History

Music Orbit was set up five years ago providing practitioners with platforms to show work, information, and the chance to exchange ideas via live performances, networking evenings, professional development seminars, and symposiums. Ongoing partnerships have also flourished including a monthly Music Orbit-curated event at Kings Place with the Society for the Promotion of New Music. Music Orbit reflects the diversity of approaches to creating new music flourishing outside of the mainstream, fostering emerging ideas and trends at the front end of our ever-evolving musical language.

Music Orbit originated from within the iF Festival, for a time one of London’s main festivals dedicated to new music. From early beginnings showcasing new work at the glasshouse at Syon House (The Hothouse), the ‘Platform 21’ nights in the iF Festival, and later independently the ‘Sound-Out-Series’ at the Spitz, the network has grown gradually over the years. It now has a small management team and a growing range of partners and funders.

A cursory glance at the list of artists/members showcased in the last five years (over 60 ensembles and individual musicians) will give some idea of the diversity of the work of Music Orbit Members showcased by Music Orbit Horses Brawl, Hydrogen Jukebox, Olivia Chaney, Serafina Steer, Jest Mamo, Astrakan, Surge, NEM, North Sea Radio Orchestra, Sonver, Anomaly, Makeshift, Celinn, Juice, Curious Voice Duo, Jamie Woon, Jenny Roditi, Yumi Hara-Cawkwell, Linda Hirst, Wan Dan, Laura Moody, Elisabeth Walling, Verity Standen, Bunty, Mikhail Karakis, Harry Neve, Pete Moran, Natasha Lohan, Hereby A Scorecard, Diabolo, Anna Meredith, Cos Chapman, Jamie Smith, Misterlee, David Plans Casal, Sonia Paco-Rocchia, Mark Wingfield, Paul J Abbott, E:Laine, Roshi, Gagarin, Kin, Rory Simmons, Elisabeth Nygard, Robin Finker, Rus Pearson, James Allsopp, Julio d’Escriven, , Paul Russell, Nick Sutton, Nico Bentley, Jo Thomas, Oli Mayne, Thanos Chrysakis, James O’Sullivan, Kerry Andrew, Paul Fretwell, Arco Collective, Matt McCormick, Paul Whitty, Joe Banks …

Music Orbit is just entering a new stage of its development with further secured funding from Brunel University and the PRS Foundation. It is also developing ongoing relationships with a range of new music organisations. Just about to be launched are a set of new ways that members can get involved, including a revamped and expanded website, an online magazine, increased member profiling facilities and a monthly live platform series at London’s Vibe Bar in Brick lane. With all these new initiatives and the expansion to the mO team, Music Orbit will be introducing a small membership fee from the start of 2010.