chamber/Classical, Traditional, Contemporary, Roots music, “other”.

The selected artists will work with MOM during the 12-month programme to create an individually tailored development plan consisting of mentoring sessions and workshops, performance opportunities, marketing advice & material development (promotional photos, videos, etc.) and networking opportunities.

Please note we cannot accept applications from artists already working in a professional capacity. Applications are welcome from previously unsuccessful applicants, providing they meet the criteria.

Applicant Criteria (for full information please refer to the application form)

Applicants must:

• Be over 18
• Be a resident of Northern Ireland
• Must not be in formal education or training (full or part time)
• Must be able to demonstrate a high quality of performance practice with the potential and commitment to developing a professional career in music

Application Process
To apply please complete the application form and submit along with supplementary material requested by Friday 6th December 2019, 4pm

Applications may be submitted by email to paula@movingonmusic.com or by post to:
FAO Paula Kiernan, Moving On Music, The MAC, 10 Exchange St West, Belfast, BT1 2NJ.

Congratulations to our 2018/19 Emerging Artists!

Over the next 12 months each artist will receive a range of mentoring, business and marketing advice, PR material development, and performance and networking opportunities, all tailored to their specific requirements.

Now in its third year, the Emerging Artist Programme helps musicians make the next step in their career giving support to areas / projects that need developed. You can keep up to date with progress via our social media channels.

PETE DEVLIN
Belfast born singer Pete Devlin creates music that is dark and beautiful. His honest and sincere approach creates a sound that is dense, intricate, and often full of wit. His dark croon style helps deliver these honest-inside-playful ideas, with intricate phrasing and structures. Over the next year Pete will be developing new works and ideas culminating in an LP release, along with mentoring and collaborative work.

PORPHYRY (Daryl Martin)
Derry musician Porphyry creates music that leans toward electronica and folk. Melding old with new, Daryl’s music has a cinematic quality and a strong connection to visual art. Over the next year Daryl will be working towards an album release, looking at the business side of the industry to help find a place for his work, as well as mentoring and collaborations throughout.

FEARS (Constance Keane)
Fears is Dublin born musician and producer Constance Keane. By combining reflective electronics, acoustic samples, and haunting vocals she invites the listener into an ethereal journey, which blurs the boundaries between music and visual art. Over the next year Constance will be working towards an album release, video work, mentoring, along with collaborative opportunities.

We’re looking forward to working with you all!

Applications are now open for the third edition of Moving On Music’s ‘Emerging Artist Programme’ kindly supported by The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

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