Press Release: Philharmonia & Artists In Residence House of Absolute present Absolute June Weekender

[Jan McNulty]

PRESS RELEASE
21 May 2021

#houseofabsolute #philharmonia #artistinresidence
 

• HOUSE OF ABSOLUTE  - FIRST PUBLIC & INDUSTRY EVENTS AS PHILHARMONIA ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE
• ABSOLUTE JUNE WEEKENDER INCLUDES MASTERCLASS, WORKSHOPS, FILMS AND TALKS 18 - 20 JUNE

 

 

House of Absolute, a company of vocalists, poets, choreographers and composers and the Philharmonia’s first ever Artist in Residence, will present their first public event as part of the residency in June.

 

A combination of panel discussions, workshops and performance, the event will combine streamed and live events kicking off on Friday 18 June with two free online industry events under the banner Absolute Truth Talks the first of which looks at PR. Presented as a workshop, Helen Oldfield (Affinity PR) will explore how to build reputation and profile and tell stories through the media. The second Absolute Truth Talk tackles mental health and arts ecology. Specialist, founder of The Creative Genius and Co-Director of The Artist’s Safeguarding and Well Being Hub Nicolette Wilson-Clarke will lead the panel discussion with House of Absolute’s Julia Cheng. Panelists include multi-faceted creative producer Nike Jonah, psychotherapist and arts therapist Imi Lo and performer and performing arts manager Michelle Norton (Breakin Convention), alongside Philharmonia and House of Absolute artists.

Saturday evening’s live public event Absolute Live: Future Visions led by Julia Cheng and Jade Hackett,taking place at Streatham Space Project, includes a screening of some of House of Absolute’s work including Warrior Queens, Stardust and Heart Power Magic, before sharing insight into and video from the workshop process they have recently undertaken with members of the orchestra. Performances will follow before the audience gets a chance to participate in live improvisation and enjoy live music from Philharmonia players Sophie Cameron, Daniel Shao, James Buckle, Joe Howson and guest percussionist Beibei Wang to create an event that gives a real sense and flavour of the direction the residency is heading in. 

 

Sunday is Absolute Workshop day with a morning of zoom sessions focussing on well-being, Qigong, breathwork meditation and vocal toning before Julia Cheng leads a dance workshop in Whack/Pose/Punk.

 

The first residency of its kind - the collaboration envisages a complementary combination of cultures that will generate an energy and excitement across worlds that had previously been mutually exclusive.

 

Plans for the year are developing as House of Absolute push forward with their vision for the collaboration. The eight-strong company has created performances and events for theatres, exhibitions, festivals, and the fashion industry, built on a foundation of equality, empowerment and inclusivity.

 

For the Philharmonia, the vision for the residency is to broaden  the Orchestra’s artistic relationships, and tap into new ways of creating musically expressive experiences for live and digital audiences. 

Ideas in development include creating a new dance film, staging an orchestral club night and more. 

More information and tickets available via the Philharmonia website HERE.

 

House of Absolute: Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Website 

Philharmonia: Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Website

 

 

Listings Information

Bookings and further information on all events in Absolute June Weekender HERE

Friday 18 June, 10.30 - 11.30am, FREE
Absolute Truth Talk: PR Masterclass with Helen Oldfield

Friday 18 June, 12-1.30 - 3pm, FREE
Absolute Truth Talk: Arts Ecology and Mental Health

Saturday 19 June, 7.30 - 9pm, Tickets £12
Absolute Live: Future Visions
Streatham Space Project, Sternhold Ave, London SW2 4PA
Book Tickets

Sunday 20 June, 10 - 11am, FREE
Absolute Zoom Workshop: Holistic Wellbeing

Sunday 20 June, 11.30 - 12.30, FREE
Absolute Zoom Workshop: Whack/Pose/Punk

 

Notes to editors:

 

About House of Absolute

A multidisciplinary powerhouse cultivating the preservation of wisdom within art.

Through honest and daring innovations we endeavour to dismantle systems of oppression advocating for communities and cultures, centred by our multi-continental values of Asia, Africa and the Pacific.

Founded in March 2014, House of Absolute brings together a collective of highly talented creative artists, dancers, singers, musicians, galvanising collaborative works within Hip Hop theatre, live art and film. Specialising in Waacking, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Krump, Locking and Popping.

 

We are vocalists, poets, choreographers, composers and practitioners offering an array of workshops, facilitating spaces for development and wellbeing. Creating performances for theatre, exhibitions, site specific, fashion, festivals, commercial and corporate sectors.

 

We have a sustainable internal ecosystem of resources and expertise within our collective.

With cross-generational extensive knowledge and experience, we deliver with precision and dedication, and are passionate about womxn, justice, empowerment and inclusivity.

 

Philharmonia Orchestra

The Philharmonia is a world-class symphony orchestra for the 21st century. Based in London at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, the Philharmonia creates thrilling performances for a global audience. Through its network of residencies, the Orchestra has a national footprint, serving communities across England both in performance and through its extensive outreach and engagement programme.

