Kairos was the University of Manchester's electroacoustic ensemble. During my PhD at the university I was asked by David Berezan to set up an ensemble which would explore the possible interfaces between acoustic instruments & electroacoustic sound. Originally intended to explore existing repertoire for instrumental ensembles & electronics, the focus of the group rapidly became improvisation & devised semi-improvised works, often exploring site-specific use of space, extended techniques, sound objects with or instead of traditional instruments & various approaches to live processing on various software platforms.
My role was to oversee the directing of the ensemble, evolving improvisational practices, devising frameworks for pieces, and larger projects, as well as managing the logistics for these.
Inital approaches with the electronics were made by Steven Boland and then particularly Alexis Guneratne, before the live electronic aspect became more widespread within the community & included the practices of Manuella Blackburn, Diana Simpson, Sam Salem & Patrick Sanan.
Improvisational work was showcased in MANTIS festivals, as well as SAN Expo Manchester; devised works were created for the Martin Harris Centre multi-level foyer space, and for the 360 degree space at SARC, Queen's University Belfast, where the ensemble was given 2 dedicated concerts in the 2007 Sonorities festival. The ensemble worked with composer Eric Lyon on development & early performances of his piece Introduction & Allegro, created the original Art of Sound/Sound fo Art live installation at the Whitworth Art Gallery, with the Klem electroacoustic sound & dance ensemble, & my tenure as director closed with the overseeing of the cross-genre theatre work dans la memore de mon corps, which involved 2 theatre directors (Jessica Drader & Rob Drummer), a film student (Miles Fitzpatrick), video, speech movement, and instrumental & digital sound, and finally Kairos were invited to join the collaboraters who made Michael Mayhew's work The Gathering: The Vanishing at the 2007 Manchester International Festival.
Kairos members were drawn from the student body, both undergraduates & postgraduates, many of whom are now well established in the fields of electroacoustic music & instrumental performance:
Alexis Guneratne
Diana Simpson
Manuella Blackburn
Sam Salem
Patrick Sanan
Steve Boland
Nina Whiteman
Tulllis Rennie
Kate Findlay
Rachel Moat
George Dennis
Heather Bamforth
Gemma Bass
Rachel Pritchard
My role was to oversee the directing of the ensemble, evolving improvisational practices, devising frameworks for pieces, and larger projects, as well as managing the logistics for these.
Inital approaches with the electronics were made by Steven Boland and then particularly Alexis Guneratne, before the live electronic aspect became more widespread within the community & included the practices of Manuella Blackburn, Diana Simpson, Sam Salem & Patrick Sanan.
Improvisational work was showcased in MANTIS festivals, as well as SAN Expo Manchester; devised works were created for the Martin Harris Centre multi-level foyer space, and for the 360 degree space at SARC, Queen's University Belfast, where the ensemble was given 2 dedicated concerts in the 2007 Sonorities festival. The ensemble worked with composer Eric Lyon on development & early performances of his piece Introduction & Allegro, created the original Art of Sound/Sound fo Art live installation at the Whitworth Art Gallery, with the Klem electroacoustic sound & dance ensemble, & my tenure as director closed with the overseeing of the cross-genre theatre work dans la memore de mon corps, which involved 2 theatre directors (Jessica Drader & Rob Drummer), a film student (Miles Fitzpatrick), video, speech movement, and instrumental & digital sound, and finally Kairos were invited to join the collaboraters who made Michael Mayhew's work The Gathering: The Vanishing at the 2007 Manchester International Festival.
Kairos members were drawn from the student body, both undergraduates & postgraduates, many of whom are now well established in the fields of electroacoustic music & instrumental performance:
Alexis Guneratne
Diana Simpson
Manuella Blackburn
Sam Salem
Patrick Sanan
Steve Boland
Nina Whiteman
Tulllis Rennie
Kate Findlay
Rachel Moat
George Dennis
Heather Bamforth
Gemma Bass
Rachel Pritchard