nurturing the composition and performance of new Irish music

Contemporary Music Centre

19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 8, Ireland

Tel: +353-1-673 1922 Fax: +353-1-648 9100

Email: info@cmc.ie Website: www.cmc.ie

Press Release 16 May 2014 Mostly Me by Composer Elaine Agnew commissioned by Wicklow County Council under the Per Cent for Art Scheme on behalf of Music Generation Wicklow to be premiered in the Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, June 2014 Wicklow County Council under the Per Cent for Art Scheme and on behalf of Music Generation Wicklow has commissioned composer Elaine Agnew to engage with first and second classes from St Brigids National School, Greystones; Newtownmountkennedy National School and St Laurence OToole National School, Roundwood. The result is Mostly Me, a composition of songs and percussion for children aged between 6 and 8 years performing alongside a quartet of musicians. The premiere performance of Mostly Me will take place in the Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray on 8 June 2014. The Quartet of musicians involves 4 highly experienced and respected Music Generation Wicklow Tutors: Eamon Sweeney (guitar), Sinad Finegan (violin), Eimear Saunders (oboe) and Ela-Evelina Jianu (flute). All four tutors deliver Music Generation Wicklows Foundation Programme on an ongoing basis. The Foundation Music Programme provides an introduction to music performance to young children from Junior Infants to Second Class. It is now running in 26 Schools throughout Wicklow and is providing Foundation Music Education to over 2,000 young people throughout the county.

Agnew carried out 3 workshops in each school in order to develop ideas for the composition and learn about the children and their own unique approaches to music. Working with the Music Generation Wicklow tutors in the three schools; Eimear Saunders, Sinad Finegan and Niall Cloak the children were actively involved in the writing of the piece, in particular in the writing of words for the numerous songs it contains. At the end of the process a book of worksheets will be compiled by Elaine for rolling out across the Foundation Music Programme. Writing about the commission process Agnew says I've had a fantastic time with all the children involved in this project and collectively we have created Mostly Me, a series of short continuous pieces featuring chime bars, a large array of percussion instruments as well as songs about noses, wobbly teeth and the importance of saying "yes please"! Playing alongside a quartet of professional musician Mostly Me is a true celebration of ourselves and of being alive! Elaines many works have been performed and commissioned worldwide by artists such as Sir James Galway, the

Vogler and kampa Quartets, the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, Lontano, cellists Robert Cohen and Even Rattay, the European Union Chamber and Scottish Chamber Orchestras, the National Chamber Choir and pianists Angela Hewitt and Romain Descharmes. Her works have featured at major festivals including the BBC London Proms, the Belfast Festival at Queens, London BMIC Cutting Edge, Spitalfields and the Slovenian Unicum Festival. Elaine is much in demand for her innovative and creative work with people of all ages across a broad field of work that includes education, community and healthcare. She is the Artistic Advisor of Music Network's Continuing Professional Development Programme.

Mostly Me is one of four new music works commissioned by Wicklow County Council and produced by the Contemporary Music Centre under the Per Cent for Art Scheme on behalf of Music Generation Wicklow. These commissions will involve some 300 children and young people between the ages of 6 and 16 across County Wicklow.

nurturing the composition and performance of new Irish music

Contemporary Music Centre

19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 8, Ireland

Tel: +353-1-673 1922 Fax: +353-1-648 9100

Email: info@cmc.ie Website: www.cmc.ie

Press Release 12 June 2014

Vanished Lands by Composer Neil Martin commissioned by Wicklow County Council under the Per Cent for Art Scheme on behalf of Music Generation Wicklow to be premiered in Tulfarris Hotel, Blessington Lakes, 6 July 2014 Wicklow County Council of behalf of Music Generation Wicklow commissioned composer Neil Martin to engage with young people attending the traditional music groups: Club Cheol na Lochanna and Music under the Mountains. The result is a new work for classical and traditional ensemble, entitled Vanished Lands Music inspired by the Poulaphuca Reservoir. The new work features a trio of professional musicians performing alongside the young people: Sylvia Roberts and Catherine Humphreys (violin), Eimear Saunders (oboe) and directed by Neil Martin (cello). The premiere performance will take place in Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort, 3pm, 6 July 2014. Martin carried out workshops in order to develop ideas for the composition, learning about the young people's unique approach to music. In turn, the young people had the chance to witness the development and refinement of a contemporary composition. Belfast-born Neil Martin is a composer and musician with an international reputation who enjoys a most varied and rewarding career. Writing about the commission Martin says "To have the opportunity to compose for and collaborate with such enthusiastic and talented young musicians on a subject matter so important and human marks this out as a hugely rewarding commission. I have loved every second of it." Vanished Lands is one of four new music works commissioned by Wicklow County Council and produced by the Contemporary Music Centre under the Per Cent for Art Scheme on behalf of Music Generation Wicklow. These commissions will involve some 300 children and young people between the ages of 6 and 16 across County Wicklow. Wicklow County Council Arts Officer Jenny Sherwin says it is a privilege to be in a position to commission this series of new music for children and young people in the county, giving them access to composers working at the highest national and international levels. Music Generation Wicklow is part of Music Generation, Irelands National Music Education Programme initiated by Music Network and co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds and local Music Education Partnerships. Music Generation Wicklow is a partnership between Music Generation , Kildare & Wicklow Education Training Board and Wicklow County Council. It is managed and administered by partner Kildare & Wicklow Education Training Board and its Steering Committee, Wicklow Music Education Partnership. For further information on the above commission and the Contemporary Music Centre, please contact: Karen Hennessy, Commissions Manager, T: 01 6731922 E: khennessy@cmc.ie. www.cmc.ie For further information on Music Generation Wicklow see www.musicgenerationwicklow.ie