 

Founded in 1945, in part as a recording orchestra for the nascent home audio market, today the Philharmonia uses the latest digital technology to reach new audiences for symphonic music. The Philharmonia is led by Finnish conductor and composer Esa-Pekka Salonen, its Principal Conductor & Artistic Advisor since 2008. Fellow Finn Santtu-Matias Rouvali takes over from Salonen as Principal Conductor in the 2021/22 season.

 

The Orchestra’s home is Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, in the heart of London, where the Philharmonia has been resident since 1995. Southbank Centre is currently closed due to COVID-19, but the Philharmonia is working closely with the venue to plan its return to live performance. 

Under Salonen and other key conductors, the Philharmonia has created a series of critically-acclaimed, visionary projects, distinctive for both their artistic scope and supporting live and digital content. Recent series include City of Light: Paris 1900-1950 (2015) and Stravinsky: Myths & Rituals (2016), which won a South Bank Sky Arts Award. In 2019, Salonen presented Weimar Berlin: Bittersweet Metropolis, a celebration of the feverish creativity of the Weimar era through the prism of its music, drama and film. Orchestral programming is complemented by series including Philharmonia at the Movies, Music of Today, the Philharmonia Chamber Players and an Insights programme.  

 

Biogs

Nike Jonah 

Nike works in strategic development across the cultural and creative industries worldwide. Since the early 90s, she has developed innovative approaches to much successful music, fashion, television, design, visual and performing arts projects for several influential organisations in Africa, America and Europe. She is currently a Visiting Research Fellow at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (2017-2021) and a Creative Producer at Counterpoint Arts on the Pop Culture and Social Change programme. In July 2018, she launched Pan African Creative Exchange (PACE) in partnership with the Free State Arts Festival in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Between 2008 and 2012, Nike led the Arts Council England’s Decibel Programme.

 

Imi Lo

Imi Lo is a Psychotherapist, Art Therapist, and Consultant for emotionally intense and highly sensitive people. She is the Founder of Eggshell Therapy and Coaching and author of the book Emotional Sensitivity and Intensity, which is available in multiple languages. 

She specialises in emotional intensity, high sensitivity, giftedness, complex trauma (CPTSD), and personality disorders.

 

Imi is qualified as a Clinical Psychotherapist (UKCP), Creative Arts Therapist (ANZACATA), Schema Therapist (ISST), Philosophical Counsellor (NPCA), Mentalisation-based Treatment Practitioner (BPC), Clinical Supervisor and Mindfulness Teacher. With more than a decade of experience, she has worked in the NHS, charities and other mental health settings. Now, as an independent consultant, she works holistically, combining East and Western philosophies with psychological and spiritual healing modalities.

www.egshelltherapy.com

 

Michelle Norton

Michelle's Career at Breakin' Convention began the first day of the first festival at Sadler's Wells in 2004. With a background in performing arts management and a dancer, she progressed from being a volunteer to projects coordinator, to finally leading the organisation. Michelle balances working hard with working out as a personal trainer,  Michelle is the embodiment of Breakin' Convention, having worked the festival inside and out from its genesis. 

https://www.breakinconvention.com

 

Helen Oldfield

Helen is a PR Coach and mentor working in Personal Branding, Reputation Management, New Audience/Business Development,  Customer Care and Customer Experience,  Marketing Communications & Messaging Consultancy, Reputation Management, Sponsorship, Creativity Coaching,  CSR/charity engagement, Stakeholder Engagement, Preparing to become a Speaker/Media Spokesperson, Support with Speechwriting, Copywriting, Editing & Media Biogs). 

 

Sector specialist knowledge includes Arts, Performance & Creative Industries,  Health, Mental Health & Wellbeing, Social Enterprises & Charities, Festivals & Events, Community Law & Advice, Food & Drink, Tourism, Hospitality & Travel, Education, Personal Development & Learning. 

 

 A Visiting Fellow at University of Suffolk School of Business since 2012.

 

 Proud co-leader of South Suffolk WiRE (part of the national business support network Women in Rural Enterprise).

 

 Pro bono supporter of The Rural Coffee Caravan, The Teapot Project and #TeaRevolution Fundraising and Awareness Campaigns. 

 

 Helen was a joint recipient of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2019 for Outstanding Voluntary Service to the Community via The Rural Coffee Caravan. 

 

 Affinity PR was Winner of 2014 Responsible Business Award from Trading for Good, now part of Business in the Community.

 

Nicolette Wilson-Clarke

Nicolette Wilson-Clarke is the founder of The Creative Genius, a psychotherapy, coaching and consulting agency specialising in supporting the emotional and mental well-being of creatives. She is also a well-being facilitator, local radio presenter/producer, voice over artist, blogger, trained dancer, senior yoga teacher, Pilates teacher and co-director of The Artist’s Safeguarding & Well-Being Hub (ASWH).

www.thecreativegenius.co.uk

@artistsswhub