Music Appointments at the Arts Council
There have been two recent music appointments in the Arts Council. Rosemary Collier has been appointed as Head of Music and Opera, while Paul Flynn has been appointed Head of Traditional Arts. Ms Collier studied music at Trinity College, Dublin, and subsequently pursued a career as a singer (soprano) and choral director. She has performed with the World Youth Choir, the National Chamber Choir and Opera Ireland. Before joining the Arts Council, Ms Collier was Arts Officer with Drogheda Borough Council where she was involved with the growth of Drogheda Borough Council’s International Music Series, which has recently included performances by pianist Joanna MacGregor and composer Terry Riley. Paul Flynn is a traditional fiddle player and has been Traditional Arts Officer with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for the past four years. He has been involved in several traditional-arts initiatives, including (with Dr Liz Doherty) the Turas programme, a cross-border funding project for the traditional arts; the addition of the traditional arts to the Northern Ireland Music Archive; the development of an educational DVD for schools, Exploring Trad; the inauguration of the Raw Bar Folk Club in Belfast last April; and he was also a co-curator of the Smithsonian Institution’s Folklife Festival which took place in Washington DC in June and July.

Ligeti Remembered
Benjamin Dwyer is to direct a festival of the music of composer György Ligeti which takes place in Dublin on 9-11 November in Liberty Hall and the NCH. The festival, funded by the Arts Council and produced by Gavin O’Sullivan, will feature the Arditti Quartet, pianist Ian Pace (performing the complete Études), Ligeti Winds from Ireland and cellist William Butt, among others. There will also be a musicological conference on Ligeti and screenings of three Stanley Kubrick films that feature the music of the composer. Visit www.rememberingligeti.com

Piperlink
A nationwide tour of uilleann piping has been organised by Na Píobairí Uilleann for September and October. The performances, led by Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh and Seán Donnelly (see photo), have an educational focus and will include workshops and discussions. Pipers involved include Donnacha Dwyer, Mick O’Brien, Seán McKeon, Jimmy O’Brien-Moran, Peter Browne, Emmet Gill, Éanna Ó Cróinín and Seán Potts. Visit www.pipers.ie

Music21 2007
The Music 21 series of contemporary music concerts runs throughout September at the National Concert Hall and 4 Dame Lane, Dublin. Artists include Darragh Morgan, Mary Dullea, Hugh Tinney and Ensemble Madrid. To complete the series Swedish saxophonist Mats Gustafsson performs with his cutting-edge trio, The Thing, on 28 September. Visit www.music21.ie

Cruinniú
Cruinniú, a forum for discussion on the traditional arts, takes place for the second time on 9-10 November at Glór in Ennis, Co. Clare. The gathering, which coincides with the Ennis Trad Fest, will focus on the economic feasibility of a life in the traditional arts. Musicians are invited to complete an anonymous online survey in advance of Cruinniú at www.glor.ie/survey.

DEAF ASIA
The sixth Dublin Electronic Arts Festival on 24-29 October looks at experimental electronic music from China, Thailand and Japan. Featured artists include The Boredoms, Cornelius, Nobuko and cinematographer Chris Doyle. Visit www.deafireland.com

Music for Galway Contemporary Music Season
Music for Galway has announced a season of contemporary music concerts. Artists such as Concorde, the RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet and the Amstel Saxophone Quartet, among others, will perform a number of new works by Irish and International composers, including four commissions from Benjamin Dwyer, Gráinne Mulvey, Benedict Schlepper-Connolly and Deirdre McKay. Visit www.musicforgalway.ie

Crash Ensemble’s 10th Birthday
The Crash Ensemble celebrates their tenth anniversary with SHINDIG, a two-day festival, at SS Michael & John, Temple Bar, Dublin. On 12 October the Ensemble presents an all-Irish programme, including a new work by Gerald Barry. A five-concert marathon will follow on 13 October: pianists Lisa Moore and Andrew Zolinsky, the Dublin Guitar Quartet and Iarla Ó Lionáird will be among the guest performers. Visit www.crashensemble.com  

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