Adopt a Music Creator blog: Our year of collaboration

Music creator Emily Hazrati reflects on her collaboration with Uckfield Concert Brass as part of Adopt a Music Creator 2024.

It is very surreal to be writing this blog in the aftermath of my year-long collaboration with Uckfield Concert Brass. The months have flown by since our first meeting in January, and I am astonished by what we have achieved and created together in that time.

The process of writing for brass band has been fulfilling and exciting, challenging my craft as a composer and revealing new, unexplored horizons in my creative practice. Uckfield Concert Brass have published a blog detailing our collaboration across the year, which you can peruse on their website; in this write-up, I will be focusing on the culmination of our hard work on Saturday 26 October 2024, with my composition Dawn, Wisdom at its heart.

Dawn, Wisdom - rehearsals

1:22pm. I was nervous with excitement and anticipation as we disembarked the train arriving from London Bridge. Today was the big day. I gradually settled down and wandered into town with my partner for a bite to eat – unbelievably, it was my first time seeing Uckfield in broad daylight! – before heading over to Holy Cross Church for the band’s concert-day rehearsal.

2:47pm. Upon entering the church, I was greeted by a flurry of warm, friendly faces, and immediately felt myself begin to relax. Here I was with the brilliant humans at the heart of this collaboration, who at every stage of the project had made me feel not only welcome, but celebrated. As the band took their seats for rehearsal, Edwina (secretary of Uckfield Concert Brass) mentioned that there was 'someone waiting to see me' upstairs...

2:59pm. It transpired that one of my first music teachers had driven all the way here to observe the concert-day rehearsal, as advertised on the band’s website, knowing that he was unable to made the evening performance! I was seriously touched that he’d come to experience what would be a rather pivotal stage in my journey as a composer - there was lots to catch up on, but before we knew it, musical director Nick had stepped up to the podium.

3:45pm. By this point, we’d witnessed the band speed through about half of the repertoire for the concert. I hadn’t seen the running order in completion before today, and was already bawled over by the sheer variety of what I was hearing. Nick had curated a thoughtful programme around the theme of time and space, stemming beautifully from my approach to Dawn, Wisdom, whilst simultaneously offering a taste of brass band music’s rich history and sonic breadth.

4:40pm. Suddenly, it was time to put the band through their paces with Dawn, Wisdom, starting with the work’s demanding third movement. To say that the players had risen to the challenges of this piece is an understatement: the group had not only gotten to grips with the score’s technical demands, but mastered the character and energy of each section. In that moment, I felt especially grateful for the time and space we’d had to work on my ideas throughout the year, in order to reach this stage.

5:06pm. It was time for tea, cake and sandwiches with the band! We wondered into the town hall next to the church, piling into a kitchen that could barely fit half the ensemble. Merriment and cheer filled the air, and there were already discussions being had around future performances of (and projects stemming from) Dawn, Wisdom. Things were looking bright!

Music Director Nick Morris leading Uckfield Concert Brass through the premiere

Dawn, Wisdom - world premiere

7:19pm. Composer enters concert venue. Lots of people, I’m overwhelmed in the best possible way. Scanning the audience, we eventually find my mentor Fraser and Harriet from Making Music, exchanging bursts of excitement about what’s to come. The buzz in the air is palpable!

7:30pm. Concert begins. Deep breath. Nick gives a brilliant introduction, explaining the programme’s theme of time and space in relation to Dawn, Wisdom.

7:56pm. We hear the opening and its hazy cluster chords. In a flash, I remember our first workshop back in February, where this tiny sketch set my collaborations with the band in motion. It's hard to describe how uncanny this moment feels.

8:08pm. In what feels like a fraction of a second, we have shared our year of collaboration with the world for the first time. Struggling to hold back tears of pure joy, I am ushered up to the stage, and express my sheer admiration for this wonderful group of people.

8:23pm. The interval has been a rush of friendly faces, many of whom had just experienced a brand new piece of music created in this way for the first time. I am profoundly humbled by these kind audience members’ responses to my music - there is barely a moment for any of this to sink in before we take our seats for the second half of the concert.

8:24pm. I have the luxury of hearing Dawn, Wisdom played a second time, in order to obtain two recordings of the work for future editing. This time I am able to absorb the band’s performance from a calmer perspective, carefully following the ebb and flow of sound.

8:36pm. The programme continues. I sit back and marvel at the brilliant musicianship on display.

10:13pm. We pack up and head to The Alma Arms for post-concert drinks. I can’t quite believe that our year of collaboration has come to a close. Lots of heartfelt, emotional exchanges are shared, and many a celebratory pint is consumed.

11:57pm. After an unforgettable evening, we jump into a taxi back to Premier Inn Uckfield (fun fact: Premier Inn Uckfield isn’t actually in Uckfield…).

12:23am. I turn in for the night, exhausted but incredibly happy.