Contemporary Music Centre nurturing the composition and performance of new Irish music

Wicklow County Council Arts Officer Jenny Sherwin says it is a privilege to be in a position to commission this series of new music for children and young people in the county, giving them access to composers working at the highest national and international levels. The process has been fun and child centred, we hope the experience has been a special one for the three schools and that they will remember the premiere in the Mermaid Arts Centre for some years to come. Music Generation Wicklow is a partnership between Music Generation Ireland, Kildare & Wicklow Education Training Board and Wicklow County Council. It is managed and administered by partner Kildare & Wicklow Education Training Board and its Steering Committee, Wicklow Music Education Partnership. Music Generation Wicklow is also supported by Wicklow Town Councils. For further information on the above commission and the Contemporary Music Centre, please contact: Karen Hennessy, Commissions Manager,T: 01 6731922 E: khennessy@cmc.ie. www.cmc.ie For further information on Music Generation Wicklow see www.musicgenerationwicklow.ie

Notes for Editors 3pm 340pm, 8 June 2014 Mostly Me!

A concert of Songs and Percussion featuring pupils from St Brigids National School, Greystones St Laurence OToole National School, Roundwood Newtownmountkennedy National School with Ela-Evelina Jianu (flute) Eimear saunders (oboe) Eamon Sweeney (guitar) Sinad Finegan (violin) Conductor | Elaine Agnew Choral Assistant | Anthony Norton Mermaid Arts Centre Main Street Bray Co.Wicklow Tickets 10 (Family of 4 tickets) 5 (Single ticket) Booking T: 01 2724030 www.mermaidartscentre.ie It is advisable to book early as seating is finite and there are many children and families involved.

Contemporary Music Centre nurturing the composition and performance of new Irish music

Notes for Editors 3pm 340pm, 6 July 2014 Vanished Lands - music inspired by the Poulaphuca Reservoir

For traditional and classical ensemble featuring children from Club Cheol na Lochanna, Blessington and Music under the Mountains, Hollywood. with Sylvia Roberts (violin) Catherine Humphreys (violin) Eimear Saunders (oboe) Directed by Neil Martin (cello) Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort Blessington Lakes Co.Wicklow Tickets 12 (Family of 4 tickets) 6 (Single ticket) Booking via www.newnotesnow.eventbrite.ie or purchase directly from the local groups; Club Cheol na Lochanna, Blessington and Music under the Mountains, Hollywood It is advisable to book early as seating is finite and there are many children and families involved.

Neil Martin Neil Martin has worked with many leading musicians, both on stage and in the studio - these include Liam O'Flynn, Bryn Terfel, LSO, RPO, all the principle orchestras in Ireland, Christy Moore, The Dubliners, The Chieftains, Mchel Silleabhin, Altan, Shaun Davey, Mary Black and Donal Lunny. In his roles as producer, arranger and musician Neil has contributed to more than 100 albums and performance venues range from Carnegie Hall to Mostar Bridge, from the Royal Albert Hall to the Palazzo Vecchio. His compositions for The West Ocean String Quartet have received global acclaim, and the quartet released its fourth album, An Indigo Sky, in January 2013. www.wosq.com Among orchestral and choral commissions are The Great and First Object (2013) for soprano and orchestra; Further Shore (2012) an orchestral and choral setting of part of Seamus Heaneys The Cure at Troy, for Barry Douglas and Camerata Ireland; 4 Quartets (2008), a dance project based on TS Eliots poems; Lacrimae Rerum - for strings (2008); the choral symphony OSSA (2007), and No tongue can tell (2004), a concerto for uilleann pipes. Composition for television, film and radio includes the award-winning movie Hells Pavement (2009), many short dramas, television series and documentaries for BBC, C4 and RTE. Neil has composed and directed music extensively for theatre, including productions in the West End and New York, and has been collaborating with Stephen Rea and Field Day since 1988. Productions include A Particle of Dread (2013), Farewell and Half a Glass of Water (2012), Northern Star (1998) and St Oscar (1989). Recent theatre work includes The Conquest of Happiness (European tour, 2013) and Belfast By Moonlight (2013).