Try something new at the UK-wide CoMA festival

Celebrating a decade of CoMA's ground-breaking Open Score project, the Festival promotes contemporary music with a participative approach and takes place next weekend (5 - 6 March).

You’re still in time to book at some of the events – either as participant or to be in the audience for one of the concerts – see below for details for each city.

Open Score is a way of writing artistically challenging yet technically accessible music for flexible ensembles with amateur players. Works by more than thirty established, up-and-coming, student and amateur composers will be performed over the weekend.

Workshops at all the venues will provide opportunities for singers and players to actively participate in new music. A conference and discussions, with all invited to contribute, will explore the role and future of inclusive contemporary music making. Performances by leading professional contemporary ensembles, CoMA groups and youth ensembles will provide a wide range of listening material.

Manchester-based Psappha Ensemble held their event last weekend, with enthusiastic participation from a large group of young people from the Bolton Music Service, alongside amateur players and singers.

There’s still time to find out and book for an event near you:

• Edinburgh, led by the Hebrides Ensemble
• Cardiff, led by Sinfonia Cymru: register interest at: contact@sinfoniacymru.co.uk
• Belfast, led by Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble
• Birmingham, led by Birmingham Contemporary Music Group: booking has closed, but contact them for spare places and/or tickets to the concert on Sunday evening
• London, led by London Sinfonietta – still possible to join as participant or buy tickets to the concerts on Friday and Saturday evening.