Thor Mcb & the New London Orchestra have established a working partnership since 2003. Developing a range of projects within research and educational environments, exploring alternative approaches to music, sound and space.

There are 2 main streams to their collaboration:

1. Orchitecture. A concept for exploring:

- Architecture via Orchestral Music
- The Orchestra via an Architectural Space
- Three fields of practice working in conjunction I.e. A collaboration between Sound & Spatial Artist Thor McB, Lebanese Architect and Author Ayssar Arida, and the New London Orchestra (NLO).

2. Music, sound awareness and creativity, with Deaf and Blind children.

A collaboration between New London Orchestra (NLO), Architect Ayssar Arida (from Beirut) and artist Thor McB.

Examples incl:

Ear Site (2005/6/7)
Oak Lodge School for the Deaf, London:
- School anthem devising project, summer 2005.
- Sign Symphony, Feb/march 2007. And Summer 2007.

Blanche Nevile School
- Sign Symphony, winter 2006, Spring 2007.

Orchitecture @ Chiswick House Carnival, English Heritage Commission ( 2005)
An experimental site-specific exploration with an Octet and a Quartet of musicians, artist, architect, muti-channel sound recording and video, within the building and grounds of Chiswick House. Also incorporating sessions with several youth groups and A-level students.
Culminating in a performance installation within the building over 2 days of the festival.
(6 channels of audio, CCTV system, 4 channels of video, quartet period furnishing)

Sound In Space (2003)
A series of workshops, exploring ways of seeing through sound with children from the Blind and Deaf community as well as the Elderly. The work aimed to bring both the orchestra and Sound Art to people in small ongoing group situations, where together, we could both enable and push our understanding of sounds creative functions.

Music & the Mind
Festival & conference at Bloomsbury Theatre, London. Here Thor presented a talk and surround sound installation drawn from the Sound In Space workshops programme.


Commissioned By:

NESTA and the New London Orchestra

Links:

www.nlo.co.uk/space.htm
www.nesta.org.uk/ourawardees.htm
www.orchitecture.com