Electrifying Ealing: Grant
Ealing Symphony Orchestra receives a significant grant for its electric violin commission
The Ealing Symphony Orchestra has received a significant award from Cockayne Grants for the Arts, a Donor Advised Fund, held at The Prism Charitable Trust, in support of its commission of a new concerto for electric violin and orchestra. Joanne Hedley, Executive Director of Cockayne announced: “I am thrilled Cockayne is able to support you this year and would like to congratulate you personally on your successful application to the 2024 Cockayne Grants for the Arts Programme. Competition for grants was again fierce, so your success is much to be applauded and reflects the outstanding interest of your project.”
The project is a collaboration with Spanish composer and Royal College of Music alumna, Angela Luq, and renowned Latvian violinist and Royal Academy of Music graduate, Roberts Balanas. It will combine the classical world of symphonic music with influences of pop and electronic music and is aiming to attract new audiences to the world of live classical music.
‘Machina humana’, the theme of the concerto, explores the complex concept of ‘human being’ — a human as a biological machine, that works in a physical and ‘spiritual’ plane. The electric violin is seen as an extension of the body, like an extra limb, as if the musician is some sort of 'human cyborg’. It can also be seen as a prosthetic that helps and improves the musician’s skills in terms of expression and communication.
The work will comprise of five short pieces in a format akin to a conceptual or experimental album. Each piece is like a song that has its own character but also relates to the whole theme and musical character of the album.
The current repertoire for electric violin and symphony orchestra remains negligible compared to that of the acoustic violin, but it has been growing in popularity in recent decades as more composers and artists explore the instrument’s potential for blending genres and experimenting with novel sounds within the traditional orchestral setting.
The new work will receive its world premiere on 10th May 2025 at St Barnabas Church in Ealing, with a subsequent performance in Cēsis, Latvia, on 26th July 2025.
ESO Chair, Jo Boswell, said “We believe this exciting new work will broaden the ESO’s appeal to audiences who might not otherwise consider attending a classical music concert, as well as strengthening our reputation for bold and innovative programming.”
