Gaudeamus nominee Kelley Sheehan: ‘I enjoy an open dialogue with the performers’

From 4 to 8 September the Gaudeamus Music Week presents state of the art contemporary music, performed by a plethora of ensembles and musicians. Five composers compete for the coveted Gaudeamus Award 2019: Stefan Maier (CA, 1990); Nicholas Morrish (GB, 1989); Scott Rubin (US, 1989); Remy Siu (CA, 1990), and Kelley Sheehan (US, 1989).

Kelley Sheehan

The festival will be opened on Wednesday 4 September in TivoliVredenburg, with the world première of W.A.L.L. by Aart Strootman, winner of the Gaudeamus Award 2017. He composed this for his own ensemble Temko and Slagwerk Den Haag.

Sheehan is a composer and computer musician moving between acoustic, electronic, electro-acoustic, and performance art works. In any medium, her work centres on noise, performance, and interaction. Her music has been described as “Full of discovery, collaboration, and unpredictability” (Gaudeamus Foundation), and was lauded for its “woozy electronics” (LA Weekly).

Her music was performed at prestigious venues such as Disney Hall (LA), Experimental Sound Studios (Chicago), and The Banff Center for the Arts (Alberta). She was awarded residencies and fellowships to MISE-EN Place Bushwick, the National Composers Intensive with the LA Phil, Nief Norf, wasteLAnd Summer Academy, and the Banff Center for the Arts.

Sheehan regularly performs with The Plucky Plunkers, an improvisational duo focusing on works for toy piano and multimedia collaborations. Her work and research has led her to study composition with composers of various interest and background such as Sivan Cohen Elias, Marcos Balter, and Fredrick Gifford. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Composition at Harvard University, studying with Chaya Czernowin and Hans Tutsku.

How did you know about the Gaudeamus competition?

A teacher of mine had recommended looking into the festival so I’ve kept tabs on the competition, but this was my first year applying. I wanted to experience the concerts and witness everything the festival and a competition like this has to offer.

What do you expect from the Gaudeamus Music Week?

I’m really looking forward to hearing new exciting music, hearing all the new works that will be premiered, as well as meeting a ton of people with whom I share the love for contemporary music – that’s very exciting for me.

I’m very happy with the three works I submitted for the competition: Talk Circus; Four Sharp Corners, and 3 Movements.I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH3kxga4_JY

I interviewed the nominees on the opening night of the festival on 4 September 2019.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3XcUwC5aN4dpCIiQtqYDdu

Much to her own surprise, Kelley Sheehan won the Gaudeamus Award 2019.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWrAoroTa6s

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