10 January 2011

A new composer steps into the ring...

So, as one composer (Duncan McLeod) leaves the building, another opens the door and steps onto the creaky floorboards and hushed, serene rooms of the Handel House Museum...

Hello! I'm Kerry Andrew, crowned (I'm assuming I get a crown) Handel House Museum in London's new Composer in Residence for 2011. I'm a composer and performer working in contemporary classical music, choral music, folk, jazz, electronica, education, and oh, the list goes on. I'm going to be leading workshops at the House, running short and long term projects with schools and community groups and writing some original music for y'all as well. I'll be blogging as I go, but as it's only January and I haven't much to report as yet, I thought I'd lay down some Handel-themed things that have caught my eye this week:

1) En Travesti at Handel House!

An acquaintance of mine co-founded this unique group who explore gender equality and vocal ambiguity in vocal music. They'll be bringing their dangerous romanticism to Handel House on February 3rd.


I'm intrigued by the look of this exhibition: cloths brought by mothers bringing their babies to the Foundling Hospital as tokens to help identify them. This is the sort of thing that appeals to me as an artist: using these mementoes and the stories they tell as inspiration...


3) 'Hallelujah!' Flashmob in Shopping Mall!
Ah, you can't go wrong...