— Overview —

The Performer-Composer Residency (PCR) is an annual collaborative gathering where diverse performer-composers build relationships and connect through creating music and exchanging perspectives. It is grounded at Westben, a ‘music farm’ nestled in the rolling hills of the traditional lands of the Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg near the town of Campbellford, Ontario. Instead of passive teacher-student models, the PCR celebrates a wide range of musical practices, career stages, ages, and cultural backgrounds in a supportive peer-driven environment. The participants of the PCR often find themselves in between composing music, bringing it to life in performance, organizing arts-based forms of community making, and more. At this remarkable gathering place, we embrace the complex intersections we inhabit as humans/community members/artists as we seek to share and create music and life together.

— 2024 dates —

Application

• Application Deadline: Sunday, April 21st (before midnight Eastern Time)

• Application Results: Early May

Residency

• Residency Dates: July 7th–15th

• Arrival to Westben: July 7th (between 2–6 pm Eastern Time)

• Departure from Westben: July 15th (before 2 pm Eastern Time)

— What does this residency offer? —

The 2024 in-person PCR offers an opportunity to make lasting, meaningful connections with creative musicians and curious listeners. The residency cultivates both the freedom to experiment and a place to exchange international and local perspectives in a nurturing environment. Your time with us will be tended to by four residency facilitators along with members of the attentive and caring Westben community to help with logistics, hosting, and organizing.

— Who might apply? —

All creative and collaborative risk-takers whose practice involves some combination of both composition and performance are encouraged to apply. Basically, as long as a singular title doesn't fit your musical resonance, this is for you.

— What’s included/funding —

There is no charge to apply or attend this residency.

Each accepted participant will be provided the following by Westben: 

• Accommodations at the beautiful Fells Meadows Farms property from July 7th—15th 

• Prepared diet and allergy-conscious lunches and dinners from July 8th—14th, and a light dinner on July 7th

• Basic breakfast foods provided for self-preparation

Accepted participants are expected to:

• Arrange their own arrival and departure transportation to Westben. (We will do our best to help coordinate carpooling. If travelling from afar without a car, a Westben volunteer can pick you up from the Belleville, Cobourg, or Peterborough bus or train stations).

• Participate fully in the residency throughout the week, including rehearsing, supporting your peers, participating in a practice-sharing session with the community, and performing in a final concert.

We are happy to write support letters for accepted participants applying for grants (Canadians, please consider applying to Socan or the Canada Council’s travel grants or professional development grants). Depending on where you are applying, the following list of Funding Resources may be helpful. Last year, we were able to provide an extra stipend to participants thanks to the generous support of a grant. This year, without the grant support, we are unable to provide an extra stipend for participants. We understand that this affects the ability of artists travelling from afar to attend. Still, based on past feedback and as artists ourselves, we expect the experience to be very valuable for those able to participate. We welcome you to reach out with any questions.

— Time commitment —

This residency offers a unique opportunity for deep focus and growth, both creatively and personally. Our hope is that the nurturing environment and support provided will enable you to immerse yourself fully in the residency's activities and the community of peers without the need to engage in external work. We acknowledge that life is full of surprises and responsibilities that can't always be set aside, yet we gently encourage you to embrace this time with us as fully as possible. The residency team is dedicated to your well-being and creative journey, and we're always here to assist with any questions or concerns you may have.

— Overview of residency activities —

While leaving room for the unexpected and freeform times to foster friendships, connections, and collaborations, the residency has several core components.

• Rehearsals/collaborations - Residency facilitators will help organize rehearsal and cocreation times throughout the week. Based on the preferences and creative directions of our cohort, we intend to organize participants into two smaller self-directed ensembles, each consisting of five members. In these groups, members will collaborate to co-create/co-compose music together. Additionally, we plan to form a larger ensemble that will work on creating another piece.

