First International Contemporary Music Festival

From: Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
Until: Sunday, August 30th, 2009

The Pharos Arts Foundation is proud to introduce the First International Contemporary Music Festival, the mission of which is to propagate the music of 20th and 21st centuries and showcase avant-garde compositions from all over the world. The Festival also aims to provide a forum for composers and performers to advance and develop new projects, and aspires to establish itself as an annual event of international scope. The First International Contemporary Music Festival will comprise five concerts on five consecutive evenings, 26 - 30 August 2009. All concerts will be held at the Shoe Factory – the Foundation's recently established venue for intimate chamber concerts and ideal setting for contemporary music events.

The exceptionally rich and diverse programme includes a number of classical 20th century masterpieces as well as recently composed works by the younger generation of composers from all over the world. Embracing a variety of musical styles, aesthetics and trends, this year's Festival will feature over 40 works – most of which are Cyprus premieres – by 38 composers, including Stockhausen, Ligeti, Varese, Scelsi, Xenakis, Berio, Crumb and Messiaen.

Artistic Directors of the Festival are Cypriot composer Evis Sammoutis, violinist Peter Sheppard Skærved and pianist Aaron Shorr. The concerts will also feature cellist Bridget MacRae, clarinettist Roger Heaton, flutist Nancy Ruffer and Cypriot soprano Margarita Elia.

As part of the its Music Education Programme, the Pharos Arts Foundation will also organise two workshops:
A composition workshop for contemporary music with the participation of the artistic directors (Thursday, 27 August 10.00am – 11.30am).
A master-class for instrumentalists with the participation of all six performers (Sunday, 30 August from 10.00am – 1.00pm).
Both workshops are open to the public (entrance free).

Tickets can be purchased from:
Pharos Arts Foundation (22 663 871)
Moufflon bookshop (22 665 155)
Soloneion bookshop (22 666 799)

Limited Sitting so pre-booking essential

Time: Starts at 20:30

Venue: Shoe Factory

Entrance: €20 / €15