Conference & NordEX programme

9.30 – registration 

10.00 – 10.15 – welcome 

10.15 – 11.15 – collaboration and interdisciplinarity 

• Alexander Tillegreen: Phantom Streams 
• Marianne Baudouin Lie: Your tonality is not my tonality - meetings between the performer, the composer and the (micro)tonality 

11.30-12.30 – modes of performance 

• Haftor Medbøe: From a place of silence: articulations of the unspoken 
• Älvan & Alexandra Hallén: Framtiden 

13.30-15.00 – community, education, and co-creation 

• Tamara Kohler: Pushing Creative Boundaries in Amateur Music Making - Contemporary Music for All (CoMA) 
• Louise Martin: Listen to your dog! What 200 primary school collaborators taught us about artistic honesty, joy, and what the world should look like 
• Sophia Alexandersson: A remote co-creation platform for musicians with disabilities 

15.15-16.45 – technologies and media 

• Maria Hansar and Taavi Kerikmäe: Tallin 1965 
• Alessandro Perini: Augmenting Musical Instruments with Electromechanical Extensions for Hybrid Performance 
• Miguel Angel Crozzoli and Thor Magnusson: Dark Sonification 

In connection with Louise Martin: Listen to your dog! the Easterhouse Children's Manifesto installation will be at the Centre for Contemporary Arts Courtyard from Wednesday 30 to Saturday 2. 

Tickets are free and can be booked here.

Tuesday 29 October 20.00 

CCA Theatre

2 hours 

• ONLY SLIME (Norway) : Afterlife  

Developed and performed by the interdisciplinary duo ONLY SLIME (Tobi Pfeil and Claudia Cox), AFTERLIFE follows two 3D-characters through an operatic fantasy computer game underworld on their desperate quest for existential meaning.

Using real-time motion tracking, and hyperpop-inspired autotune vocals with electronics, the two performers on stage control two avatars in a game engine, traversing both Dantean and Final Fantasy-inspired landscapes on their existential search for purpose and understanding of their world.  

The time-motion capture video game opera is based on a real near death/out-of-body experience that Claudia Cox had during an acrobatics accident in 2021, and has transformed this experience into a unique piece of staged, existential performance science fiction that has been performed to raving reviews in Norway. 
 
The piece combines elements from Greek mythology, contemporary internet-culture, simulation theory, AI-generated material and computer-game storytelling techniques, and playfully questions life after death and the meaning of life in an operatic form that is absurd, hilarious, thought-provoking and transgressive in its combination of music, technology and live performance. 

Its use of a game engine in a staged performance is unique - and explores an innovative mode of interaction with technology, mirroring the increasing integration of game mechanics in the storytelling and media of today. 

Trigger Warning: Contains flashing lights, references to death and suicide 

Tickets (£10/£6): Nordic Music Days: Afterlife (ticketsolve.com) 

Supported by Arts and Culture Norway 

9.30 – 11.00 – site specific practice and technology 

• Andreja Andric: I Play You Play – smartphone in a double role of sound source and stage prop 
• John-Andrew Wilhite and Rebekah Oomen: Listening Ecologies (Lytteøkologier) 
• Michael Francis Duch: Tomba Emmanuelle – Spatiality, site-specific music, and the performance space as a co-performer 

11.15 – 12.45 – environment and place 

• Sarah-Jane Summers: Highland Scottish, Norwegian Hardanger, and Experimental Music 
• Katherine Wren: On A Wing and A Prayer – towards a gentler way of working 
• Drew Hammond: Music for a place: trombones in Glasgow Cathedral 

14.30 - 15.30 Joint session with NordEX at the Centre for Contemporary Art

• Academia to Industry: Educate, Cocreate, Facilitate! 

Serving as a bridge between the University of Glasgow academic conference and the NordEX industry programme, this discussion provides an insight into how education and academia can inform the wider music industry. Our panel of expert researchers and practitioners will explore co-creation, innovative educational practices, and the joy of music-making for all. With a focus on cultural sustainability, and the role of music education in artistic citizenship, this session highlights how inclusive practices can democratise music creation and foster collaboration and creativity.

Tickets are free and can be booked here.

Tickets

• STATUS - Imagining Sustainable Music Exchange 

CCA Cinema (10:30 - 12:00)

Join STATUS for an open meeting on sustainable international music exchange. STATUS is a knowledge-sharing network of music centres in the Nordics, founded to strengthen Nordic cooperation across classical and contemporary music genres.

For this meeting, STATUS invites you to engage in a collaborative discussion on some of the most relevant and exciting topics surrounding sustainable international music exchange today. 
 

• Networking: Scotland and Her Neighbours 

CCA Third Eye Bar (12:00 - 13:30)

Bringing together industry members from Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Estonia and Nordic Nations, this facilitated networking session offers an opportunity to expand your network and engage with peers from neighbouring countries.

Whether you’re looking to build new alliances, explore opportunities for connection or just gain a better understanding of possible new partners, this is the perfect place to be. 
 

