June 30 – Summer is finally here in Canada and as students prepare for their long anticipated summer break, I am getting ready for a busy two-months of writing that will hopefully yield five new pieces by the end of August! Before I get into that however, I want to say how grateful I am for the last two months and all the music making that has happened. Here is a recap of some of the happenings:
Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance
I had the privilege of co-leading the LAMP Composition Academy this year with composer/performer extraordinaire Matthias McIntyre. The three weeks flew by as we went through a packed schedule of rehearsals, lessons, and lectures as well as outings around Lunenburg. The academy culminated in two concerts featuring world premiere performances of student works which included a special snare drum appearance by yours truly! The Verona Quartet were also on hand to give yet another thrilling performance of Blank Canvas for audiences on June 21. It was wonderful to work with the students and faculty members Sarah Watts (Bass Clarinet), Ana Sokolovic, Dinuk Wijeratne, and Phillipe Leroux (Composition).
Canadian Opera Company X Evergreen Brickworks
June was also the culmination of another important collaboration – this time with students in East York and the Canadian Opera Company. As a composition teaching artist with the COC, I spent four months working with students in Toronto and guiding the composition and writing process for a new opera which explores themes of environmental stewardship and relationships between humans, animals and our planet. The full show came together on June 16 at Evergreen Brickworks accompanied by the principals strings from the COC Orchestra. This special project was featured on the Toronto Star and I couldn’t be more proud of the team at COC Community Partnerships & Programs for making this happen!
Red Cedar Chamber Music Commission
Coming from these collaborations, I am finally settling into summer composition projects, including a brand new commission from Red Cedar Chamber Music in Iowa USA. I will be writing a new duet for violin and cello based on melodic ornamentations and variations found in Cantonese opera. This new commission aims to capture the flavors found in this specific style of opera which has a special place in my memory growing up. Looking forward to the performances and recording in 2024!
Roydon Tse 