Over the next year Eloise will make regular visits to rehearsals and get to know the choir’s members, giving them the chance to contribute to the creation of a new original work. She will attend workshops hosted by Ty Cerdd’s partners Making Music and Sound and Music and receive mentoring from highly experienced composer and teacher Lynne Plowman.

 

Having run similar composer/community ensemble partnerships in the past, this year Tŷ Cerdd is joining forces with Making Music & Sound and Music to bring Adopt a Music-creator to Wales. It is in its 20th year, and with over 120 fantastically creative and successful projects between leisure-time music groups and composers to date, the landmark Adopt a Composer project is expanding in 2020/21 under a new name.

 

CoDI (Composer Development Initiative) is Tŷ Cerdd’s training programme for Welsh and Wales-based music creators. Now in its third year, its current programme offers 30 paid development opportunities, alongside a range of professional development interventions from the central CoDI Interact hub.

 

Tŷ Cerdd Director Deborah Keyser remarked, “At Tŷ Cerdd we’re keenly aware of the existential challenges that the current pandemic is representing for both composers and community musicians. We know that the difficult times are far from over, so this opportunity to forge new creative relationships and support the development of new work feels more important than ever. We can’t wait to introduce Eloise and Côr Meibion Mynwy to the rest of the UK participants, and to hearing the music they create. Iit’s a joy to be working with Making Music and Sound and Music on this initiative!”

 

Eloise Gynn

Inspired by the natural world, poetry and movement, Eloise Gynn’s music has been described as “ethereal, glowering” (Terry Blain, BBC Music Magazine), “quite intoxicating” (Classical Reviewer), and “luxuriantly slow moving, soft edged and ruminative” (Ivan Hewitt, Telegraph). Her work has been performed by the London Sinfonietta, Kokoro, Hebrides Ensemble, Schubert Ensemble, MusArc Choir, London Symphony Orchestra and many other ensembles. Her recent family ballet score Little Red Riding Hood, choreographed by Mariana Rodrigues, was premiered by Northern Ballet in October 2019 in Leeds and the Royal Opera House and later adapted for CBeebies.

 

Eloise said, “I’m so excited about working with Côr Meibion Mynwy on Adopt a Music-Creator. Working closely with a group of singers is such a great artistic opportunity, and I can’t wait to meet them and being our relationship. Adopt a Music-creator is a brilliant scheme, and it’s great that Tŷ Cerdd have brought it to Wales.”

 

​Monmouth Male Voice Choir (Côr Meibion Mynwy)

The Choir, which was formed in 2012 by a small group of men under the direction of Aneirin Hughes, has achieved great things during its short existence, including performing at the Royal Albert Hall, London, concerts in St David's Hall Cardiff and singing the national anthems on the pitch at Wales v Scotland rugby international in 2016. In addition to these major events, the choir promoted gala concerts in Monmouth and performed at fund raising events for a wide range of good causes.

 

Michael Steer, Music Director said, “Working with Eloise on a piece written specially for us will be a brand new experience for Côr Meibion Mynwy, and we’re so thrilled to have been given this opportunity. We’re looking forward to being part of a national UK project, and to sharing learning with the rest of the cohort.”

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