Psappha

The partnership, which was announced today, makes Psappha, widely regarded as one of the UK's most important contemporary music ensembles of the last 20 years, the official University of Salford MediaCityUK Ensemble and opens up a huge range of possibilities for international and groundbreaking performances.

One project currently being developed by the University and Psappha is an opera featuring a live link-up with contemporary musicians from Brazil, due to take place in mid January 2012. This will use acoustic and digital technology from the University to create an immersive experience in which the two ensembles can combine across thousands of miles.

There are also plans to develop a performance in the University's MediaCityUK base which will show each member of the ensemble on a different screen - combining them to create a unique way of playing and a performance of Eight Songs for a Mad King by Salford-born Sir Peter Maxell Davies, Master of the Queen's Music.

Dr Alan Williams is Reader in Music at the University of Salford. He said: "MediaCityUK gives us a wonderful opportunity to mix the latest technology with a professional ensemble.

"It's not just about creating interesting performances, but also using highly complex music to push the limits of what technology can do. Psappha have been at the forefront of using new media to get their musical and educational message across, and this makes them an ideal partner to work with at MediaCityUK."

Manchester-based Psappha, which is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, was formed by Tim Williams, Artistic Director, and specialises in the performance of music by living composers or music composed during the 20th and 21st centuries.

Tim Williams added: "We're very excited to be part of the University of Salford's MediaCityUK developments. For the past five years Psappha has been pushing the boundaries of possibility through its webcasts and through its interactive composition resource, Composition Lab. This new partnership will enable the ensemble to collaboratively develop new projects with expertise available through the University."

The University's new facility at MediaCityUK will become home to more than 1,500 students and staff when it opens on 4 October. Initially it will offer a range of courses to undergraduates and postgraduates including Audio Technology, Journalism, Animation, Computer and Video Games, Digital Broadcast Technology, and Creative Technology.

Facilities will include HD TV studios, radio broadcast studios, a living lab research facility, media suite, digital media and performance lab, post-production facilities, editing facilities, meeting pods and dubbing theatres.