Music Composer shortlisted for prestigious international music festival

The Department of Music's Dr Benjamin Oliver has had his piece, ‘Drip Feeder’, shortlisted by the British Section of the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) for consideration to be performed at the ISCM's World New Music Days in 2024 which will be held in the Faroe Islands in June next year.

Being shortlisted for an ISCM performance is one of the highest national honours a composer can earn and involves a competitive application process. The ISCM is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious societies devoted to the composition and performance of new music.

You can find out more about the other ISCM World New Music Days 2024 shortlisted composers and pieces on the Sound and Music website.

Benjamin explained:

''I’m super pleased that ‘Drip Feeder’ has been shortlisted by the ISCM British Section Board. It would be very exciting, of course, to go to the Faroe Islands for ISCM 2024 if my piece is selected by the international jury. 'Drip Feeder' brings together two of my favourite musical things; the piano virtuosity of Yshani Perinpanayagam and the sound of Mr. Turquoise Synth, a low memory synthesiser designed and built for me by my former PhD student Dr Blake Troise (aka PROTODOME). A recording will be released by Birmingham Record Company in April 2024 on my first portrait album, 'Too Many Sweets'.''

Many congratulations to Ben!

Benjamin Oliver is a composer, conductor and jazz Pianist and Associate Professor in the Department of Music.