IRISH HERITAGE: WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "IRISH HERITAGE: WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO"

Matthew Bridges
5 years ago
Views:

1 OUR STORY

IRISH HERITAGE: WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO Irish Heritage is a voluntary arts organisation established in London in 1974 to promote the appreciation and understanding of classical music performed by

2 IRISH HERITAGE: WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO Irish Heritage is a voluntary arts organisation established in London in 1974 to promote the appreciation and understanding of classical music performed by young Irish musicians in Britain and to introduce music composed by Irish composers to a wide audience. It is the only Irish arts organisation in Britain dedicated to helping young Irish musicians through their continuing education and the early part of their careers. This is when their need is greatest. Irish Heritage presents a varied programme, open to the public, in established music venues; it showcases young Irish musicians and cooperates with other organisations which share its aims in music and the arts. It has formal links with the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) and the music conservatoires in Ireland and Britain to identify the rising stars and help them on their way. An Artistic Advisory Panel, which includes some of the most distinguished names in the music world in Britain, Ireland and Continental Europe provides guidance. The Irish Heritage Music Bursary is awarded to an outstanding Irish musician working or studying in Britain. You can become a Friend of Irish Heritage for a modest annual donation. You may support the work of Irish Heritage through sponsorship, donations and in other ways. The contact details are set out below. Chairman: Mary Connolly Artistic Directors: Jean Kelly and Katie Rowan Secretary: Cormac Cawley Treasurer: Laurence Cahill Membership Liaison: Kathy O Regan Patrons: Lady (Mary) Hatch; John Gilhooly OBE; Seamus McGarry; Peter Sutherland KCMG SC Website: irishheritage.co.uk Facebook: IrishHeritageLondon LinkedIn: linkedin.com/irishheritage contact@irishheritage.co.uk

ARTISTIC DIRECTORS, KATIE ROWAN AND JEAN KELLY As Artistic Directors we endeavour to build on the reputation for excellence of Irish Heritage s artistic tradition.

3 ARTISTIC DIRECTORS, KATIE ROWAN AND JEAN KELLY As Artistic Directors we endeavour to build on the reputation for excellence of Irish Heritage s artistic tradition. Over recent years we have brought many exciting young artists to a London audience; Jennifer Davis, soprano, who subsequently joined the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and now an established opera singer; Patrick Rafter, violinist and RDS Music Bursary winner (2015), who has studied in Switzerland with maestro Maxim Vengerov; the RDS 2016 winner Aoife Gibney, soprano, who went on to train in Basil. The Irish Heritage Music Bursary winners, Carolyn Holt, mezzo soprano, and Máire Carroll, piano, (2015 winners) and Christopher Quaid, violin, (2016 winner) performed with us as part of their Bursary prize. We featured nine young musicians from Ireland in a performance at the Guildhall in collaboration with Conservatoires Ireland. As an example of our wider music brief we featured an award winning young Irish Jazz trio, Súp, at Kings Place; collaboration with the Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) brings a unique collection of Irish Traditional Music (the Goodman Collection) to Britain - and to the home of the English Folk Dance and Song Society. On the other part of our mission supporting the work of Irish composers, we featured, for the first time in Britain, works by Irish composer, Ina Boyle ( ), including a world premier, and a world premier by young composer, David Wallace. The Irish Heritage Music Bursary is a feature of the programme and extends to eight conservatoires in Britain, including the National Opera Studio. See over. Our artistic programming demonstrates how the musical landscape is changing as the boundaries between classical music and other genres are decreasing, thus expanding the repertoire of classical musicians in an exciting and innovative way. Katie Rowan and Jean Kelly Joint Artistic Directors

4 Young Irish musicians face huge financial challenges to study and establish their careers in the UK. The Irish Heritage Music Bursary, launched in 2015, aims to identify our most talented Irish musicians working or studying in Britain and provides financial support for their continuing education, together with performance opportunities with Irish Heritage. The nominations come from the principle music colleges in Britain: Royal Academy of Music; Royal College of Music; Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; Guildhall School of Music and Drama; Royal Northern College of Music; Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; National Opera Studio; and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Each participating college is asked to nominate a maximum of three Irish students (instrumental and vocal) who demonstrate the potential to make important careers. The nominees are interviewed and auditioned in the Wigmore Hall in front of a distinguished panel of Judges, Chaired by John Gilhooly OBE. We extend special thanks to the panel judges and those generous donors who make the Bursary possible. We will continue to expand its reach and provide greater opportunities to all the young musicians who participate. THE IRISH HERITAGE MUSIC BURSARY You will see profiles of a number of our past winners in this brochure. Katie Rowan Joint Artistic Director

throughout their careers. I look forward to future collaborations and greatly enjoyed our winner s recital at the Royal Over-Seas League in September 2016.

5 Carolyn Holt Mezzo-soprano I am so grateful to Irish Heritage for their generosity and belief in me. I feel honoured to be the joint winner of the inaugural Irish Heritage Bursary and to be associated with an organisation that has supported so many successful Irish musicians at the commencement and throughout their careers. I look forward to future collaborations and greatly enjoyed our winner s recital at the Royal Over-Seas League in September Máire Carroll Piano I am delighted to be the joint winner of the inaugural Irish Heritage Music Bursary. The Bursary award is a very significant help to me in my continuing education in the Royal Academy of Music, in terms of the recognition it gives me and its financial contribution. Irish Heritage is a wonderfully unique organisation with which I feel honoured and privileged to be associated. I am excited to begin a collaborative partnership with Irish Heritage and I am incredibly grateful for their continuous support.

