C4CI Grand Finale Concert

A concert of new works specifically aimed at cochlear implant users!

This exciting concert of new works specifically aimed at cochlear implant users provided a fitting finale to the C4CI project. Dr Ben Oliver, the composer on the ‘Compostitions for Cochlear Implantees’ (C4CI) project composed a range of new music for an ensemble of professional and outstanding student musicians to perform at the legendary Turner Sims Concert Hall.

The musicians were: Jo Stevens (voice); Sarah Hodkinson (flute); Taz Morra (saxophone); Martino Panizza (harp); Jon Cottle (electric 'cello); Ben Jameson (guitar); Dan Priest (drums). Musical items included: a new setting of Edward Lear’s 'Calico Pie'; 'Loopy Birds' in which recordings of birdsongs are used in funky ways you have never heard before; 'By the Sea' for beach equipment and ensemble; and an audience participation piece 'Three Folk Songs with Patriotic Cheese Accompaniments'.

Project leader Dr Rachel van Besouw introduced the event with a public seminar about the challenges of engaging with music with current cochlear implant (CI) technology and the findings of the multidisciplinary research project. David Nicholls then interviewed cochlear implant user, Andrew Paterson, about his experiences of listening to music through a CI.

The event also featured on BBC South Today and Radio Solent (see our News & Events pages for more details).

The concert and seminar were filmed and recorded. You can watch a subtitled preview on the AHRC website and watch the musical items on this 'C4CI Grand Finale' Youtube playlist!

The event was attended by around 150 people and 60 filled in evaluation postcards at the end. About half of these were hearing aid and/or CI users and the feedback for both the seminar and concert was extremely positive:

What the audience thought:

“The whole concert was really brought to life by the brilliant and talented orchestra who were totally engaged with their audience; you were great!”

“Many thanks for a very enjoyable and instructive afternoon.”

“Thank you so much for such an enjoyable happy afternoon at the concert on Saturday. I enjoyed every minute of it.”

Overall ratings for the seminar, interview and performance:

(1 = low, 5 = high)

 

	Seminar	Interview	Performance
Mean	4.5	4	4.5
Median	5	4	5

 

Ratings for each of the pieces performed (click on the piece name for a video):

(1 = low, 5 = high)

	By the Sea	Sarah's Piece	Cheese Suite	Ben's Tune	Calico Pie	Loopy Birds	Puzzles
Mean	4.3	4.2	4.1	4.0	4.5	4.4	4.5
Median	5	5	4	4	5	5	5

 

Top two responses from CI users to the question 'Which instrument(s) did you prefer?': harp and soprano saxophone!