Distil
October 2004
The Course
Participants and Tutors
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Distil is a residential retreat for traditional-based musicians. It was set up by the musicians Simon Thoumire and David Francis, who saw that there was a growing number of adventurous musicians from the traditional music community who were collaborating with musicians working in other styles. |
Distil was conceived as a project for professional, traditional-based musicians who wanted to acquire new skills. It also allows the musicians to spend time working with others and reflect on their work. Distil mixes traditional musicians with mentors who work in lots of musical styles, including:
- contemporary classical music
- jazz
- free improvisation
- traditional music in other cultures
| The format of Distil is a residential, four-day retreat in the village of New Lanark. Eight participants work with three mentors or tutors. The sessions involve plenaries and one-to-one sessions. People bring along completed work, work in progress, or even just the kernel of ideas. Tutors in October's Distil were leading Scottish composer Sally Beamish, trombone virtuoso John Kenny and Hungarian folk musician Mihály Borbély. |
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Participants in the October Distil included:
Past tutors have included composers Eddie McGuire, Judith Weir and Dave Heath, improvisers Paul Dunmall and Tom Bancroft and the great Finnish musician Timo Alakotila.
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Participants at previous Distil's have included:
- Corrina Hewat
- David Milligan
- Kathryn Tickell
- Conrad Ivitski
- Karen Tweed
- Maggie MacInnes
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Distil was set up with the full support of the Scottish Arts Council and the Performing Rights Society Foundation, and is delivered by the Scottish Traditional Music Trust.
| For more information on Distl, and to apply for future events, have a look at the Distil website or email the organisers. |
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