NOVUM MUSICA
musica intima and the Canadian Music Centre were proud to co-present the latest edition of novum musica, with composer-mentor Leslie Uyeda. Workshops took place in October and November 2023, with a final showcase performance in February 2024. Below are the details from this past cycle - we look forward to presenting novum musica again in our 25/26 season!
novum musica 23/24 participants were:
We're excited to showcase some works from this program through musica printima. Find scores and recordings for works by Conrad, Kelly, Petkovski, Salmonson, and Vollant in our shop!
novum musica is a program for emerging composers. If accepted to the program, your work will be workshopped by members of musica intima with Leslie, and you'll have the opportunity to revise the piece before a showcase performance in February 2024, which will be professionally recorded for your portfolio.
To apply for the program, please submit the following to novum@musicaintima.org:
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a proposal for a piece for musica intima (details below), with a selected text. Please ensure you have permission to set the text if needed.
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a score sample of your music, preferably featuring vocal writing. Recordings or midis are not required, but are appreciated alongside the score.
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a CV detailing your composition experience
Deadline: SEPTEMBER 1, 2023. Accepted participants will be notified by September 15, and workshops will begin on October 30.
We are grateful to the Y.P. Heung Foundation for their support of this program
LESLIE UYEDA
Born in Montréal, Québec, Leslie Uyeda is a composer, pianist, and conductor.
Leslie’s first love is the human voice.
During 25 years in opera, Leslie worked as a coach, pianist, chorus music director and conductor.
She has composed over fifty songs to the gorgeous and powerful poetry of Canadian poet Lorna Crozier, and four song cycles using the poignant and delicate words of Joy Kogawa. Leslie has composed for musica intima (including a new work to be premiered this fall), the Elektra Women’s Choir, Chor Leoni, and Ensemble Vocal Arts-Québec (new work to be premiered this fall).
Leslie Uyeda is an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre and is a member of SOCAN, the Canadian League of Composers, and the Association of Canadian Women Composers. Her principal publisher was The Avondale Press (AvP), now held within the Canadian Music Centre.
Leslie lives very happily with her family in Vancouver. She loves reading, photography, walking her dog Puff, Iyengar yoga, watching great British TV, and cheering for Le Club de Hockey Canadien – the Montréal Canadiens.
YOUR PROPOSAL
YOUR SUPPORT IS OUR LIFEBLOOD
musica intima exists to create incredible moments—to share the power of music with our audiences, and invite them into our circle of sound. Your financial support of the ensemble’s professional performance, touring, recording, and community outreach initiatives remains invaluable.
As with most not-for-profit arts organizations, ticket revenue only accounts for a small portion of our total budget. If you have been touched by musica intima’s performances, please consider a tax-deductible gift to the musica intima society. Your continued support of one of Canada’s musical gems is vital, allowing us to continue presenting world-class performances at home and abroad, and supporting generations of professional musicians.
Thank you!
musica intima is a registered charitable organizaion #872525530RR0001
When writing for musica intima it's important to consider the following:
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We perform mostly with twelve people, but in some situations as few as eight singers. music for novum musica should not exceed an eight-part divisi.
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Extended vocal techniques and extreme highs or lows, while often possible, can limit the continued performance of your music by other ensembles - our goal is not to sing music which is only accessible to us.
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A smaller vocal ensemble has limitations in terms of breath. If you expect stagger breathing, your music should be no more than 6 parts. Also, aleatoric sections can sometimes work less well with fewer singers than they would with a larger choral ensemble.
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Every time we run this program, our composer-mentors advise against writing your own text, and each time we have composers who write their own texts. This can be successful, but we would warn against it.
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If selected, you will have 30-45 minutes of workshop time on your piece. An ideal work for this program would be in the 3-5 minute range - the longer your piece, the less time there is to workshop.