CoMA Manchester
CoMA Manchester are an all-abilities ensemble focusing on contemporary and experimental music. A mixed group of instrumentalists and sound-makers, they often play from graphic, text or open-scores. They are currently collaborating with three Manchester-based composers towards their next event on Saturday 5th March, as part of the Festival of Contemporary Music for All.
Revived during the lockdown, the group built its current community over Zoom, using remote practices to create music together. These processes embraced sound-making using everyday items found in the home and incorporated a strong visual language into their music, which they first presented at the digital RNCM PLAY festival in March 2021. Elements from this practice are still an important part of what CoMA Manchester do today, with the group due to present their next ‘remote-live hybrid’ piece for their event in March.
CoMA Manchester often perform work created by their own members and have premiered pieces by Shaun Davies, Lorna Green, Bofan Ma and Ellen Sargen. The group have also recorded graphic scores by Year 3 students at Bridge & Patrixbourne School.
Their debut live performance took place in Autumn 2021 at their festival ‘Streaming Blue’ in which the group explored connections between sound and Manchester’s green and blue spaces. This two-day event was funded by Arts Council England and was in partnership with Groundwork Manchester. Digital documentation of the event will be premiered online during summer 2021.
