Nathan shortlisted to represent Wales at the ISCM World Music Days 2025
Tŷ Cerdd is proud to announce the composers and works that have been selected by the Welsh Section of the ISCM (International Society of Contemporary Music) to represent Wales at the 2025 ISCM World New Music Days Festival, which will be held in Portugal between 30 May to 7 June 2025.
The Wales panel selected a shortlist of six composers’ works/proposals as the official submission to the international jury:
Ethan Davies: More Is Less (2023) (ISCM category: Small-size audio/video installation)
Nathan James Dearden: Everything about us (2022) for SATB choir (ISCM category: Youth choir)
Joseph Graydon: Antiquities (2023-24) for solo strings, piano & percussion (ISCM category: Large ensemble – Remix Ensemble Casa da Música)
Andrew Lewis: In Memory (2021) for orchestra & electronics (ISCM category: Orchestra – Porto Symphony Orchestra)
Sarah Lianne Lewis: Sunflowers in Autumn (2019) open instrumentation, consisting of winds and/or brass instruments, and strings (ISCM category: Medium ensemble)
About the announcement, Nathan comments: "To be selected to represent Wales at the ISCM in 2025 is such a testament to the hard work and commitment of the National Youth Choir of Wales and Tim Rhys-Evans MBE. *Everything about us* is a work of ritual, of coming together. It is written by young people, for young people, as a message for the future and showcases the immense talent of our young singers in Wales. A heartfelt thank you for recognising this work. I am look forward to continuing my relationship with the ISCM community."
The selection process
At least one of the six works included in our national submission will be performed during the festival (the international jury can, however, select more than one of these works).
The jury was struck by the number and quality of the submissions and by the stylistic range, which provided a striking insight into the range of work being written in Wales, as well as further afield by Welsh composers.
ISCM Welsh Section
ISCM Welsh exists to promote the aims of the ISCM, both within Wales, and in co-operation with the British, Irish, Scottish and other, international Sections. The Society aims to promote contemporary music and raise its public profile, through effective global networking, communication and facilitation of multilateral activities between the members.
Its mission is to:
Raise the profile of contemporary music through the collective strength of the Society’s global network and membership makeup.
Pursue exposure, research and performance of contemporary music through initiatives by its membership, as well as collaboration with affiliated bodies.
Showcase the diversity of contemporary music worldwide through the World New Music Days Festival.
What is ISCM?
The World Music Days Festival is an annual meeting of the ISCM, organised and solely funded by different sections each year, as a platform for musical exchange and a showcase of world contemporary music, without prejudice or bias on differences in musical expressions, styles, genres or media. It aims to be a meeting place for organisations, performers and composers around the world. World Music Days takes place in consecutive days in the host country and can be organised in any format which suits the artistic and practical preferences of the organiser in accordance with ISCM Statutes, reflecting the diversity of contemporary music. The festival strives to represent all legitimate members of the ISCM in one way or another through the activities of its programmes, including performances, seminars, exhibitions, and networking.
