In a lot of my latest public posts on social media and on my website, I have been remarking how 2020 has been a tough year for me and for us. Nevertheless, it gave me another little big joy during its latest days.
Around Christmas day, I found out that Kokonainen Festival launched a call for a composer in residence. When I read the announce I did not think more than twice to try to take part in this call. I felt really close to the mission of Kokonainen about music and equality. In this short post I report my answer to the question given to the composers who participated in the competition: What is Significance of Equality in Music to Me?
The competition now has come to its final stage. Six finalists’ pieces have been chosen to be performed at the final concert 9th of February 6pm (UTC+2) as part of Musica nova Helsinki festival. The jury consists of composers Cecilia Damström (chair), Veli Kujala and Minna Leinonen as well as the artistic directors of Musequal Linda Suolahti and Mari Viluksela. From 37 highly talented composers, the jury has chosen Rouzbeh Rafie (Iran/Italy), Jonatan Sersam (Sweden), Andrea Sordano (Italia/Estonia), Jeanne Strieder (Germany), Roydon Tse (Canada) ja Frej Wedlund (Sweden/Denmark). The artists of the concert are Minna Pensola and Antti
Tikkanen, violin, Mari Viluksela, viola, Markus Hohti, cello, Tiina Karakorpi, piano . The live stream will be broadcasted on the YouTube channel of Kokonainen festival.
Programme:
Frej Wedlund: Innermost Peace for piano quartet
Rouzheb Rafie: 5 Haikus for violin and cello
Jonatan Sersam: Sånger 2 for cello and piano
Jeanne Strieder: Literatura Oscura I. for string trio
Andrea Sordano: La vrai vert de l’Espérance for piano trio
Roydon Tse: Starscape for piano trio
More info here: www.musequal.fi