Wednesday 10 June 2020

BSO Resound and composer Shirley Thompson celebrate 60 years of the Independent Living Movement

Shirley Thompson (Photo Joy Gregory)
Shirley Thompson (Photo Joy Gregory)
To celebrate its 60th anniversary, Allianz Musical Insurance (the UK's oldest insurer of musical instruments) has commissioned a new work to celebrate this anniversary, and also the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Independent Living Movement [a movement of people with disabilities working for equal opportunities, self-determination, and self-respect].

The work will be written by composer Shirley Thompson [see my 2019 interview with Shirley] and will be premiered later this year by BSO Resound, the world's first professional, disabled-led orchestra, conducted by James Rose, which is a core part of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

Shirley Thompson was interviewed by The Voice last month to chat about the project, and you can catch up with that interview on YouTube. Shirley commented, "I am very excited about the commission to highlight the great and historic work of the Independent Living Movement. It is an honour to be chosen by BSO Resound to commemorate how far society has come in terms of attitudes to disabled people. I am looking forward to exploring the instrumental sonorities offered by the wonderful performers of BSO Resound."

No comments:

Post a Comment

Popular Posts this month