The University of Johannesburg (UJ) Arts & Culture proudly announces its collaboration with the International Society of Contemporary Music (ISCM) World New Music Days 2023 festival, bringing four days of this prestigious event to our Kingsway campus. UJ Arts & Culture is honoured to serve as one of the festival’s host venues, showcasing performances every evening from 27 to 30 November 2023.
Renowned jazz artist and UJ Artist in Residence, Shane Cooper, will unveil his groundbreaking creative output project ‘Hemispheres’ as part of the ISCM World New Music Days festival. ‘Hemispheres’ represents an immersive convergence of jazz and electronic music, drawing inspiration from the rich tapestry of the South African musical landscape. Through an arcade-style controller, listeners will have the power to harmonize and synchronize two distinct musical halves, shaping their unique sonic journey within each composition.
This choose-your-own-adventure sound installation in quadraphonic sound is a preview of a full-length interactive album to be released by Cooper. Featuring top South African jazz musicians Bokani Dyer, Linda Sikhakhane, Ayanda Sikade, and Simon Manana, alongside Swiss jazz musicians Andreas Tschopp and Julian Sartorius, the recordings turn the listener into a real-time collaborator with the artists.
The ISCM World New Music Days festival is an annual global celebration of contemporary music, showcasing cutting-edge compositions from around the world. In a historic milestone, this year’s festival will be hosted for the first time in South Africa, running from 24 November to 3 December in Soweto, Johannesburg and Cape Town.
This festival holds historical significance on two fronts. It commemorates the centenary of the ISCM, marking 100 years of the organization’s existence. Additionally, it stands as the inaugural World New Music Days held on African soil. World New Music Days 2023 not only pays homage to ISCM’s century-long legacy but also serves as a platform for global connections and cultural exchange through the medium of new music.
We warmly invite audiences to immerse themselves in this harmonious symphony of creativity, where melodies traverse time and space, uniting hearts, minds, and cultures through the universal language of music. Experience the rich tapestry of sounds that weaves the global musical landscape at the World New Music Days – a celebration resonating with the past, present, and future of contemporary musical artistry.
Join us for this extraordinary musical experience, the first of its kind in South Africa, entirely FREE from 27 to 30 November 2023.
You can find the programme to the UJ Concerts HERE.
Click below to RSVP.
About Shane Cooper
Shane Cooper, a bassist, composer, and producer, is a key figure in the contemporary South African Jazz scene. His diverse musical ventures include leading projects such as Shane Cooper & MABUTA, the Dinaledi Chamber Ensemble, and Card On Spokes. Cooper has also contributed to various film and theatre projects, showcasing his versatility as a composer.
As a sideman, Cooper has collaborated with renowned artists such as Zim Ngqawana, Lionel Loueke, Shabaka Hutchings, and more. His work has garnered international acclaim, with radio support from Gilles Peterson, BBC, NPR All Songs Considered, and a number one single on Yfm.
In addition to his musical contributions, Cooper has curated the international jazz festival Jazzwerkstatt Bern in Switzerland. He also explores electronic dance music under the alias Card On Spokes, sharing the stage with acts like Little Dragon, Daedelus, and Young Fathers and performing live on Boiler Room.
For more information about Shane Cooper and his projects, visit (www.shanecoopermusic.com).