In its fifteenth year in 2018, and featuring three full days of concerts each October with music from the Middle Ages to the eighteenth century, the festival is now under the management of Festival Director Norah O’Leary & Artistic Director, Caitríona O’Mahony, both under 30 years of age. For International Women’s Day, the Directors mark the start of their tenure with a pop-up concert of music by female composers in Cork’s newly-restored Nano Nagle Place, at 12pm on Thursday, 8th March.

The two have already championed works by women Baroque composers in concerts around the country. Caitríona O’Mahony, a baroque violinist, notes that ‘Classical music can often feel very male-dominated in terms of composers and works, and most of the works by women which are performed are much more contemporary. In the seventeenth century, however, there are some women composers who are impossible to ignore, influencing the development of genres like the Italian cantata and motet, and even French opera. Making these works heard highlights that women have had a huge impact on the development of classical music, and of course, they’re just wonderful to perform!’

With accessible features like this pop-up concert, the two hope to reach new audiences across different genres of music, as well as bringing familiar ‘big’ Baroque works to audiences, with the sometimes unfamiliar sound-world of authentic instruments. Festival Director Norah O’Leary commented ‘We are hoping to relieve Irish audiences of the notion that they need to be an expert to enjoy classical music. Early music has traditions of improvisation and ornamentation close to that of traditional music, jazz and pop. Like these genres it’s a live experience that changes nightly - without our audience we are nothing, so if you have ears and want to have a good time come along for the craic! You wouldn’t consider your knowledge of cinematography before going to the cinema! Furthermore, Caitríona and I are reaching out to young women currently considering CAO forms and subject choices for Leaving Certificate. We hope to illustrate that young women should not be deterred from a career in the Arts, which unfortunately is often deemed a bad choice.’