Maya-Leigh Rosenwasser is a performer, improviser and composer, specialising in performing and composing new works for piano (solo and chamber), live electronics and multi-disciplinary ensembles. She has participated in numerous venues and events across Europe such as Greyfriarks Kirk (Edinburgh), Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Piano Festival 2016-2018, soloist with St Bartholomew’s Chamber Orchestra (London), Tanthem Live (immersive & improvised theatre, London), solo performance to the ambassador of the EU (Brussels), Bozsok Music Festival (Budapest) and in the Steinway Gallery (Cyprus) where she was also featured on national radio. Maya-Leigh is one of the founding members of Equinox, a multi-disciplinary improvisational ensemble, and New Woods Collective, a wind trio specialising in specially commissioned repertoire for bass Clarinet, flute/piccolo, piano and electronics.
Maya-Leigh studied under Jonathan Plowright at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for her undergraduate degree. In her postgraduate degree, she was a Leverhulme Trust scholar, graduating with a distinction in Contemporary Piano Performance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, under the tutelage of Rolf Hind and Douglas Finch. During this time, Maya-Leigh was heavily involved in the contemporary piano department at Trinity, having participated in masterclasses with Megumi Masaki, Ikuko Inoguchi and Pascal Roge, showcasing not only 20th century repertoire, but also newly commissioned works written for her and her own improvisation-based composition ‘Landlines’. She took a prominent part in the 2019 New Lights Piano Festival and was the curator of the following festival in 2020, showcasing 20th century repertoire, free improvisation and works for fixed media and movement. Maya has recently started her doctoral research at Trinity Laban and City University with Dr Sophie Fuller, Dr Guy Harries and Rolf Hind as her supervisors.
Maya-Leigh's recent projects and performances include the release of her debut album Ascending with improvisation ensemble Equinox (2019), residency at Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme at Snape Maltings (2020 & August 2021), collaboration with Amy Bryce on opera and short film 'A Kinder Society' for Stiftung Kunst und Musik für Dresden (2021) and performances at Bishopsgate Institute, Sounds Like THIS festival and the European Clarinet Festival 2021 with woodwind trio New Woods Collective.
"Beautiful performance of a collection of work inspired by our feminist archives" - Bishopsgate Institute
Maya-Leigh is also dedicated to providing outstanding education to people of all ages and abilities. She is a private piano teaching with students ranging from aged 4 to adults! She regularly leads improvisation & composition classes and workshops in and around London. For more enquires contact Maya-Leigh via email or any of her social media platforms.
Equinox is an improvisation collective based in the UK consisting of Maya-Leigh Rosenwasser, Georgios Kypridemos and Taner Kemirtlek. Their multi-layered approach to music exists in the intersection between classical music and contemporary experimentalism.
Maya-Leigh, Georgios and Taner all studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; Georgios and Maya studied piano performance whilst Taner studied composition. By using electronics, keyboard and their own collected orchestra of miscellaneous instruments, they explore subjects such as mental health, contemporary British culture, identity and love.
On the 26th of June 2019, Equinox released their debut album: 'Ascending' which includes improvisation based compositions that were each written by different members of Equinox. They have been fortunate enough to receive funding and have been working on a number of collaborations with film makers, animators and other fellow composers and improvisers. For more information on Equinox's current projects, recordings and videos, click on the Spotify, Itunes and YouTube icons on the home page.
(Artwork: Ofra Rosenwasser)
NEW WOODS COLLECTIVE
The New Woods Collective is a woodwind trio specialising in contemporary repertoire. The trio formed during Autumn 2018 and consists of Maya-Leigh Rosenwasser, Hannah Shilvock (Bass Clarinet) and Christina Alishaw (Flute/Piccolo).
Since forming in 2018, New Woods Collective has performed at the Old Royal Naval Court Chapel, New Lights Piano Festival and St Alfege Church, where they premiered the works of David Bennett Thomas, Piet Ketting, Mathieu Robert and James Hurst. Currently they are working on a programme of contemporary repertoire that has been commissioned for them by new and emerging composers. They will be showcasing these works in their debut album, Branches, which will be released in 2021, along with an album launch and UK tour. In August 2021, they will perform in their first overseas festival at the European Clarinet Festival 2020 in Györ, Hungary,
New Woods Collective are available for both recitals and collaborations with composers and other art forms. For enquires message on any of Maya-Leigh's social media platforms.
Highlights of Previous Work
July 2016 - Solo recital in Kyriakides Steinway Gallery in Nicosia, Cyprus. Promoted and featured on Cypriot national radio.
April & July 2017 - Performance of Haydn Piano Concerto in D with St Bartholomew Chamber Orchestra, London. Subsequently invited back as a featured soloist in their summer concert in 2017 where she played a works by Liszt, Mozart and Scarlatti.
