Performance
Spectrum is a versatile contemporary music ensemble performing repertoire in a variety of genres including chamber music, solo works, and modern opera as well as commissioning new works from young composers. Currently, the ensemble is under the direction of John Frederick Hudson who renamed the organization and expanded the ensemble’s focus to increase the “Spectrum” of exposure of contemporary music to the University of Aberdeen and its surrounding community.
Past concerts have included A Portrait of the Music of Lennox Berkeley and Lord Michael Berkely, who visited the University of Aberdeen for the 2014 performance, the UK premiered of, To Hell and Back, a modern opera with musical theatre influences by American composer Jake Heggie, and the inaugural Carlaw/Ogston Composition Award concert in March 2015 featuring six new chamber works by young, aspiring composers. The 2015 winner of the award was Sarah Rimkus with her piano trio, Sunset Boulevard, I. Flowers.
The 2015-16 season will include a visit from famed British composer, Judith Bingham, and a concert of selected of chamber works; also included in the concert is a new commission by Sarah Rimkus, MacLeod Road. The second annual Carlaw|Ogston Composition Award 2016 will continue to encourage young composers in the field of composition. The winner of this years award, who will be announced during the 23 March 2016 concert, will be commissioned to write a new work to be performed alongside of chamber music of visiting American composer, Morten Lauridsen, in November 2016. The year will finish with the world premiere of a new chamber opera, Demimondaine, libretto by James Kenon Mitchell and music by John Frederick Hudson.
