A new music project is set to launch, celebrating Belfast’s rich creativity through music that’s shaped by the people and performed in the city’s unique spaces.

Notes From Belfast is a bold and exciting initiative, commissioning a series of 3-5 minute pieces from artists with connections to Belfast, spanning genres such as classical/opera, folk/trad, jazz, and contemporary pop.

Selected musicians will work closely with local community groups in storytelling sessions, drawing on these personal and local narratives to inspire their compositions.

Each artist will receive a commission fee aligned with Musicians’ Union rates, with the resulting works premiering in some of Belfast’s most iconic venues throughout 2025 and 2026.

The project is seeking six professional performers or composers with strong ties to Belfast. Representation across classical/opera, folk/trad, jazz, and contemporary pop/electronic is crucial, with applications open to both individual musicians and groups.

Applicants should be able to engage meaningfully with community groups to inform their work, possess high-calibre music writing, production, and performance skills, and show a genuine commitment to telling Belfast’s story through music.

Applications open on 19th August 2024 and close on 21st October 2024 at 5pm, with decisions announced by 30th November 2024. Group engagement sessions will be held in Winter 2024 and early Spring 2025.

For more information, follow this link.