Meet our 2022 Composer-Curators

We are very excited to introduce you to the new composers and creators selected to be part of our Composer-Curator 2022-23 touring programme in Hull and Sunderland.

Spanning a broad range of genres, event formats and performance contexts, all six Composer-Curators will be supported to bring their events and experiences to their local communities. This year's projects span from mental-health positive hip-hop and interactive harp workshops, to folklore-focused soundwalks and audio-visual explorations of memory loss.

Delivered for the 2nd year in Hull and Sunderland, the Composer-Curator programme reflects Sound and Music’s commitment to ensuring that more people can access new music locally and supporting the development of creative communities regionally.

The 2022 programme continues our partnership with Back to Ours, Hull and Sunderland Culture. Together, we support composers, creators and collectives with meaningful connections to these places to build thriving, sustainable and inclusive scenes for new music. You can read more about our partners here.

You can read more about each of the projects below, or follow the action as it unfolds through #ComposerCurator on socials!

Sunderland: Selected Artists

David Littlefair

Working with Autism Able students and fellow 'mackem' composer Ben Lunn (and drawing influence from towering figures of Sunderland's history), David will be using audio diaries and instrumental composition to make music that's inclusive and experimental.

How do you feel about being selected for Composer-Curator 2022?

"It's an incredible feeling. Our city is full of people who really put their neck on the line to make it what it is, musically. It's only because this opportunity is for those of us connected to Sunderland I thought I could have a chance at it; that to me shows the great need for opportunities like this."

How would you describe Sunderland's music scene? What does it sound like?

"Sunderland is like an aging prizefighter that somehow still punches above their weight. We have a music scene built from the bottom up; incredible people have just doggedly made creative things happen. Mackems can do art and culture as well as anyone, anywhere."

Learn more about David on his composer profile

Alison Cotton

Alison plans to create a longform piece inspired by Sunderland born sisters Ida and Louise Cook, focusing on their brave rescue of 29 Jewish families during WWII. She will work with Sunderland residents on the piece's research and performances, which will take place at The Athenaeum and 1719.

How do you feel about being selected for Composer-Curator 2022?

"I'm delighted; this project will give me a chance to develop and realise an idea through research and working with the community. I’m proud to be from Sunderland, and I’m constantly impressed by how culture continues to grow in the city. I look forward to playing a small part in it."

How would you describe Sunderland's music scene? What does it sound like?

"There's always been such a passion and energy for music in so many people I know from Sunderland. This enthusiasm is so apparent in the venues and music scene in the city; there's a real love for music and some wonderful people who work hard for the musical community."

Learn more about Alison on her composer profile

Steven Chell

Steven's project 'The Loathsome Worm' aims to encourage young people to explore new careers in the music industry through creative storytelling and sound design, using local folklore as a focus. Through hands-on workshops, participants will create a ‘soundwalk’ that will then be available for anyone to enjoy, either as a standalone story or a guided walk.

How do you feel about being selected for Composer-Curator 2022?

"I think the project is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the many different career paths now available for people with a passion for music and sound in general. I'm excited to develop the idea into something that could help young people understand the options they have early on."

How would you describe Sunderland's music scene? What does it sound like?

"There's a great deal of camaraderie and community pride in the Sunderland music scene, we look after each other. Indie music has always tended to thrive in cities with working class roots, but it's exciting to see more diversity creeping into the area."

Learn more about Steven on his composer profile

Hull: Selected Artists

Stephanie Halsey

Using her physical surroundings, the public and her own experience as inspiration, Stephanie will perform live improvised pieces around Hull. Using workshops with local creatives to demystify the electro-acoustic pedal harp, she aims to break down barriers between audience and creative practice.

How do you feel about being selected for Composer-Curator 2022?

"It feels like I've finally found the right path! Transitioning from Classical to Jazz, to composing, has felt like walking through the clay of the Humber. Being able to actualise the vision I've had for so long makes me feel like I have truly found my place."

How would you describe Hull's music scene? What does it sound like?

"With long-established orchestras, a strong indie/metal/punk scene, and an up-and-coming grime/hip-hop scene, Hull is a melting pot of sound held together by its DIY attitude. Nothing's 'official' and nobody cares, making it a playground for the curious and experimental."

Learn more about Stephanie on her composer profile

Connor Phelan

Through regular live community events featuring local, emerging artists and DJs, Connor will showcase material providing a positive alternative to more common 'gangsta rap' styles. Inspired by his own experiences, these events will serve as an opportunity to spread positivity and mental health awareness.

How do you feel about being selected for Composer-Curator 2022?

"I'm over the moon! I strongly believe this is the next step in the development of my career. Establishing myself as an artist / event organiser and building a portfolio will launch me to a stage of self-sufficiency, so I can thrive and focus on my passion rather than have it become a hobby."

How would you describe Hull's music scene? What does it sound like?

"Hull has a lot of serious, world class talent. But this is often overlooked. Established artists have polished sounds and distinctive character, while up and coming artists show great potential if they are given the space to grow."

Learn more about Connor on his composer profile

The Broken Orchestra

The Broken Orchestra's project ‘Fragments’ will take the audience through a meaningful, thought-provoking journey of the impact on life when living with memory loss. Working with visual artists as a multi-disciplinary collective, their multimedia approach will simulate the degradation of a fading memory.

How do you feel about being selected for Composer-Curator 2022?

"We're extremely honoured to follow in the footsteps of some amazing artists. We intend to really create something meaningful and lasting; to be in a position of extended support from a national organisation that is focusing on our local community and engaging new audiences really excites us."

How would you describe Hull's music scene? What does it sound like?

"It feels like there's an honesty in Hull’s music scene which binds the sound, music and people together. Different styles are united by the ‘do it yourself’ ethos, which echoes throughout the city no matter your musical genre."

Learn more about The Broken Orchestra on their composer profile

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