RTÉ has recently announced the awarding of six new commissions for its orchestras, string quartet and choirs. Now in its second year, the Music Commissions scheme is open to Irish or Irish-based composers.
 
The 2012 scheme, with an available fund of €25,000, attracted thirty applications seeking funding in access of €150,000. Decisions were reached by a panel including Professor Nicola le Fanu and Dr Philip Hammond, along with management representatives from each of RTÉ’s orchestras, quartet and choirs and from RTÉ lyric fm, including Séamus Crimmins, Executive Director, RTÉ Orchestras, Quartet and Choirs. 
 
The composers and commissions are as follows:
David Coonan – Concerto for Orchestra for the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra
Gráinne Mulvey – Cello Concerto for the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra
Kevin O’Connell – Songs and Dances for the RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Philip Martin – Setting of a Requiem for the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and RTÉ Cór na nÓg
Garrett Sholdice – String Quartet for the RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet
Peter Moran – A cappella work for the RTÉ Philharmonic Choir
 
Speaking about the scheme, Séamus Crimmins remarked: ‘The applications-based scheme for commissions enables all composers to make proposals to RTÉ and this year we saw a wide range of experience reflected along with many persuasive ideas. Each of RTÉ’s five performing groups will premiere a new work enabled through this scheme in 2013–14. I want to thank all who participated and congratulate the six composers who have received commissions.’

For more information visit rte.ie.

Listen below to Gráinne Mulvey’s The Seafarer for soprano and tape from the 2012 Béal Festival, sung by Elizabeth Hilliard, and David Coonan’s Toten Tanzen from 2011.