Music Network presents Amy Dickson, Sonoko Miriam Welde and Simon Mulligan on tour

Performing together for the first time, twice Grammy™-nominated saxophonist Amy Dickson, violinist Sonoko Miriam Welde and pianist Simon Mulligan to perform in Clifden, Tralee, Cork, Kilkenny, Dublin, Dún Laoghaire, Waterford, Baile Mhúirne, Newbridge and Sligo.

February 2022: Music Network presents an exciting opportunity to hear twice Grammy™-nominated saxophonist Amy Dickson, violinist Sonoko Miriam Welde and pianist Simon Mulligan performing together for the first time at Ionad Cultúrtha, Baile Mhúirne on Friday 11th March. On tour from 3 — 13 March, the trio will also perform in Clifden, Tralee, Cork, Kilkenny, Dublin, Dún Laoghaire, Waterford, Newbridge and Sligo. For full tour details and to book tickets, visit: www.musicnetwork.ie.

The programme showcases the trio’s virtuosity and ability to creatively adapt much-loved music to their unusual combination of instruments. Incorporating elements of folk and popular music from around the world, performances will include Gershwin’s jazz-infused ‘Rhapsody in Blue’, Ravel’s famous ‘Bolero’, and Amy Dickson’s beautiful transcription of Philip Glass’s shimmering violin sonata, alongside a new Music Network commission Helter-Shelter-Skelter by Ronan Guilfoyle.

Twice nominated for a Grammy™ Award, British-Australian Amy Dickson has been acknowledged by BBC Music Magazine as one of the world’s six best classical saxophonists ever. She has recorded eight solo albums for Sony Music. Recognised for her remarkable, distinctive tone and exceptional musicality, she made history by becoming the first saxophonist to win a Classic BRIT Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year, and in 2016 she was named the UK’s Young Australian of the Year.

Alongside her stellar performance career, Amy Dickson has also developed ‘Take A Breath’, a programme designed to teach relaxed breathing techniques, from her experience as a saxophonist, to primary school children. Amy has taught the ‘Take A Breath’ programme throughout the UK, Australia and Asia and, through Music Network, brought an extended version of the programme to Ireland for the first time. Since April 2021, ‘Take A Breath’ has been running in 13 primary schools across Ireland and the programme will culminate with participating children attending a live concert in their local venue during the tour.

Sonoko Miriam Welde is one of the most exciting young violinists to emerge from Norway in recent years. Since making her debut with the Bergen Philharmonic aged nine, she has gone on to win the Norwegian Soloist Prize and Virtuos competition, as well as representing Norway in the European Broadcasting Union’s Young Musicians Competition. Her appearances include concertos with Oslo Philharmonic, Bergen Philharmonic, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Estonian Chamber Orchestra, working with such prestigious conductors as Andrew Litton, Johannes Gustavsson, Peter Szilvay, Joshua Weilerstein and Edward Gardner.

British pianist Simon Mulligan has been described by Yehudi Menuhin as “one of the finest pianists I have ever had the pleasure of performing with” and by Herbie Hancock as “phenomenal”. Following his début with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Simon has performed and recorded with the BBC Symphony, Detroit Symphony (under Slatkin), English Symphony Orchestra (Boughton), Warsaw Sinfonia (Menuhin), Hong Kong Philharmonic (Atherton), Malaysian Philharmonic, and the Royal National Scottish Orchestra (Serebrier). An acclaimed recording artist, Simon has made albums for Sony Classical, Decca, Nimbus and Naxos, and additional musical collaborations have included such notable and diverse names as Joshua Bell, Dame Shirley Bassey, Liza Minnelli and Sting.

Amy Dickson, Sonoko Miriam Welde & Simon Mulligan 

Amy Dickson saxophones
Sonoko Miriam Welde violin
Simon Mulligan piano

Programme:  

Poulenc  L’Invitation au Château
Defontaine Couleurs d'un Rêve
Milhaud Scaramouche
Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue (arr. Simon Mulligan)
Ronan Guilfoyle Helter-Shelter-Skelter (New Music Network Commission)
Debussy Violin Sonata in G Minor
Philip Glass Sonata for Violin and Piano, 3rd Movement (transcr. Amy Dickson)
Ravel Bolero (arr. Simon Mulligan)

TOUR DATES

Fri 11th March 8pm Ionad Cultúrtha, Baile Mhúirne | 20/ €15 / €5 u18's | 026 45733 www.ionadculturtha.ie