Improvising Orchestra with Sandro Manzon

18, 20 and 21 Jan 2016, 7 – 9.30 pm
Blossom Art House

From the organizer:

You are invited to participate in a rare multidisciplinary workshop and performance opportunity with Canadian composer/improviser Sandro Manzon.

Over the course of 3 sessions and a concert, Sandro will guide the participants through a workshop intensive on ‘conducted improvisation’. Each session will introduce and practice techniques based on an intricate ‘sign-language’ for improvisers in a large ensemble.

Workshop content:

You will learn about two particular conducted improvisation languages created by legendary jazz musician Butch Morris, and American composer Walter Thompson. The sessions will include special instruction and direction on ways to interpret and perform improvised music within the context of a large improvising ensemble. You will also learn and get the opportunity to conduct our ensemble of participants (if you’d like to). You will also be invited to give a concert/performance of the things we learn and prepare throughout the workshop as the Hanoi Improvisers Orchestra.

What you need/What you don’t need:

1. Bring your instrument and be ready to play!
2. You do NOT need to be able to read music.
3. This workshop is primarily for (but not limited to) musicians. If you are a dancer, a live video artist, an actor, etc… you are also invited to participate, as the conducting languages pertain to many artistic disciplines and facets.
4. Understanding English is preferred but not essential.
5. Proficiency on an instrument (or in another discipline of your choice) is preferred but not essential.
6. Interest in experimental music/art is probably a good thing.

Spaces are limited, so sign up early if you can!

FEE OF WORKSHOP: 750,000 VND/ person

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: Max. 20 people (over 16 years old)

TO REGISTER:
Please follow this link and fill in the form by 15th January 2015

THE DATES:
SESSION 1 – Monday, January 18th 2016: 7PM – 9.30PM
SESSION 2 – Wednesday, January 20th 2016: 7PM – 9.30PM
SESSION 3 – Thursday, January 21st 2016: 7PM – 9.30PM

CONCERT – Saturday, January 23rd 2016: 7PM – 9.30PM
(Please be present for every session if you would like to play in the concert!)

Conductor Sandro Manzon is a young composer/improviser currently living in Hanoi, Vietnam. His works have been performed in North America, Europe and Asia. His music spans a variety of realms, particularly focusing on forms of experimental music, chamber music and psychedelic soft-rock music.

Sandro first studied composition in Canada with notable composers such as Peter Hatch, Allison Cameron, Linda Catlin Smith, and James Harley. Sandro has also attended composition workshops/lectures by renowned composers such as Krzysztof Penderecki and Pierluigi Billone. He is also the founding member and Artistic Director of the band Edges who is dedicated to performing and creating experimental music of many sorts. He is also the band leader of the psychedelic soft-rock band FROMHERE.

As an improvising musician, Sandro regularly works and performs in Toronto’s vibrant improvising music scene. He started a band in 2012 featuring some of Toronto’s most active improvising musicians. He learned and practiced forms of conducted improvisation with several large improvising ensembles. Similarly, Sandro was an assistant instructor of the Improvised Concerts Ensemble at the renowned Faculty of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University.

He researched conducted improvisation at the Improvisation Community and Social Practice research group based in Guelph Ontario, Canada. Since then, Sandro has continued to perform improvised music in Spain, Canada, Germany and Vietnam.

Sandro was a participant of the 2012 Young Composers Workshop hosted by Array Music.