The Cumnock Tryst Festival announces its 2016 programme, including performances by Genesis Sixteen and support from the Genesis Foundation
26 May 2016
On Wednesday 25 May Sir James MacMillan CBE unveiled a programme for the 2016 Cumnock Tryst Festival that features a roster of internationally acclaimed musicians, including legendary bass-baritone Sir Willard White and the talented young singers of Genesis Sixteen. Established just two years ago, the festival shares two beliefs that are fundamental to the Genesis Foundation: that newly commissioned works are essential to the on-going development of classical music, and that music and the arts have a unique power to enrich the lives of those who participate in them.
“As well as bringing great musicians to perform in Cumnock, The Tryst aims to give people in the area as much opportunity as possible to make music themselves” Sir James MacMillan
The Genesis Foundation is funding two concerts at the very centre of the festival, the first one being the Scottish premiere of Cecilia McDowall’s Stabat Mater, performedby the Cumnock Tryst Festival Chorus. The ensemble, which made its debut at last year’s festival and is made up of members of the local community, will be joined on-stage by Genesis Sixteen, the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland Camerata, the RSNO Junior Chorus and soloist Sir Willard White, all under the baton of Eamonn Dougan of The Sixteen. For the first time, Genesis Sixteen will give their own recital at this year’s festival; their inclusion in the programme reinforces their stature as a leading choir and compounds the success of this unique training academy.
The Genesis Foundation’s association with James MacMillan dates back to 2008 when he was commissioned by the Foundation to compose musical settings for Padre Pio’s Stay with Me Lord. In February 2016 it was announced that the Foundation had commissioned MacMillan to compose a new Stabat Mater, with its world premiere being given by Harry Christophers, The Sixteen and Britten Sinfonia at the Barbican Centre, London on 15 October 2016. Surrounding the premiere of the piece will be a series of concerts and talks dedicated to MacMillan; at 60 minutes in length and for choir and string orchestra, Stabat Mater will undoubtedly be one of his most important works to date.
Genesis Sixteen, perhaps the most significant ongoing collaboration between the Genesis Foundation and The Sixteen, is a free young artists’ scheme which aims to nurture the next generation of talented choral singers. Participants receive group tuition, individual mentoring and masterclasses run by some of the industry’s top vocal experts. Alumni of this unique programme, the first of its kind in the UK, have already gone on to great things. A number of them have set up their own choirs including ‘Eo Nomine’, whilst many are now performing, recording and touring with professional groups, including The Sixteen.
Booking for the festival opens to the public on Thursday 23 June. Tickets will be available via The Cumnock Tryst website or telephone, on 01563 554 900. Visit The Cumnock Tryst for full details of the programme.
To find out more about the Genesis Foundation’s rich history of commissioning new music, click here. To learn about the Foundation’s free young artists’ scheme, Genesis Sixteen, click here.
