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Christopher Willes

@christopherwilles

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Guelph Jazz Festival will present a new iteration of Six Turntables in a few weeks. Twelve students from Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute will take part in a four-day intensive workshop, diving into the Jazz Festival’s archives of solo improvisational concert recordings dating back to 1998! Here’s some fun footage from the last edition (at the Toronto Biennial last year), with a sneak peek into the audio we’ll explore in Guelph.

The concluding performance will take place in the school auditorium 🤓 on September 14th at 12pm, and it’s free!

Visit @guelphjazz for the full details.

Thanks to Joe Sorbara, Chelsea Masse, Lane Osborne, @missngmusic and Germaine Liu for helping make it happen.

Thanks to all of the past participants pictured here, who each have helped to shape this work: Aliyah Aziz, Aileen Kim, Eejin Choi, Gail Angella Ledesma, Grace McHugh, Jada Flemming, James Wells, Jason Li, Julianna Angheloni, Ky Gray, Maria Patricia Abuel, Nanthini Namasti, Nikki Gilani, Taggart Quinn, Will Carriere, Ximena Garcia Soto, and Yihang Xu. And to upcoming participants / Performers: Ariane Lachapelle-Poulin, Ayhan Erkorkmaz, Gev Rimon, Ezra Jones, Gaven Gulewitsch-Cleminson, Jordan Lloyd, Kali Gonsalves, Max Friedberg, Maya Moreau, Morgan Lee, Quinn Logue-Barei, and Sophie Lin.

Project by Christopher Willes.
Created in collaboration with Akash Bansal (@my_bodys_in_troubleshoot ).
Artistic Consultant: @handmadebygermaine .
This video features locked groove samples (1.5s each) of a concert at the Guelph Jazz Festival by Hamid Drake (2001), and another by Ben Grossman (2012), with permission from the Guelph Jazz Festival.

With support from @canada.council and @ontarioartscouncil . by @christopherwilles

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a year ago

I’m so excited to share that @artmetropole is releasing a new publication (2XLP and book) I put together called 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, which centers on the music of Pauline Oliveros (1932-2016). The publication documents a large-scale performance project of Oliveros’s music that occurred in Tkaronto—Toronto between 2017-2019, which involved contributions of nineteen interdisciplinary artists and concluded with a show at Council Chambers Toronto City Hall.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰 (𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐢𝐨)! Half of the proceeds are being donated to the @native_womens_resource_centre of Toronto.

The release includes recordings of the city hall performance and a new sound poem by IONE (artist and Oliveros’ spouse) + a 64pg book (printed by at @colourcodepint) with new writing, a previously unpublished text by Oliveros, archival materials, photography by Claire Harvie and a bonus flexi-disc with listening score.

It ships out June 30th, and there’s a pre-release celebration June 4 1-4pm at Art Metropole. @isthisthomas is gonna DJ!

This thing was a journey, made over several years with a lot of care and collaboration from @iodreams (poetry), @suckersarestuck (design), @claharv (photography), and many other contributors. It’s co-produced with @publicrecordings and 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭. I’m pretty much over the moon to share it with you!

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Contributing Artists and Performers: Anne Bourne, Allison Cameron, Victoria Cheong, Ishan Davé, Prices Easy, Ellen Furey, Thom Gill, Claire Harvie, Ame Henderson, IONE, Brendan Jensen, Germaine Liu, Jeremy McCormick, JL Simonson, Kate Nankervis, Pauline Oliveros, Bee Pallomina, Liz Peterson, Heather Saumer, Brian Solomon, Anni Spadafora, Evan Webber, and Christopher Willes. Recorded by Paul Hodge and J.L Simonson. Mix: Christopher Willes. Mastering: Brandon Hocura.

Created in partnership with @musicgalleryto , @seance_centre and Happy like a flower. With support from @canada.council, @ontarioartscouncil, and the @torontoartscouncil. Publicist: @riparianacoustics . taken in Art Metropole by @christopherwilles

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3 years ago

Here's a few sunlit moments from MANUAL at the Mitchell Library in Glasgow this past week, as part of Take Me Somewhere festival.

