Award winning British composer Lucy Pankhurst will be travelling to the USA this week to be celebrated as a featured artist at the prestigious International Women in Brass Conference (IWBC) in Philadelphia.
New works
Lucy will be presenting and performing during the week's activities (which runs from Wednesday 7th to Saturday 10th June at Rowan University), and has several works programmed, including two new commissions; 'Luminaries', commissioned and performed by Dr Amy Schumaker Bliss and 'Ouroboros', commissioned by IWBC and performed by Seraph Brass.
'Luminaries' is a four movement euphonium sonata and will be performed by Amy for her featured artist recital at the event, whilst 'Ouroboros' will be premiered by Seraph Brass.
Honoured
Just before catching her plane, Lucy told 4BR: "I'm both delighted and honoured to be asked and featured at such a prestigious and important event.
The two works are very different with each movement of 'Luminaries' a musical reflection on the life and impact of an important historical female figures. They were chosen by Amy and myself and are Emmeline Pankhurst, Hildegarde of Bingen, Hatshepsut and Margaret Hamilton.
Although it is not a programmatic piece, the image of the mythical ouroboros (a serpent or dragon eating its own tail) is used as the inspiration for the musical material for the work to be performed by the wonderful Seraph Brass."
Forum
Lucy is one of the featured composers at this year's conference, alongside Dorothy Gates and Alyssa Weinberg, and will be giving a talk based on her recent work as well as being involved in the composers' forum, chaired by Faye-Ellen Silverman.
Fellow RNCM Alumna, Helen Harrelson (former solo baritone with Foden's and Black Dyke and now an integral part of the driving force behind the remarkable youth initiative at Fountain City Brass in Kansas) is also a featured artist and will be giving a recital presentation on Friday 9th June.
I'm both delighted and honoured to be asked and featured at such a prestigious and important eventLucy Pankhurst
Artists
The conference is brimming with recitals, activities, competitions and presentations by renowned female artists.
Other contributors include Velvet Brown (tuba), Misa Mead (euphonium) and the all-star Athena Brass Band. Also representing the UK are Carol Jarvis (trombone) and Marrianne Garbutt (baritone).
To find out more go to: http://www.iwbc2017.com/