March 2016-2018 - Fitkin Piano Quartet - Performances of multi piano works by Graham Fitkin and David Hamilton at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Piano Festivals for three consecutive years.
December 2018 - Invited to play with Trinity Laban Chamber Orchestra for 'Trinity Laban's production of A Christmas Carol' by Thea Musgrave.
January 2019 - Solo recital at the Old Royal Naval Court Chapel, London. Programme consisted of works by Takemitsu, James Hurst, Graham Fitkin, Rolf Hind and Diana Burrel.
February 2019 - New Woods Collective's debut recital at the Old Royal Naval Court Chapel, London.
March 2019 - Immersive theatre performance for actors, movement and talking pianist in Shoreditch, London. Production by Tanthem.
April 2019 - Equinox recital at Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh playing works by Graham Fitkin and trio improvisations.
June 2019 - Featured pianist in New Lights Piano Festival playing works by Nicole Lizee, Rolf Hind, Webern, Judith Weir, Anne Boyd, & large ensemble improvisations.
June 2019 - Solo recital in St George the Martyr, London. Programme consisted of works by Messiaen, George Crumb, and improvisations.
June 2019 - Performance with Trinity Laban's Contemporary Music Group. Sam Hayden's Chorale for David for Cello, Clarinet, Vibraphone and Piano.
August 2019 - Equinox recital at Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh playing works written by members of Equinox including the premiere of Maya-Leigh's composition: Landlines
November 2019 - Trinity Laban Masterclasses with Megumi Masaki and Ikuko Inoguchi, performing works by Takemitsu, Michael Clulow and Maya-Leigh's own work.
November 2019 - New Woods Collective feat. Susanna Mcrae, London, performing works by Cooke, Copland, Schubert and Clulow at the Old Royal Naval Court Chapel & The Bakehouse Theatre, Blackheath.
March 2020 - Electroacoustic, improvised performance at Sounds Like THIS festival 2020, Leeds College of Music, Leeds. THIS THUS performed an ecclectic set of improvisations and compositions by Maya-Leigh Rosenwasser at Sounds Like THIS contemporary music festival.
June 2020 - Curation of 'Preludes to New Lights Piano Festival 2021', London. Curation of the week long online contemporary piano festival for Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
September 2020 - Britten Pears Young Artist Programme: Composition, Alternative Performance & Performance Art residency at Snape Maltings. I was selected to take part in the BPYAP, organised by Snape Maltings. The ten day residency was led by Larry Goves, and we collaborated with artists such as House of Bedlam, Lori Freedman, Jessica Aszodi, Trond Rhienholdsten, Kathryn Williams and Aside. Performance tbd in 2021.
October 2020 - 'Composers you should know' recital with Sarah Parkin (Soprano) at Bishopsgate Institute, London. Sarah Parkin and I were invited to perform at the Bishopsgate Institute as part of their friday lunchtime series. Our programme was inspired by the feminist archive at the institute and included works by Cecilia Livingston, Undine Smith Moore, Fanny Hensel, Clara Schumann, Fransesca Caccini, Anna Amalia, and Amy Beach.
April 2021 - Premiere of immersive contemporary opera Kinder Society by Amy Bryce, directed by Catherine Valve. Filmed/performed in the Clock Tower, Kings Cross St Pancras.
June 2021 - Solo recital at Bishopsgate Institue, London. Programme consisted of works by John Cage, Aaron Copland, Joanna Ward, Ruari Paterson-Achenbach, Michael Finnissy, Amy Bryce, Rylan Gleave and compositions by Maya-Leigh Rosenwasser.
June 2021 - Flxnflx residency at Fronalt, Wales. Flxnflx (pronounced flux, in flux) is an experimental improvisation duo consisting of James Mcilwrath & Maya-Leigh Rosenwasser. During the three day residency in a remote location in wales, flxnflx experimented with site specific improvisations, collecting field recordings and manipulating two way radios in resonant spaces.
July 2021 - Debut (live) performance with flxnflx at The Night Owl, Birmingham.
August 2021.- Wild Plum Arts, Made at the Red House residency (Snape Maltings/Britten Pears Arts). Week long residency with collaborators Rosie Middleton and Amy Bryce, developing our co-authored contemporary opera: Use of plastic may cause suffocation.
To listen to more recordings, click the soundcloud, instagram or itunes icons on the home page!
Tickets/links will be linked to calendar closer to the time of the concerts and information will also be given across all social media platforms!
Bookings for performances, workshops and private tuition//
Maya-Leigh Rosenwasser (including bookings for New Woods Collective & THIS THUS) : email@example.com