MANUAL is a one-on-one piece that’s experienced covertly in a public library. In each performance a single viewer is guided by a performer through a series of experiments in looking and listening closely, using found materials in the library. These videos show some of @hannasybille 's interpretation of the work ❤.

We were all really touched by the softness and presence that audiences brought to it. Like in the second last video here, from the end of the work, where the performer and participant take turns trying to describe an ambiguous image together. It was so beautiful to hear people put words to what they are seeing and feeling in that moment... after spending the better part of an hour in silence together.

Thanks to everyone who came out, and to the wonderful folks at @tmsomewhere for making it all possible.

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Credits:

Co-created by: Christopher Willes and @adamkinner___
Dramaturgy: Hanna Sybille Müller
Glasgow performers: Adam Kinner, Hanna Sybille Müller, Christopher Willes, and Chao-Ying Rao (@femme.castratrice )
Performance contributions: Alexa Mardon, Denise Kenney.
Audio contributions: Michael Davidson, Colin Fisher, @isthisthomas , Terri Hron, Philippe Lauzier, Germaine Liu, Philippe Melanson. @missngmusic, and @felicitywilliams .
Production assistance: Seán Talbot, Sean, and @matildastrang .

Special thank you to Dawn Valance (principle librarian).

Created with the support of: Conseil des arts du Canada, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Ontario Arts Council, @ftamontreal, and through creation residencies at Take Me Somewhere (Glasgow), and @laserreartsvivants (Montreal).

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The videos are filmed by @samscrvn (and a few have excerpts of the spatial audio that viewers experience... so maybe listen in headphones... 😊 ). Big thanks to MollyMae Whawell for offering to be the filmed participant. 🙏📚✨😍 taken in Glasgow Mitchell Library by @christopherwilles

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3 years ago

Performances of MANUAL are running today until September 12 in Oulu Finland at the Oulu Central Library @oulunkaupunginkirjasto presented by @kulttuuriosuuskuntailme and as a partner programme of @antifestival . This presentation is part of @oulu2026official

The show runs all day long. Tickets are free (!) and can be booked through @kulttuuriosuuskuntailme .

MANUAL is a performance that takes place in a public library and is experienced by one person at a time. Staged covertly in the library during open hours, viewers arrive on site with instructions to meet a performer at a particular time and location. From there they are led silently through a series of tiny actions together, following written notes and immersive audio in headphones.

Using found materials in the library, the performer stages a surprisingly immersive and intimate sensory experience. They walk through the space and listen together. They look at books and read to each other. Fragments of photographs, texts, and sound recordings blur into one another. And as the piece progresses the materials they encounter come to form a manual for slowing down.

Intermingling with the daily life of the library, MANUAL reflects on the act of listening and the intimacy of reading with another person in a public space. Through a carefully guided participatory experience, the piece invites viewers to engage with the library as a site of deep sensory awareness, and to reflect on the social and technological conditions of shared attention.

Creation: Adam Kinner and Christopher Willes
Dramaturgy: Hanna Sybille Müller
Dancers: Heta Haapsamo, Ella Valkola, Suvi Rinkineva.

Produced by Cultural Cooperative ILME by @christopherwilles

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a month ago

MANUAL continues its run August 13-22 at @farnyon with performances all day, presented for one person at a time, at the lovely @bibliothequenyon in Nyon Switzerland. We had a sweet little mention in the local newspaper today, excerpted in the comments.

It’s been pure joy to work with Geneve based dance artists Noémi Alberganti and Aïcha El Fishawy, and with support from Otis Thaïs Martin. As always, @adamkinner___ and @hannasybille bring the best atmospheres. Thanks to the team at @farnyon for hosting us so well. by @christopherwilles

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2 months ago

Nyon, Switzerland

Music by Felicia Atkinson (artist who is also here at Festival far°). by @christopherwilles

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2 months ago

Chizu, Japan by @christopherwilles

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3 months ago

We close a three day run of MANUAL in Chizu, Tottori prefecture, Japan today. It was an absolute joy for Adam and I to share this work in the beautiful Cheinomori Library (made of cedar wood from the surrounding mountains!). This library is a gathering place with true community spirit, design in collaboration with local residents. We’ve really fallen in love with Chizu, a super sweet town where the river can be heard flowing everywhere.

