We are excited to announce that we have been selected again to be a PRS Foundation Talent Development Partner.
There are 40 Talent Development Partners working across the UK, supporting a broad range of individual music creators across different music genres and UK regions.
Our Talent Development programme for 2018/19 will focus on two Disabled musicians – Oliver Cross and Steve Varden.
Carien Meijer, Chief Executive of Drake Music commented:
“We are so pleased to be able to support the innovative and boundary-pushing work both Oliver and Steve are doing. Our programme will focus on thinking about the relationship between the artist and the audience.
The funding from PRS Foundation will allow us to work closely with two exciting artists to give them space to take creative risks and support the development of their artistic practice.
We believe there is a huge need for more opportunities for Disabled musicians to develop their work and fan base, so this is another step in the right direction.”
They will be commissioned and supported to create, develop and deliver cross-art form showcases performances with six other musicians.
Previous examples of their work:
The Steve Varden Experience provided the soundtrack to a multi arts production, WIRED IN.
KlezmOligy is a solo harmonica piece that Oliver composed; it was performed on the British Paraorchestra’s 2016 Bahrain trip.
Oliver Cross
Oliver is a harmonica player who is forming a regional Disabled musicians’ collaborative group in his home town of Cambridge.
He has been experimenting with electro-acoustic music using harmonicas, tape delays and loop pedals.
Oliver is a member of the British Paraorchestra and has been involved with us through our DM Collaborate group and as part of DMResonate live at the ICA.
Steve Varden
Steve worked with Matt Turley to develop an eco-friendly one-man electric wheelchair band as part of our DMLab North West Challenge. His aim was to create an instrument which would allow him to be more mobile in his practice and to play outside.
A solar panel charges the wheelchair batteries that in turn power the keyboard and LED lighting on his one man band wheelchair.
Steve wants to capture the signal data from the solar panel, with a view to transforming it into a musical score and live performance piece.
Find out more
