Foundation
The first Jerwood Opera Writing Foundation, led by Artistic Advisor Giorgio Battistelli and a distinguished faculty of experienced practitioners, featured three week-long workshops in March, July and October 2007.
Ten of the participants were composers, mostly at the start of a professional career but with little or no experience in writing opera, while the remaining participants were a mix of poets, playwrights and directors with an interest in, but no experience of, writing libretti.
Foundation Course 2010 – 2011
In January 2010 we invited applications for the second Jerwood Opera Writing Foundation course from composers, writers and directors both in the UK and worldwide. The participants, twenty composers, writers and directors, took part in three week-long workshop-led courses at Snape Maltings in November 2010, March and July 2011.
The workshops mixed practical exercises, theory and discussion, with contributions from teachers including Harrison Birtwistle, Stephen Langridge, Stephen Plaice, David Sawer, Lavinia Greenlaw, Jonathan Dove and Orlando Gough amongst others, and culminated in performances of mini music theatre works created by the twenty participants.
Natalie Abrahami Director
Peter Cant Writer
Tom Creed Director
Nancy Harris Writer
Aaron Holloway-Nahum Composer
Huang Ruo Composer
Ted Huffman Director / Writer
Joanna Lee Composer
Toby Litt Writer
Jamie Man Composer
Christopher Mayo Composer
Alan McKendrick Writer
Donal Sarsfield Composer
Benjamin Scheuer Composer
Sasha Siem Composer
Hannah Silva Writer / Director
Marcin Stańczyk Composer
Luke Styles Composer
Tom Swift Writer
Videos
Jerwood Opera Writing Programme - Week 1
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Jerwood Opera Writing Programme
Chief Executive, Jonathan Reekie introduces the programme and foundation participant, Sasha Siem.
‘Every moment of those precious rehearsal hours was instructive. There is no substitute for actually writing and rehearsing an opera.’ – Marcy Kahan
‘It was a remarkable experience and I think every participant came to realise how unique, exciting and special the Jerwood Opera Writing Programme is. I will definitely write opera in the future.’ – Jack Underwood
Jerwood Opera Writing Programme Blog
Foundation participant, Aaron Holloway-Nahum, shares his thoughts of the first, second and third weeks in these fascinating blog posts.