MRF Festival archive | mrfoundation

In the wake of Martin’s sudden death, September 2012, Martin Read Foundation was established in 2014, as a platform for the continuation of his passions for music teaching, composition and contemporary music. This annual Festival is the highlight of the Foundation’s year – a day full of music-making and performance, exploring and celebrating contemporary composition. MRF has presented many world premiere performances, and showcases young composers supported by the Foundation.

Events resumed, on-line

New Short pieces on the concept of

DISTANCE

Sam Bullard - saxes, Ben Corrigan - electronics,

MRF award-holders,

MRF alumni composer-performers

Festival day Concert of Premieres

with

'Returning, we hear the Larks'

new work by

Simon Speare,

MRF composer-mentor.

Festival 2021:

Festival '21 programme

Festival participant Gallery

Festival 2019:

PRESS REPORT

Festival '19 programme

New Music by established and emerging composers: Steve Reich, Gustav Holst, Kurt Weill, Martin Read, Alison Willis, Simon Speare, Alex Ling, Freddie Hodkin, Owen Russell, Scottie Thompson, Pernille Faye, Jack Robinson, Domenico Ragozzino, Alastair Rook.

Performers: Commotio –leading performers of contemporary choral music, David Gibson, Joe Parks, Daniel Swani, Joseph Spooner, ensembles from Alton College.

Howard Skempton

masterclass composition workshop

‘…always massively inspiring, educational and life-affirming’

Sam Christie,

MRF Festival choir.

Short films from

2019 FESTIVAL

Freely - by Scottie Thompson,

award-holder 2019

performed by Joe Parks and Daniel Swani

Already - by Freddie Hodkin,

MRF alumnus,

for flexible ensemble -

composer, teacher and performers

working effectively together.

Festival 2018:

PRESS REPORT

Song Recital

Philip Smith - baritone and

Nicholas Bosworth - piano

giving premieres of commissions by

MRF awarded composers of 2018.

Composers & performers worked together, in an intriguing masterclass-style workshop led by MRF patron Howard Skempton who declared Martin Read Foundation's support for young composers:

unique within the UK

Repeat recital at

The Grange, Northington:

On Somme - Oren Velasquez-Hirtenstein, composer

00:00 / 00:00

'The Martin Read Foundation is doing a wonderful job of nurturing emerging talent, offering fledgling composers an established figure as a mentor, and providing high-level public performances. It was inspiring to see such gifted young writers bringing fresh ideas to develop and extend the traditions of English song.'

Jonathan Dove