Vancouver New Music Society
837 Davie St, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1B7
604-633-0861 Fax: 604-633-0871 | Website
The Vancouver New Music society exists in support of lovers of sound and composers of new music.
Category:
Shopping & Services
What:
| Store Type | | Music |
Where:
| Neighbourhood | | Vancouver |
Profile Last Updated: January 07, 2009
Over Three Decades of Sound Work
Started in 1973 by a group of musicians, radio producers and university professors, the Vancouver New Music society is seen as Western Canada’s premier host of contemporary music. In the last three decades the society has commissioned over 60 works by Canadian composers. The New Music Society started off by hosting concerts at the Arts Club Theatre, then the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. Nowadays, concerts and events take place all over Vancouver, from UBC’s Chan Centre to the Orpheum Theatre. Every two years, the society hosts a competition for emerging sound artists and composers from BC to earn a support grant. Categories include chamber music, digital music, interactive music/sound and media. Details about the biennial competition can be found on the society’s web site.
More than Festivals and Concerts
Each year the New Music society hosts a new music festival themed with either a specific style of music or by a noted composer. Past festivals have consisted of Musique Actuelle and improvisation from Montreal composers and experimental electronic music from across Canada. The society often hosts offbeat events that stretch across creative disciplines and perceptions. Such events include classical or Jazz concerts set to silent movies played at park amphitheatres, or concert samplers of improvised music and dance. One of the society’s most popular new offerings are their “soundwalks.” Soundwalks are guided tours of Vancover neighbourhoods where participants are encouraged to be the ‘ear witness’ to their environment.
Started in 1973 by a group of musicians, radio producers and university professors, the Vancouver New Music society is seen as Western Canada’s premier host of contemporary music. In the last three decades the society has commissioned over 60 works by Canadian composers. The New Music Society started off by hosting concerts at the Arts Club Theatre, then the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. Nowadays, concerts and events take place all over Vancouver, from UBC’s Chan Centre to the Orpheum Theatre. Every two years, the society hosts a competition for emerging sound artists and composers from BC to earn a support grant. Categories include chamber music, digital music, interactive music/sound and media. Details about the biennial competition can be found on the society’s web site.
More than Festivals and Concerts
Each year the New Music society hosts a new music festival themed with either a specific style of music or by a noted composer. Past festivals have consisted of Musique Actuelle and improvisation from Montreal composers and experimental electronic music from across Canada. The society often hosts offbeat events that stretch across creative disciplines and perceptions. Such events include classical or Jazz concerts set to silent movies played at park amphitheatres, or concert samplers of improvised music and dance. One of the society’s most popular new offerings are their “soundwalks.” Soundwalks are guided tours of Vancover neighbourhoods where participants are encouraged to be the ‘ear witness’ to their environment.
