Hannah Conway : The Composers’ Fund
Project Title: How To Leave
Project Bio: How To Leave is a 360 immersive opera-theatre-sound work created in collaboration with writer/theatre-maker Jude Christian and sound designer David Sheppard. This intimate project asks a universal question: what does it mean to leave, to say goodbye—and how can we soften the pain of doing so throughout our lives? Audiences will journey through shifting soundscapes of recorded voices, live singing, and a virtual score. At times free to explore—soaked in whispered or sung stories—at others drawn into shared musical moments, they will encounter a work that is both deeply personal and profoundly collective. The piece is rooted in deep community engagement: people from across society will share their experiences of leaving—whether moving out of care, ending relationships, losing memories, parting with loved ones, or venturing into the unknown. Their voices will form a living encyclopaedia, a collective wisdom of the art of leaving. At its heart, How To Leave combines cutting-edge immersive audio technologies with song and storytelling to explore memory, loss, and longing.
Artist Bio: Hannah is an Ivor Novello award winning composer, internationally recognised for her work in 18 countries as artistic director, composer and presenter. At the heart of everything is dynamic collaboration with diverse and under-represented communities to create new music and stories. Her works are characterised by a zest for driving social change inviting audiences to reflect on society and self. She is Executive Director of Sound Voice, creating live and immersive music performance installations with interdisciplinary experts, people with lived experience and professionals from the healthcare, scientific, biomedical research and technology sectors. Her vocal works have encompassed 12 languages and have been broadcast on BBC Television and BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4. International recognition for her work includes a Sky Arts Award nomination 2025, European FEDORA Digital Prize 2023, Classical:NEXT Innovation Award 2024, Ivor Novello (sound art), Alternate Realities Award for best non-fiction immersive work. Her immersive sound installation 100 VOICES NHS toured to the National Theatre, Wales Millenium Centre, hospitals and shopping centres across the U.K. She was previously Artistic Director of Streetwise Opera and known also for her work as a cultural moderator for the European Commission and presenter for BBC Radio 3 and 4.
Hannah’s socials:
Soundvoice socials: