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.
Festival 2022:
Ella, MRF award-holder '22, says:
I compose because there is no other feeling like it.
Thrilled to have resumed in-person!
Martin Read Hall, Alton College, 1st May
The day was packed with new music and premieres - a mix of live, on-line and pre-recorded music,
including:
music for flexible ensemble by Ellen Drewe - Alton College & MRF alumnus;
music for choral singing by Alison Willis, Simon Speare, Alan Bullard and Howard Skempton.
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Ella Laughton, Naomi Dragomir and Daniel Jurado-Hoshino - MRF’s 2022 young composer award-holders premiered their music for the film animation ‘Spring’.
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Performers and audience alike were complimentary:
Small yet perfectly formed…
really enjoyed the music-making…
fantastically talented young people…
the chance to work with such great musicians… hearing the work of the young composers…
all seemed brilliantly thought through.
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Click the photo for
Festival film
Thanks to Steve Kirby
Festival 2021:
Events resumed, on-line
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New Short pieces on the concept of
DISTANCE
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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
MRF composer-mentor.
Festival 2019:
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.
masterclass composition workshop
‘…always massively inspiring, educational and life-affirming’
Sam Christie,
MRF Festival choir.
Festival 2018:
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
'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
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Repeat recital at
The Grange, Northington:
Festival 2017:
Festival 2016:
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One of Martin's Mary Rose Songs, performed by Festival '16 choir and orchestra, with audience, directed by David Gibson.
Foundation selected composer 2016, String Quartet, performed by London-based Ernst Quartet.