Harrogate arts lead way with world premiere on HIF Player

As the arts world battles to survive lockdown, Harrogate International Festivals is about to unveil the world premiere of new music on its HIF Player for audiences at home after commissioning a leading composer at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Eclipse will have its world premiere on Harrogate Internationals Festivals Player, over the festivals weekender from July 23 to 26.Eclipse will have its world premiere on Harrogate Internationals Festivals Player, over the festivals weekender from July 23 to 26.
Eclipse will have its world premiere on Harrogate Internationals Festivals Player, over the festivals weekender from July 23 to 26.

Working with internationally renowned composer, Professor David Lancaster, the charity asked brass musicians from home and abroad to take part by each playing their own part remotely, from wherever they were, to create the parts for Eclipse, an ambitious new digital project, which will have its world premiere, online, as part of the July’s Harrogate International Festivals on its HIF Player.

Already unveiled as the soloist is celebrated trumpeter, Mike Lovatt, who has previously graced the Harrogate stage as Principal Trumpet of the Grammy nominated John Wilson Orchestra.

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The Professor of Trumpet at The Royal Academy of Music, he is Principal Trumpet of the Grammy nominated John Wilson Orchestra, and the BBC Big Band.

Among the musicians to feature in Eclipse on HIF Player is trumpeter Mike Lovatt who has been featured as soloist on many film scores including Marvel's Avengers Endgame and the Judy Garland biopic Judy.Among the musicians to feature in Eclipse on HIF Player is trumpeter Mike Lovatt who has been featured as soloist on many film scores including Marvel's Avengers Endgame and the Judy Garland biopic Judy.
Among the musicians to feature in Eclipse on HIF Player is trumpeter Mike Lovatt who has been featured as soloist on many film scores including Marvel's Avengers Endgame and the Judy Garland biopic Judy.

He has been featured as soloist on many film scores including Marvel's Avengers Endgame and the Judy Garland biopic Judy.

Harrogate International Festival Chief Executive Sharon Canavar said: “The coronavirus pandemic sadly meant we had to call off all our planned events this summer, including our renowned international music festival.

“Instead of sitting back and bemoaning this loss, we conceived ‘HIF At Home’, a free resource dedicated to its world-wide fan base, which has been a phenomenal success.

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“Using the ingenuity and creativity we are famed for we have been able to widen our public reach even further, keeping the arts alive in Harrogate and ensuring we remain on the festivals radar.

“We have also been working closely with a number of our literary and music partners to launch a series of new commissions, which will debut alongside ‘Eclipse’.

“To achieve this, we put out a message to the world-wide brass playing community, from young players starting out on their journey to professionals at very top of their careers, asking for them to participate in this original piece of music.

“We are incredibly excited to be able to bring the world premiere of Eclipse to life this July. It is going to be a truly international collaboration and one that will help shine a bright light on the power of the arts.”

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Such are the reputations of both Prof Lancaster and Mike Lovatt, that the response has been phenomenal, with submissions received from as far away as Malaysia, USA, Australia, Canada, South Korea, India, Ireland, South Africa and New Zealand, as well as from across the UK.

Submissions have come from a mixture of professionals, performers in local bands, and enthusiasts, all keen to play a leading in part in the new work.

One of those who rose to the challenge was Matthew Gee, Principal Trombone with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

He said: “It’s great to see arts organisations taking a fresh and radical approach to music making – for them to be commissioning new material during lockdown is even better!”

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Eclipse will have its world premiere on Harrogate Internationals Festivals Player, over the festival’s weekender from July 23 to 26.

Further details about Harrogate International Festivals at Home is available from:

https://harrogateinternationalfestivals.com/hif-at-home

https://harrogateinternationalfestivals.com/hif-player

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