Launched in 2017 and supported by the PRS Foundation’s Talent Development Partnership, Resonance offers artists from BAME backgrounds working in any genre of music, who are based in the North of England, the opportunity to take their work in new directions, to experiment with collaborators, and to test the results in front of an audience.
Five lead artists will take part this April and May:
- Composer, rapper and MC Testament develops a new musical telling the story of Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman to run for the office of President of the USA (work in progress performance at Leeds Town Hall, 5 April, 4pm)
- Zimbabwean soul singer Thabo (pictured) brings together image, sound and scent in a multi-sensory immersive performance (work in progress performance at Howard Assembly Room, Leeds, 12 April, 5pm)
- Jazz singer and songwriter Nishla Smith explores an ancestor’s disappearance through a song cycle (work in progress performance at Howard Assembly Room, Leeds, 26 April, 5pm)
- Vocalist Sarah Yaseen combines Sufi song with film and theatrical performance to narrate her path towards freedom and identity (work in progress performance at Howard Assembly Room, Leeds, 3 May, 5pm)
- Vocalist Keertan Kaur Rehal brings traditional South Asian art-song into the 21st century (work in progress performance at Howard Assembly Room, Leeds, 5 May, 4pm)
Jo Nockels, projects manager at Opera North, comments: ‘The strength of Resonance is in the openness of the opportunity – meaning that each of the participants inhabits it in a completely different way. This year’s projects tell fascinating stories, explore artforms and draw in excitingly innovative approaches to performance, supported by the resources and experience of Opera North to realise them.’
For further information visit www.operanorth.co.uk.
Source: Opera North’s residency for BAME artists returns – Rhinegold
