The creativity of musicians at The University of Western Australia will take centre stage when a new Clarinet Concerto premieres with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra at Winthrop Hall next week.

UWA Conservatorium of Music composer Professor James Ledger and clarinettist and soloist Dr Ashley Smith collaborated for about nine months on the score completing cycles of writing, playing, listening, questioning and revision.

“We had previously collaborated on improvised music for clarinets and synthesisers, so experimentation was already an important part of our shared musical language,” Dr Smith said.

Professor Ledger and Dr Smith are recognised as being among the most innovative figures in their field both nationally and internationally.

“Ash has an all-embracing attitude towards new music and he relishes technical challenges,” Professor Ledger said.

“He encouraged me to write what might not initially appear possible on the instrument.”

Together the composer and performer created a documentary that provides a fascinating insight into the research process behind the work including experimentation, testing ideas, refining details, discovering what is possible on the instrument and reshaping through performance.

“The score now exists in its entirety, but the concerto is still becoming itself through performance,” Dr Smith said.

“The premiere will be a major point in the life of this work, but it is definitely not its conclusion.”

The concerto will have its world premiere at 7.30pm on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd of October at Winthrop Hall. Tickets and more information available here.