Programme Note:

A conversation between two individuals on completely different wavelengths.

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Performed by Open Union
Modular Synth: Peter Bell
Electric Guitar: Patrick Ellis

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Bio:

May Chi is a Hong Kong-born songwriter, composer and visual artist based in the East Midlands. Her compositional works delves into aspects of her personal life as well as her intrinsic connection with nature and saudade to create a cathartic musical experience. Influenced by electroacoustic and ambient music production techniques, she is interested in the exploration of the limitations of instruments and small ensembles to create and mould various sounds, timbres and ambiences. Her works have been performed by ensembles including Quatuor Bozzini, Fidelio Trio, Thallein Ensemble and Tresonant. She was also the commissioned composer for Pilot Theatre’s ‘Monoliths’ VR (2022), which has been selected for festivals including BFI London Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival and Re:Publica Berlin.

More info on May here: https://www.may-chi.com

May Chi - this is what it feels like talking to you (2022)

Open Union is an experimental music duo made up of composer-performers Peter Bell (modular synthesiser) and Patrick Ellis (electric guitar) based in Birmingham and London.

Described by the treasured composer Howard Skempton as being, ‘sometimes subtle and unstable; sometimes rich and dense’, the duo aims to build up strong collaborative relationships to create new verbal and text based works. Their current collaborators are Christine Cornwell, Wilson Leywantono, May Chi, Paolo Griffin and Seán Clancy.  

The duo have performed across the UK at events such as Ealing Extranormal, AMOK, Don't Mind Control, Birmingham Modular Organisation and CODA Festival. In 2025, they supported Passepartout Duo at Centrala Space, Birmingham as part of their UK Tour, and in 2023, undertook a mini tour of The Netherlands as part of the Sounding Here concert series, where they performed at Splendor in Amsterdam and Batavierhuis in Rotterdam.

In July 2025, they co-hosted a portrait concert with saxophonist David Zucchi featuring music by Paolo Griffin at the Hundred Years Gallery.