Christopher Quaid Bursary winner 2016 I m extremely honoured to have been involved with Irish Heritage over the course of my first year in London.

6 Christopher Quaid Bursary winner 2016 I m extremely honoured to have been involved with Irish Heritage over the course of my first year in London. Not only have they supported me financially through the award of their bursary but they are a constant source of advice and encouragement. My bursary winner s recital in Leighton House Museum was a wonderful occasion and provided me with an opportunity to give back to Irish Heritage and its supporters. I look forward to representing this wonderful organisation over the course of my career and am determined to repay the faith they have shown in me.

Ailish Tynan Soprano Irish Heritage and the late Ethna Kennedy (the Founder of Irish Heritage) have been hugely supportive to me since arriving in London fifteen years ago and almost immediately

7 Ailish Tynan Soprano Irish Heritage and the late Ethna Kennedy (the Founder of Irish Heritage) have been hugely supportive to me since arriving in London fifteen years ago and almost immediately offered me a recital in beautiful Leighton House which afforded me much needed exposure and financial support in those early days. The society has gone from strength to strength and the support it offers young Irish performers in the UK really is invaluable and cannot be understated. Knowing there is a support network to turn to, as a young artist finding their feet in London, really is a gift. As artists we are extremely lucky to have Irish Heritage. Website:

8 Gavan Ring Baritone Irish Heritage provided me with my first recital opportunity in London on 9th November 2011 so it was a great step towards building a career profile in the UK. The programme was intelligently put together by the late Ethna Kennedy, the Founder and Artistic Director of Irish Heritage. Singing quality material in a great venue (St. Patrick s Church, Soho Square, London) was a great experience. Subsequently, Irish Heritage has been terrifically supportive in promoting me whenever I have asked them. I thoroughly enjoyed my performance with Irish Heritage in Leighton House, Holland Park in June 2015, and performing at the Irish Heritage fundraising dinners in the Savile Club in 2015 and in Website:

Patrick Rafter Violin Having an organisation such as Irish Heritage in London is a wonderful base for any young musician starting out in this vast and highly competitive city for music and the arts.

9 Patrick Rafter Violin Having an organisation such as Irish Heritage in London is a wonderful base for any young musician starting out in this vast and highly competitive city for music and the arts. The professional approach of Irish Heritage, in presenting young performers in fine music venues and in creating a social environment where we can meet our audiences at and after the performance, is unique in my experience. I have had the privilege of performing with Irish Heritage at multiple events including my debut recital at the beautiful Leighton House, with my family, in June I take my hat (and my bow) off to Irish Heritage and I look forward to many more events with them in the future. They are a true reflection of such incredible philanthropy which is evident with the growth of the artists they support. Patrick used his RDS Bursary to study with Maxim Vengerov at the International Menuhin Academy in Switzerland.

Jennifer Davis Soprano Irish soprano, Jennifer Davis, is a recent graduate of the prestigious Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House.

10 Jennifer Davis Soprano Irish soprano, Jennifer Davis, is a recent graduate of the prestigious Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House. Jennifer has performed widely in the UK, Ireland and Europe, both on the operatic stage and concert and oratorio platform. Jennifer s first appearance with Irish Heritage in London was in Enchanted Evenings - celebrating 40 years of Irish Heritage in May 2014 and she performed in A Century of Song and Opera in Ireland in February Most recently Jennifer has performed Adina in Donizetti s L elisir d amore for the Royal Opera, for which Opera Magazine hailed her as giving a vocally impeccable performance which showed star potential Upcoming plans include First Lady in Die Zauberflöte (ROH), Donna Anna in Don Giovanni (Opera North), and covering Elsa in Lohengrin for the Royal Opera.

IRISH HERITAGE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE We have set out the story of Irish Heritage and its aims in the previous pages and illustrated its success in the words of some of the distinguished musicians who

11 IRISH HERITAGE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE We have set out the story of Irish Heritage and its aims in the previous pages and illustrated its success in the words of some of the distinguished musicians who have benefitted from the support we have given them over the years. The needs of young Irish musicians, in particular for further education, training and performance opportunities, have never been greater. Just to survive in a city that welcomes the world s leading musicians of every genre is daunting. Our programme planning extends several years into the future as we continue to pursue excellence in performance. We will create greater opportunities for young musicians and composers in the broad spectrum of classical music with Irish and international dimensions. You can be part of creating this exciting future by becoming a Friend of Irish Heritage; by attending our events where you will meet talented young musicians or by sponsoring an event or artist. You can help by introducing your friends to Irish Heritage and inviting them to join you at performances. There you can be sure of a warm welcome, convivial company and wonderful music. We need your support. Please contact the Chairman (contact@irishheritage.co.uk) or Friends Liaison (kathy.oregan@hotmail.co.uk), and we will be pleased to respond with meaningful ways in which you can help the important work in support of young Irish musicians.

Designed by www.orpendesignsolutions.com Email: contact@irishheritage.co.uk www.irishheritage.co.uk Website: irishheritage.co.uk Facebook: IrishHeritageLondon Twitter: @HeritageIrish LinkedIn: linkedin.

12 Designed by Website: irishheritage.co.uk Facebook: IrishHeritageLondon LinkedIn: linkedin.com/irishheritage Irish Heritage is the trading name of Irish Heritage Limited, a private company limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales Registered Offce: 36 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3QB Registered Number:

rd year

rd year 2016-2017 43 rd year IRISH HERITAGE: WHAT WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO Irish Heritage is a voluntary arts organisation, established in London in 1974 to promote the appreciation and understanding of classical