Jez Colborne, commissioned by Mind the Gap

About the commission

A gift arrives. What’s inside? Curious? Then follow talented learning-disabled composer Jez Colborne on a musical odyssey to discover what it means to be gifted. Accompany Jez to the very heart of music-making within a shipping container. A Trojan gift, a makeshift musical instrument. Guaranteed to make your senses tingle.

“I am thrilled to be part of this amazing opportunity! I like the trickery behind the Trojan Horse story – ‘Gift’ will take twists and turns, sounding sometimes ancient, then modern and funky. The audience will travel in, out and around the shipping container and be plunged into the experience!” Jez Colborne

“Mind the Gap is delighted that Jez has the chance to develop his unique talents through the New Music Biennial. We collaborated with him to create ‘Irresistible’ for London 2012, inspired by his fascination with warning sirens. This sister piece will explore how “gifts” are not always what they seem!” Mind the Gap

More about the composer

Jez Colborne (41) is a uniquely talented composer and musician who can hear music where everyone else hears noise. He has a rare condition called Williams syndrome. He has acutely sensitive hearing and perfect pitch. He’s a “musical punk”, creating work using warning sirens, industrial and everyday objects, alongside conventional instruments.

In 2010, Jez was one of the first 10 disabled artists to be commissioned by ACE/LOCOG to create an original work for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Jez used warning sirens as musical instruments in the creation of this original piece, Irresistible.

Jez has composed numerous pieces for his own gigs and performances. He’s jammed with Johnny Dankworth, gigged with Van de Graff Generator and featured on a number of albums. In 2003, he won the European Song Contest for Learning Disabled Artists, receiving his award in Hamburg, Germany.