Nina Whiteman

I’ve spent the past few months working on a commission from Psappha. It’s called The Galaxy Rotation Problem, and the premiere is on 2 November – details here http://events.manchester.ac.uk/event/event:z3q-hj5iqpcx-6dub26

Flier here Psappha 2nd November – Manchester Uni A5

This is the programme note:

Vera Rubin (b.1928) is an astronomer whose research led to theories of dark matter in the universe. Her observations that objects at the outer limits of galaxies rotate much faster than the laws of physics predict was an important landmark in our understanding of space: unseen, non-luminous, dark matter of significant mass must exist.

The Galaxy Rotation Problem is an impossible journey through some of the galaxies observed by Rubin: their properties are re-imagined sonically, guiding the listener through terra incognita light years apart.

Some things to look forward to in the coming months!

Saturday 21 September 8pm – solo voice set (to include Kurtág, Aperghis, and my solo piece DNA) – Manchester, location to be revealed….

Tuesday 29 October 6pm – Trio Atem performance (programme features Fabrice Fitch, Martin Iddon, Michael Mayhew, Ian Vine, Richard Whalley, and my trio The modifications of clouds) – MediaCityUK, Salford – Dock10 building.

Saturday 2 November 7.30pm – Psappha premiere my newest piece The Galaxy Rotation Problem – Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, University of Manchester.

Friday 6 December 7.30pm – Quatuor Danel perform my string quartet Cloud Fragments –  Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, University of Manchester.

Had a brilliant time at the last concert in the Trio Atem Northern Arcs series yesterday – we played in a bar to a friendly crowd including lots of kids and some unfamiliar faces.

My next performance is on Saturday 15 June, and will be a solo voice extravaganza. Bark! and Jiyah Kelly are also playing – can’t wait! Details here (it’s in Manchester): https://www.facebook.com/events/164558877044335/

I’m giving a paper at the MuSA conference in Karsruhe, Germany on 25 May.

My title is From the scientific to the sonic: compositional and performative approaches in DNA for solo voice

I’ll be talking about current compositional approaches that generate sonic materials from scientific impetuses, as well as reflecting on my dual role as composer-performer.

Thanks to the RNCM Research Fund for financial assistance with my attendance costs!

Also coming up is the final concert of the Trio Atem Northern Arcs series, where we finally play in a bar! 4pm Sunday 2 June at the Nip and Tipple, Whalley Range, Manchester. Also featuring special guests GOVES and David Birchall. Can’t wait!

Over the last few months my ensemble Trio Atem has performed five new commissions (Eleri Pound, Scott Wilson, Larry Goves, Martin Iddon, Mic Spencer), so much of my time has been spent learning this music and navigating the new technical challenges posed. It’s been very exciting! We’ll be performing all the commissions together as part of the Leeds University Contemporary Music Weekend on 21 April. This concert will also feature the second performance of my new piece for solo voice, DNA. There’s a recording of the premiere here https://soundcloud.com/#trio-atem/dna_nina-whiteman-solo-voice.

I’ve also revised my bass flute piece The invention of clouds so that it can be performed without the offstage instruments. Gavin Osborn gave a fantastic performance of this new version in March at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester.

….New Year folks!

At the moment I’m working on a new piece for solo voice, which I’ll be performing on Valentine’s Day at the University of Manchester.

PLUS – good news on the funding front for Trio Atem:

Trio Atem are the delighted recipients of an Arts Council Grants for the Arts award.

The funds will support our 2013 concert series, Northern Arcs, which features five brand new Trio Atem commissions from composers Martin Iddon, Larry Goves, Eleri Pound, Scott Wilson, and Mic Spencer. We’ll be working closely with these fabulous composers, who we think will make exciting and varied additions to our repertoire. Please see my ‘Events’ page for details of the concerts taking place in Manchester and Leeds in the coming months at a variety of venues. We look forward to seeing you there!

www.trio-atem.co.uk

Busy times have meant I’ve not updated this site for a while….

Recent performances include singing at A Curious Night, which was part of the Allery Gallery (www.allerygallery.weebly.com).

And I’ll be performing music by Berlioz and Aperghis on 15 July at Repton School, accompanied by the dazzling Richard Casey. This should be a fantastic concert  –  Endellion String Quartet with Kathryn Stott, who are playing music by Haydn, Smetana, and Brahms: http://www.abbotsholmeartssociety.co.uk/201112/15thJuly.htm

Greetings visitors!

Next week, Trio Atem will be performing a new piece by me (flute, cello, live electronics) as well as works by Diana Salazar, Larry Goves, Oded Ben-Tal, and Manuella Blackburn.

More details at http://www.idaf.co.uk/ – it’s a festival of improvised and digital sound art. Yippee!

The trio will be giving a lunchtime concert on Friday 4 May, followed by a workshop exploring new pieces by Kingston University students.

Hope to see you there!

Nina

Coming up soon is another opportunity to hear my piece for bass flute, mezzo, and cello The Modifications of Clouds. It will be performed by my ensemble Trio Atem at the Bridgewater Hall on 3 Feb as part of the Ink Still Wet series run by the BBC Philharmonic. The trio are performing pre- and post-BBC Philharmonic concert in the foyer area, so you’ll be able to enjoy a drink while you listen!

Other things in the pipeline include a new piece for flute, cello, and live electronics, which will be performed by Trio Atem in a festival at Kingston University on 3 May.

In the meantime, best wishes for 2012!

Next week I will be performing at 11 11 11 – in remembrance – Manchester alongside some outstanding performance artists. Have a look at www.inremembrance.org.uk for more info, the line up, and a link to buy tickets.

From the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in the 11th year 11 artists present 11 performances.
11 hours of art.

11 11 11 brings 11 of the UK’s most questioning, curious and audacious artists into one location to perform 11 new performances that ‘attempt to re-acknowledge, re-address, re-surface, re-action, re-speak the remembrance’ of past events and past lives on this day of ‘remembrance’.

Time: 11am-10pm (Doors open at 10am)
Date: 11/11/11
Venue: Platt Chapel, 168 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M14 6HA