Manchester International Festival seeks musicians and a Creative Director for the Monkey: Journey to the West Education Song-writing Project

Manchester International Festival is looking for musicians and a freelance Creative Director to lead on an exciting music and song-writing project.

The Education Song-writing Project will see nine diverse community groups from across the city create a CD of nine songs, based on the episodes in the production of Monkey: Journey to the West.

Monkey: Journey to the West is a groundbreaking new circus opera, providing a fresh interpretation of the magical Chinese legend of the Monkey King - an epic journey of enlightenment. Adapted and directed by Chinese theatre director, Chen Shi-Zheng, Damon Albarn will compose the music with the visual concept, costume, design and animation by Jamie Hewlett – the artists behind the award-winning animated band Gorillaz.

The Creative Director will be responsible for overseeing the Education Song-writing Project, working closely with the Musical Director of Monkey, David Coulter, to develop and deliver the project.

Manchester International Festival is also looking for musicians with knowledge of the Manchester music scene, experience of producing recordings and working with young people and community groups. Project management experience would be an advantage.

The musicians who will be performing Damon Albarn’s score for the performances of Monkey will be called on to assist in recording the songs.

Interested applicants for the post of Creative Director should send a detailed CV and covering email, explaining why they are interested in this role, to Tracey Low, tlow@manchesterinternationalfestival.com by March 2nd 2007. Candidates must be able to work on the project from April-July 2007 (part-time). Musicians are asked to contact Tracey in the first instance.

For more information about the festival, volunteering opportunities or tickets visit www.manchesterinternationalfestival.com