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James Chan, born 1997, is a UK based composer originally from Hong Kong.

In 2016, James was selected from hundreds of entrants as one of the winners in the Senior category of the annual Â鶹Éç Proms Inspire Competition and as part of his prize, was commissioned to write a piece for the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain’s Fellowship Octet. James’ piece, speaking, was inspired by the work and research of Created Out of Mind. - an interdisciplinary team of scientists, visual artists, musicians, broadcasters, clinicians and carers working to explore, challenge and shape perceptions and understanding of dementias through science and the creative arts.

speaking sets a poem from The Things Between Us - Living Words: Anthology 1 which documents the words of people living with different types of dementias. James intended the piece to parallel the way the poetry finds beauty in the experience of dementias; starting with haziness and whispering, the texture and harmony gradually clear up and transform into something flowing and expressive.

speaking was performed by the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain’s Fellowship Octet and broadcast live as part of Â鶹Éç Radio 3’s residency at Wellcome Collection, from 13 - 15 October 2017.