Thank you so much to Keiko Yamaguchi (@keiguchi ) and Naohisa Nakagaki for performing along side us, and to Shinnosuke Ota and Kana Kimura production support. The show was organized by the amazing Kei Saito as part of Theatre Festival in the Town and the Mountains of Chizu. <3 by @christopherwilles

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3 months ago

Big thanks to everyone who came out for sL’s presentation MANUAL at the @nscadlibrary during @easternfronttheatre ‘s STAGES Festival last week.
We had such a wonderful time with this intimate work, and are so grateful to everyone who shared the experience with us.
Big thanks to our performers @laurenrunions, @meghangilhespy, and @jacinte_a for bringing the work back to life in Halifax, and to creators @christopherwilles and @adamkinner___ for creating and sharing this beautiful piece. It was such a pleasure to re-inhabit the work and share it with so many thoughtful audience members. Photos are by the amazing @ohyeahjimmy ✨
Thanks also to Arts Nova Scotia for support to make this project possible. by @christopherwilles

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4 months ago

📖 MANUAL 📖⁠
Adam Kinner + Christopher Willes
@nscadlibrary
⁠
MANUAL is a one-on-one performance that turns a public library into a space of sensory encounter and heightened awareness. Staged covertly during public hours, viewers arrive on site with instructions to meet a stranger at a particular time and location. From there they are led silently through a series of subtle events, following written notes and immersive audio in headphones. They walk through the space and listen together. They look at books and read to each other. Sounds and images found in the library combine and blur. And as the piece progresses the materials they encounter come to form a manual for slowing down.⁠
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⭐️ STAGES THEATRE FESTIVAL⁠
📅 June 3 - 7, 2026⁠
🎟️ easternfronttheatre.com/stages⁠
📍 @alderneylanding in @downtowndartmouth taken in NSCAD University by @christopherwilles

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4 months ago

This week I’ll be in Guelph for the ArtsEverywhere Festival, where I’ll be leading a two-day version of my workshop Collaborating Through Scores. The workshop runs May 7 (12–4pm) and May 8 (11am–3pm) — free, and open to participants with any background. There’s one or two spots left so check the festival website if you’re wanting to come.

Thanks to @musagetesf and @amrbowen for organizing this.

I’m feeling happy about this new reader/zine for the project I put together this week, and am looking forward to sharing it with folks.

On May 10, I’ll also take part in a panel conversation called Bend Your Ear, with sound scholar and dramaturg meLê yamomo and composer/artist Lisa Conway (@lconofficial ), moderated by Anna Bowen. by @christopherwilles

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5 months ago

Sunday morning at ArtsEverywhere Festival! ✨

Bend your ear: a panel conversation on listening
With Christopher Willes, L CON (Lisa Conway), meLê yamomo

How might listening collaboratively, listening to the periphery, and opening ourselves to the invitation nested within failure and slippage offer other ways of navigating this moment together?

Join sound scholar and dramaturg meLê Yamomo, composer and artist Lisa Conway, and composer/musician and dramaturg Christopher Willes in a rich overlapping conversation about their sound practices and research. The panelists will explore how mistakes can contribute to wilder art practices; how Deep Listening practices and collaborative scoremaking invite deeper attention to community; and how listening and sounding the periphery offer ways of being together differently. They will draw on their diverse practices—from decolonizing early sound archives, glitch, error, and troubleshooting, to the relationship of sound to place. Curated and moderated by Anna Bowen. The conversation will include an embodied exercise led by meLê Yamomo.

Sunday, May 10, 2026; 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
10C - Fourth Floor (Community Classroom)
Space is accessible by elevator
Free | No registration required taken in 10C Shared Space by @christopherwilles

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6 months ago