Local Music Ensemble Premieres Music Student's Work

A postgraduate student from the University of Birmingham will hear his own composition played by one of Europe’s leading music ensembles, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, on Friday 13th March. 

Sergio Luque, a PhD student in Composition has won the University’s Centre for Composition and Associated Studies competition and, as his prize, his piece of music called Don’t Have Any Evidence, will be debuted at a special ‘Insight Event’ with BCMG at CBSO Centre.

Sergio, from the University’s Department of Music, says, ‘I was delighted when I found out that my piece was going to be performed by such a wonderful ensemble.  It has been exceedingly rewarding for me to work with BCMG as I was able to try out many ideas and get invaluable feedback from the musicians.’

The programme for BCMG’s Insight Event on Friday 13th March will also include an electroacoustic work by Luque called Happy Birthday, performed by BEAST, Birmingham’s Electroacoustic Sound Theatre, which is based at the University. 

BCMG’s Artistic Director, Stephen Newbould, will be interviewing Sergio about his music and will also be in conversation with the University’s composition teachers Vic Hoyland and Scott Wilson about the Music Department’s relationship with BCMG.

The performance starts at 6pm, tickets for the event are free and can be obtained either via BCMG’swebsite, by telephoning 0121 616 2616 or by turning up on the night.

Ends

Notes to Editors

1. Sergio Luque Born in Mexico City in 1976.  He is currently working towards a PhD in Composition at the University of Birmingham, is an active member of BEAST (Birmingham ElectroAcoustic Sound Theatre) and works on the development of stochastic synthesis, a synthesis technique invented by Iannis Xenakis.

In 2006, he received a Master's Degree with distinction in Sonology (with specialization in Composition) from the Institute of Sonology at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, studying with Paul Berg and Kees Tazelaar. In 2004, he received a Master's Degree in Composition from the Conservatory of Rotterdam, studying with Klaas de Vries and René Uijlenhoet. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Composition from the Musical Studies and Research Centre (CIEM, Mexico).

He has received composition prizes from the Schönberg Ensemble, the University of Birmingham and the Conservatory of Rotterdam.  His music has been performed in Europe, North America, South America and Australia. 

Sergio's website

2. Birmingham Contemporary Music Group is Ensemble-in-Association with University of Birmingham’s Music Department. In addition to performing winning COMPASS Prize works, the ensemble maintains close links with the Music Department and its students throughout the academic year, leading up to annual workshops for composition students (this year April 27, 28,30) in which their works are critiqued and performed by BCMG players and recorded on CD.

For further information

Kate Chapple, Press Officer, University of Birmingham, tel 0121 414 2772 or 07789 921164.

For further information about BCMG contact Rob Langley, Marketing Manager on 0121 616 2619