• Sharing food - Wonderful meals of local food (diet and allergy conscious) cooked by our in-house chef will be shared together at the historic farmhouse on the beautiful Fells Meadows property. You'll have plenty of chances to volunteer for a dishwashing shift or to assist in the kitchen as a sous chef. :)

• Connecting with the environment and community - Hiking the gorgeous trails of Fells Meadows with a local Indigenous Elder, getting a tour of the ecosystems with our resident Bird expert on the Westben grounds, and learning about Westben’s and Fells Meadows’ sustainability efforts.

• “Creative Connections: Exploring Artistic Practices” Chalk Talk public session - In the spirit of learning from each other through valuing all the unique knowledges participants hold, and connecting with the local community, we invite each participant to share an aspect of their practice that brings them joy. This could be sharing a group activity, an approach that fascinates you, historical context for your practice, a snippet of a creative work of yours, etc. Each participant will have 15 minutes to share. This session will happen at Westben’s historic schoolhouse as part of its Chalk Talk series. With your consent, these sessions will be recorded/live-streamed and become a part of Westben’s Digital Venue and website.

• “Music of Many Gardens” Concert on July 14th - Our week will conclude with a collaboratively designed concert during Westben’s main festival series in the beautiful Westben barn. The running theme in line with Westben’s 25th anniversary season is “Music of Many Gardens.” In this event, we can share the creative explorations we come up with during our time together with the local community. Residency facilitators will help guide and support the conceptual and rehearsal processes from beginning to end. A full tech team will support the concert. The concert may also be recorded and/or live-streamed.

— Where will you be staying? —

This year, we are very excited to be partnering with Fells Meadows to house residents. Fells Meadows is a gorgeously scenic 100 acre property with many forest trails and a sizeable produce garden. Participants will be housed either at the farmhouse or in cabins. Fells Meadows is a roughly 20-minute drive to Westben, through beautifully scenic countryside. Facilitators can help organize carpooling and shuttling as needed.

— Application —

Apply online. If you don’t have a google account, please email westbenperformercomposers@gmail.com for other easy ways to apply!

The application is intentionally not too demanding, but please apply with care and commitment. Please make sure that all links you submit are active and accessible. You will be asked the following: 

1. What excites you about this residency? Why do you wish to apply? How might this residency deepen your work/creative practice? 700 words max

2. Please provide 3 direct links to pieces/projects that you’d like us to experience.

— Adjudication —

We are able to host 10 participants this year. Each year, we are humbled to receive so many incredible applications. We try to respect our limited hosting capacities to provide what we believe to be an attentive environment for all involved. As a result, we unfortunately are not able to accept all applications. Applicants will be selected based on their submitted materials and how we believe they may complement the pluralistic practices of other applicants. We welcome applications from past online participants, but please note that priority will be given to new participants. To spread out the opportunity, we are currently not accepting applications from past participants who have already attended the residency in person. Moreover, application priority will be given to folks who identify as Indigenous, Black, or a person of colour. Please reach out if you have any questions about the application. Applicants will be notified of their status when the adjudication process is complete (early May).

— Feedback —

We hope this residency serves as a re-energizing meeting place for creative musicians and curious listeners and fills the gap of tuition-less opportunities connecting diverse music practitioners. We are constantly learning and growing on this path with the help of past and potential participants. We highly welcome and value any constructive feedback, ideas, proposals or questions you may have regarding the residency.

— Volunteer —

We are always looking for volunteers to assist during the residency. If interested, please get in touch with westbenperformercomposers@gmail.com with the subject “PCR Volunteer”

— Sponsorships —

If you are interested in sponsoring the Performer-Composer Residency we would love to hear from you!

— Contact —

For more info, email: westbenperformercomposers@gmail.com

— Introducing your PCR Facilitation Team! —

2022. #5 Digital with an in-person concert

2020. #3 Digital

Thank you sponsors!

To become a sponsor of the Performer-Composer Residency please email westben@westben.ca with the subject line “PCR Sponsor.” Thank you for your support!