Now into its 10^th year, Soundings at the ACF London continues to be a vital presence in the UK’s music calendar, bringing some of the key players in new music in Austria and the UK together for a unique week of performances, discussions, sharing of ideas and building relationships.

A fascinating highlight of this year’s programme will be composer portrait sessions with Piers Hellawell, Professor of composition at Queen’s University Belfast. Piers will discuss and unravel with the participating composers, trends in their recent work as well as the works to be performed in the 2 concerts. Last year’s initiative the ‘Soundings Academy’ is continued, this time with young composers rather than musicians, who will observe at close hand the week’s events and have a workshop opportunity with the performers on a new work. A round table discussion will examine the role of festivals in the performance and promotion of contemporary music and panellists include Cheltenham Festival Music Director Meurig Bowen and Hanna Crepaz, artistic director at Osterfestival in Tirol, Austria. The week of events is curated by pianist Mary Dullea.