scapegoat is an experimental saxophone and percussion duo. Close creative collaboration and multi-media projects form the basis of their pursuit for artistic innovation and expression. Programmes are designed to broaden and challenge the musical experience of the audience, through original works featuring live electronics, performer-controlled sonic and visual amplification, video and lighting design, and improvisation.
Formed in Paris in 2013 by Australian saxophonist Joshua Hyde and Canadian percussionist Noam Bierstone, scapegoat has performed in France, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, the US & the UK. They have completed residencies at Harvard University’s Radcliffe Institute, New York University, Monash University (Melbourne), the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, the Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester), Spread Art (Detroit) & the University of Liverpool, and have performed at festivals and venues including Ultima (Oslo), Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, wasteLAnd (Los Angeles), Darmstadt Ferienkurse, City University (London), Constellation (Chicago), Spectrum (New York), IGNM Basel, Unerhörte Musik (Berlin), Kompakt (Zurich), NO HAY BANDA (Montreal) & the Grant Street Theatre (Melbourne).
scapegoat’s 2017/18 season featured new commissions of composers Pierluigi Billone and Michelle Lou funded by the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, with residencies and performances as part of an Australian tour, a Californian tour, and at the Ultima Festival (Oslo). Upcoming projects include collaborations with Sabrina Schroeder, Hanna Hartman & Sam Salem, and the release of their debut album featuring music by Mauricio Pauly and Santiago Díez Fischer, along with texts and drawings by writer Renee Gladman
Joshua Hyde is an French/Australian saxophonist, composer & improviser based in Paris. An active performer of new music, he is co-artistic director & saxophonist of Paris-based new music ensemble soundinitiative, founding member of standard-modell trio, Module saxophone quartet & scapegoat, as well as performing with Ensemble Intercontemporain, Elision & musikFabrik. A graduate of the Paris Conservatory (CNSMDP), Joshua gained international recognition after winning first prize and audience prize in 2011 at the 3rd International Jean-Marie Londeix International Saxophone competition in Bangkok. He was also first prize winner at the 5th International Saxophone Competition in Nantes and has been awarded the Nickson, Willem van Otterloo & Welsford Smithers Travelling Scholarships (University of Melbourne), a Stipendiumpreis at the 2014 Darmstadt Ferienkurse & was a finalist for the 2014 Freedman Fellowship. In 2014 Joshua’s first solo record was released on Integrated Records; he can also be heard on recordings on the Wergo, Torpor Vigil & maat labels as well as on ABC Classic FM and 3MBS (Australia), Radio France, Radio WDR (Germany), RTBF (Belgium) & Resonance 104.4FM (UK). Joshua is a Selmer Paris artist.
joshuahyde.com
Noam Bierstone
is a Canadian percussionist and curator dedicated to modern artistic performance. Artist in residence (2013-15) at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, Noam is a member of Architek percussion quartet, and is artistic director of the Montreal experimental performance series NO HAY BANDA. He is regularly invited to perform with groups such as Ensemble Intercontemporain, Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, soundinitiative & Quatuor Bozzini, and can be heard on NMC Recordings, Cantaloupe Music, Radio France, SRF Radio 2 Kultur & CBC Radio (Canada). Committed to the creation and development of new music, Noam pursues ongoing collaborations with various composers and artists, and performs at international stages including Ultima, HCMF, Darmstadt Ferienkurse, ManiFeste, Klara Festival, Reina Sofia, IGNM Basel, Unerhörte Musik, Harvard University, Salle Bourgie, Festival MANCA & Domaine Forget. Noam is pursuing Doctor of Music studies at McGill University with the support of a Doctoral Fellowship awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, a McGill Graduate Excellence Award, the Canada Council for the Arts & the Sylva Gelber Music Foundation.
