Both the music and the visuals are inspired by the 40,000-mile migration from pole to pole of the Arctic tern. The visuals were captured by refugee groups who have fled conflict, and people seeking asylum in Bradford and Cardiff, in a poignant reflection on displacement and endurance. 

Celebrated violinist Fenella Humphreys, a specialist at performing new music, performs the concerto at this event. The piece has been written for Sinfonia Cymru by Mark David Boden, an award-winning composer, music producer and lecturer in composition at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. 

This New Music Biennial 2025 event is free, but ticketed. Seating is unallocated and tickets don’t guarantee entry: admission is on a first-come, first-served basis for those with tickets. Please arrive early to avoid disappointment.

This event includes two performances of the same work and a short interview with the creative team in between the two, enabling audiences to experience the second performance with greater insight into the creative process.

New Music Biennial is a three-day festival celebrating the best new music across all genres from the country’s most exciting composers – and in 2025, for the first time, it’s coming to venues around Bradford.