News and Diary 2008

New Works

This year Fraser will be working on some exciting new commissions for Between The Notes, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Delta Saxophone Quartet as well as a second commission from the London Mozart Players to celebrate the orchestra's 60th anniversary in 2009.

In January 2008 Fraser will begin work on Memory Lost, a new piece recently commissioned by the Arts Council of England for Bass Clarinet, Cello and Marimba. The premiere will be given by members of Between The Notes on April 14th at the SW1 Gallery, London.

The music sets the bleak poetry of John Clare (1793-1864) who spent the last 22 years of his life in Northampton County Asylum.

On The Road

Fraser travels to Hilversum in February for the second phase of a long-term training initiative for members of the Netherlands Radio Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra and Choir.

In March he visits Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester and London to lead a series of Composer Labs for the BBC Proms, aimed at developing the work and skills of the UK’s up-and-coming young composers.

Concerts

March 28th at the Artrix, Bromsgrove sees the first concert of a new chamber tour given by members of the London Sinfonietta. Fraser Trainer will be introducing each concert on the tour, exploring the ideas behind the music and interviewing some of the UK’s most skilled new music performers during the concert itself.

Viktoria Mullova and Between The Notes perform Knots, Fraser’s concerto for violin and five instruments at LSO St Luke’s, London on April 2nd 2008. The concert also features Bach for solo violin, improvisations and pieces from BTN’s acclaimed black box CD release.

Inspiring Creative Projects

In May, Fraser begins an exciting collaboration with the BBC Concert Orchestra and fellow composer Fung Lam. They will both work with members of the orchestra and young musicians from St Clement Danes School, Chorleywood to devise a new piece to be performed and recorded as part of BBC Radio 3’s Discover Music series.

June 8th at the Central Theatre, Chatham is the culminating performance of an ambitious community composition project with the City of London Sinfonia. Fraser will direct the project with members of the CLS and young peoples' groups from the Medway area. He will tie the various strands of the project together by not only writing music for the whole ensemble but orchestrating the ideas of the young musicians and incorporating them into a new work for orchestra.

Between The Notes join forces with the Barbican Centre for a unique creative project with the UK’s newest youth orchestra! The inspiring performance will take place on July 19th at the Barbican, London more details to come...

Berlin Philharmonic

In June Fraser returns to Berlin with mezzo-soprano Mary King to lead a training project for musicians from the Berlin Philharmonic. The project aims to develop the skills and techniques of the musicians form the world’s greatest orchestra to work creatively in varied community and cultural settings.