• Youth Access: Fostering a More inclusive and Accessible Industry for New Generations 

CCA Cinema (12:15 - 13.00)

A panel discussion diving into key issues related to the diversity and inclusion of younger audiences, composers and players in the music industry.

Our experts will share valuable perspectives on how to foster a more inclusive environment for emerging talent and enhance the accessibility of music to younger generations. 

• Lil Lacy - Composer Talk: You're Somehow Connected 

CCA Club Room (14:00 - 14:30)

Composer Lil Lacy discusses her piece ‘You're Somehow Connected’ and how it relates to connection more generally. Whether this is between art and the audience, between different art forms, how we are connected globally, or the connection between our pasts and our future.

Lacy will encourage attendees to consider how they can invite an awareness of different connections in their own lives and practices. 

• Academia to Industry: Educate, Cocreate, Facilitate! 

CCA Cinema (14:30 - 15:30)

Serving as a bridge between the University of Glasgow academic conference and the NordEX industry programme, this discussion provides an insight into how education and academia can inform the wider music industry.

Our panel of expert researchers and practitioners will explore co-creation, innovative educational practices, and the joy of music-making for all. With a focus on cultural sustainability, and the role of music education in artistic citizenship, this session highlights how inclusive practices can democratise music creation and foster collaboration and creativity.
 

• Masterclass: Accessible Composition 

CCA Club Room (15:45 - 16:45)

Composers of all abilities and backgrounds are invited to this peer lead masterclass focussed on accessible composition, co-creation and collaborative techniques and strategies.

With practical exercises, case studies and highlighting best practice, this session offers a hand-on learning experience to deepen your understanding and application of these techniques.
 

• Folk Forward: Innovating Tradition in Contemporary Composition 

CCA Cinema (15:45 - 16:45)

An exploration into the intersections between traditional music and contemporary classical composition, centred on innovative approaches to integrating folk expressions into modern musical contexts.

Experts will share practical insights on their specific approaches, highlighting the tools and applications that can be used for blending these genres, and the accompanying creative possibilities for composers. 

Tickets

• Using the Green Roadmap 

CCA Club Room (10:30 - 11:30)

The session will guide participants through the Nordic Council of Minister’s Green Roadmap, a resource designed to support cultural institutions and artists in taking actionable steps toward green transition.

This practical seminar focuses on utilising the Nordic Green Roadmap as a tool for developing sustainable working practices, aiming to empower attendees to make informed and sustainable choices in their professional practices.
 

• Masterclass: Introduction to Field and Alternative Recording Techniques 

Adelaide Place Breakout Room (10:30 - 11:30)

Looking to build new recording techniques into your work but don’t know where to begin? Join this introductory masterclass on field and alternative recording techniques, with a focus on their integration into contemporary composition. Explore how these techniques can enhance and expand your compositional toolkit and gain insights into innovative approaches to sound recording and composition.

• Policy Roundtable: Sustainability and the Wellbeing Economy 

Adelaide Place Main Room (11:00 - 12:30)

Drop-in to this vital roundtable discussion delving into the policy ideas, barriers and solutions connected to sustainability and the wellbeing economy. Alongside a diverse range of experts, participants are invited to share their thoughts and experiences, contributing to a collective dialogue.

The themes and ideas will be collected to build a foundation for the later policy panel, giving you the opportunity to have your voice heard and help shape discussions on these critical topics.

• Can International Touring Ever Be Sustainable? 

CCA Cinema (11:45 - 12:45)

How can we integrate sustainable practices into touring? Is it possible to respond to the climate crisis, and the need to tour music internationally? How do these choices impact individuals differently?

Through the presentation of new data and case studies, a panel of expert speakers will discuss challenges, solutions and highlight practical strategies for reducing the environmental impact of international tours.
 

• Masterclass: Work-In-Progress Peer Listening and Feedback Session 
   

Adelaide Place Breakout Room (11:45 - 13:00)

Submit your work-in-progress for support, feedback and discussion in this facilitated session. Whether you need help overcoming specific issues or want to test out new work, this session provides a framework to share in an open and considerate environment.

Please note: this is a very limited session and only those who have submitted their work in advance will be admitted. 
 

• Networking: Getting Your Music Out There - Who To Work With 

CCA Third Eye Bar (12:15 - 14:00)

Who do you need on your team to ensure your music is heard? This drop-in session is designed for composers looking to build a supportive team around their work to help it flourish.

Join this networking session to connect with potential collaborators and supporters for your work while gaining a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities held by those working in the music industry. 
 

• Lunch Activity: Sound Lines 

Adelaide Place Main Room (13:00 - 14:00)

During this interactive drop-in session with composer Robert Rizzi, participants will explore their immediate environment to discover unique lines, patterns, or shapes.

Translating these visual elements onto paper strips will allow you to transform the designs into music by punching holes along the traced lines and bring your compositions to life using a music box. Experience the intersection of visual art and music as you craft a melody inspired by your surroundings!
 

