This is my speech to Trade Union Congress on 10th September 2024 moving this motion. Congress, I speak to you as a composer, first time delegate, first time speaker and member of the Musicians Union. We are in the midst… Read More »Funding cuts and impact on jobs – TUC
Today marks the closure of the Open Project Fund for Individuals (OPFI) from Creative Scotland due to Scottish Government budget cuts, or to be precise the non-delivery of promised money that Creative Scotland had budgeted for the Individuals fund. This… Read More »Open Project Funded Projects
I’ve just spent the weekend at Transit Festival/Festival2021 in Leuven, an excellent festival of contemporary (broadly) chamber music in Belgium. Thanks to Ward Bosmans from Flanders Arts Institute for the invitation. The weekend was excellent, some music I liked and… Read More »Thoughts on concert presentation
This is often my stance at the back of a concert trying to take photos and making sure things are running smoothly. The other side of the traditional selfies. Last night was the last The Night With concert of the… Read More »Reflections on a delayed season
During World War Two Churchill is reported to have said “what are we fighting for” when someone suggested cutting the arts budget to support the war. Unfortunately this hasn’t been verified but an equally powerful one is ‘The arts are… Read More »Proposal for Governmental Support for the arts
I have never sat down and asked myself about the ethics of putting on a live concert and the responsibility that I, as someone putting on an event, have for audiences. Yes I know I have a responsibility for trip… Read More »The Ethics of Concert Presentation During a Pandemic
The music industry is reporting a reduction in streams due to Covid 19. I have seen the opposite so decided to dive into it a little.
I quite like doing an end of year roundup, as much to remind myself what I’ve done as to shout about it to other people (thanks for reading). 2019 has been a very crazy year that started off slowly but… Read More »My 2019