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 2019:

New Music on April 28th 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

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‘…always massively inspiring, educational and life-affirming’
Sam Christie,
MRF Festival choir.
Festival 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:

'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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Song Recital

Philip Smith - baritone and

Nicholas Bosworth - piano

giving premieres of commissions by

MRF awarded composers of 2018.

On Somme - Oren Velasquez-Hirtenstein, composer
00:00 / 00:00
Festival 2017:
PRESS REPORT
Festival 2016:
Mary Rose reh(1)
Joseph Spooner, MRFFest16
Crossfire, Alton Coll MRFFest'16
InC,MRFFest'16(3)
Ernst&BR,MRFFest'16(2)
FarewellToPhil, AltonCollaAlumni,Fest'16
ErnstworshopMRFFest'16(2)
ErnstworkshopMRFFest'16(4)
Coma South MRFFest '16 (1)
ErnstworkshopMRFFest'16'(6)
In C Coma South MRFFest'16

Festival 16 film footage:

 

One of Martin's Mary Rose Songs, performed by Festival '16 choir and orchestra, with audience, directed by David Gibson.

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Showcase for

Joel Knee:

 

Foundation selected composer 2016, String Quartet, performed by London-based Ernst Quartet.