• Policy Focus: Intersecting policy ambitions: Culture, sustainability and wellbeing'

Adelaide Place Main Room / Livestream (14:30 - 16:00)

Join us for a discussion on the intersection between the Nordic region and Scotland policy ambitions, the principles of sustainability and wellbeing, and the role of the culture sector as both active change agents and instruments of policy. Our panelists will explore the interplay between policy and practice regarding culture, wellbeing, climate change adaptation and resilience and the role and value of culture within this. Guided by themes and ideas gathered in the morning roundtable session, they will investigate the influence of policy change around access, sustainability and cultural exports.

Tickets

• Indigenous Voices and Place-Based Practice in Rural Spaces 

CCA Cinema (10:30 - 11:30)

This panel discussion delves into the involvement of rural and indigenous voices and spaces in contemporary classical music. Explore how these practices are rooted in specific cultural, environmental, and geographical contexts, and how they influence and enrich contemporary music.

Our speakers will highlight the role of local and indigenous communities in sustaining global music traditions and the challenges of travel, borders, and statehood in regions like Sápmi and Greenland.

How can we support the preservation of cultural heritage while ensuring that artists from different regions are fairly compensated and that their voices are authentically represented?
 

• Errollyn Wallen in Conversation with Gillian Moore: Defining Success 

CCA Club Room (10:30 - 11:30)

An insightful fireside chat with two leading figures in contemporary classical music, Errollyn Wallen and Gillian Moore.

This open conversation will explore evolving definitions of success within the music industry, focusing on the unique challenges and opportunities faced by artists today.

Wallen and Moore will discuss how artists can navigate their careers as entrepreneurs, setting goals and identifying the barriers to achieving them.
 

• Masterclass: Collaborative and Cross-Genre Practice 

Adelaide Place Breakout Room (10:30 - 11:30)

Explore the creative possibilities of working collaboratively across disciplines. This session will provide valuable insights into how composers can expand their artistic practice and develop a collaborative mindset. Ideal for those looking to broaden their practice and experiment with cross-genre composition, this workshop fosters an open exchange of ideas and techniques.

• Networking: Find Your Supporters! 

Adelaide Place Main Room (10:30 - 12:30)

Join this valuable networking session for composers and industry delegates to connect with funding bodies, export offices, and composer societies from Nordic countries and beyond.

Whether you're looking for new collaborators, want to understand new markets better or are just interested in what support is out there, this event will allow you to find the right partners to support your journey.
 

• The Artist as a Catalyst for Social Change 

CCA Cinema (11:45 - 12:45)

Explore the powerful role that artists, musicians, and composers can play in driving social change.

Panellists will share insights and examples of lobbying, disseminating ideas, and broadening public discourse, offering attendees concrete approaches to harnessing their art for advocacy and activism.

This discussion is essential for those looking to make a meaningful impact through their creative practices.
 

• Madeleine Isaksson - Composer Talk: Flows 

CCA Club Room (14:00 - 14:30)

Join composer Madeleine Isaksson for an engaging talk where she delves into the fluidity and elasticity that define her music. Isaksson will explore how she constructs her compositions using a framework of far-reaching verticality—intersecting deep sounds with high harmonics—and weaving melodic cells through changing metres. 

• UN Sounding Out

Adelaide Place, Breakout room (13.00 - 14.00)

"Unrelated Narrations” (UN) offers an interactive discussion designed to expand and reflect on the spaces between practice, aesthetics, and environmental action. Through group exercises, participants share perspectives and priorities as they pertain to conflicts between art and climate: does one value aesthetics over sustainability or politics? This session builds on a plurality of practices to reflect on art and climate justice, continuing the groups project of facilitating experimental conversation formats within institutional frameworks.

Questions for reflection prior to the workshop:

• What actions coming from our practice have an effect on climate?
• How is the climate crisis reflected in your artistic practice or curation? 
• Why are we pursuing climate challenges through art and art institutions? 

• Developing New Audiences for Contemporary Works 

Adelaide Place Main Room / Livestream (14:15 - 15:00)

Who are you programming for and why? This panel discussion examines this critical question with actors from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. 

The conversation will explore various approaches and strategies to building and engaging new audiences, with a particular focus on groups traditionally underserved by contemporary classical music, such as young people, women, disabled individuals, and those living outside urban areas. 
 

• Demystifying Film, TV and Other Media for Composers 

CCA Cinema (14:15 - 15:15)

Join our expert panellists to learn more about creating music and sound for today’s diverse media landscape. Ideal for composers looking to expand their work in this area, unpack the quirks and demands of securing sync placements and gain practical tips on licensing and publishing your work.
 

• Sustaining Sustainability: Reflecting on Implementing Change 

CCA Cinema (15:30 - 16:30)

After we part ways, how do we maintain and implement the ideas we have acquired?

This session invites participants to reflect on and consolidate the themes of sustainability and wellbeing explored throughout the week.

In the closing sharing session, you will have the opportunity to contribute your thoughts on what you’ve taken away from the programme and discuss plans to implement these ideas in practice. This session is an essential space for collective reflection.