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sound is an exciting festival of new music in North East Scotland, driven by the passion to make new music more accessible to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. We try to avoid pigeon-holing, wanting people to experiment and discover for themselves the different types of music that are out there today, taking risks to find out what they enjoy (or don't!). We hope to create a live music experience that leaves its audience eager to explore sound in new ways. We introduce this wide range of music and sound (classical, contemporary, improvisation, traditional, popular, jazz, experimental, ambient, sound art, electro-acoustic…) through a variety of events including concerts, talks, installations, and workshops.
Artists and composers involved in this year's festival include the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Sally Beamish, Kim Cascone, John Casken, Continuum, Edinburgh Quartet, Hywel Davies, Irene Drummond, Roberto Fabbriciani, Dave Fennessy, Fidelio Trio, Glasgow Improviser's Orchestra, Helen Grime, Rob Hall, Haflidi Hallgrimsson, John Hearne, Erdem Helvacioglu, Richard Ingham, Reem Kelani, Florian Kitt, Kungsbacka Trio, Pekka Kuusisto, Sarah Leonard, Chick Lyall, Paul Mealor, Robin Michael, Darragh Morgan, O Duo, Pippa Murphy, Thea Musgrave, National Saxophone Choir, Sax Assault, Andy Scott, Scottish Ensemble, Scottish Flute Trio, Robert Scott Thompson, Smith Quartet, South/Central Aberdeenshire Music Centre Youth Orchestra, Judith Weir, Scott Wilson, Roger Williams, University of Aberdeen New Music Group.
sound is the North East of Scotland's festival of new music. Following a pilot event, "Upbeat" in 2004, the first festival was launched in November 2005, and sound is now an annual event.
sound, an initiative of Woodend Arts Association in collaboration with the University of Aberdeen, operates largely as a network of local and some national organisations. The 2008 network also includes Aberdeen Art Gallery, Aberdeen Chamber Music Club, Aberdeen City Music School, Aberdeen International Youth Festival, Aberdeen Performing Arts, Angus Arts, Banchory Academy, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, danceLive!, Dizzy Storm, Deveron Arts, Duff House, Interesting Music Promotions, Inverurie Music, Jazz Aberdeen, Left Bank, Lunchbreaks at Cowdray Hall, Monymusk Arts Trust, Newton Dee Community, North East of Scotland Music School, Peacock Visual Arts, Scottish Ensemble, Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, South/Central Aberdeenshire Music Centre Youth Orchestra, Station House Media Unit, Strathdee Music Club, University of Aberdeen Music Prize and Woodend Music Society.
