Lockdown edition of Opera North's Resonance programme

Nishla Smith: What Happened to Agnes
Opera North Resonance 2019 (Photo Opera North)

Opera North's annual Resonance programme is designed to support UK-based BAME music-makers in exploring new ideas and collaborating with other artists. This year's edition is being presented in somewhat more challenging circumstances than usual. 

Applications for the 2020 edition of Opera North's Resonance are open now, and as part of its drive to address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on artists and the making of music, the company is seeking applications from professional UK-based music-creators from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, working in any genre.

Singer-songwriter Nishla Smith’s song cycle, What Happened to Agnes, developed during last year’s workshops, completed a national tour just before lockdown began, and another work from 2019, a musical by composer, rapper and MC Testament telling the story of the first Black woman to run for the office of US President, recently spent a further week in research and development with a full cast at Leeds College of Music. A participant in one of the first Resonance projects, sitarist and composer Jasdeep Singh Degun, performed the world premiere of Arya, his new sitar concerto, with the Orchestra of Opera North in February of this year

Five successful lead artists will each receive a grant of up to £800 to cover fees for themselves and collaborator/s for 2-2.5 days’ work, and small equipment purchases. Project management and support to access other resources, funding and assistance will be provided. To be eligible for Resonance: The Lockdown Edition, applicants must be UK-based professional composers or music-creators aged 18 or over who are not in full-time education.

Full details from the Opera North website, applications close at 10am on Friday 8 May 2020.