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Elaine Agnew 'I like to write music which is direct: sudden disruptive jolts contrasting with ritualistic still textures and whispers. The gestures of the performers as they play give direction to my work.' |
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County Antrim composer Elaine Agnew studied composition at Queen’s University, Belfast and at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with Michael Alcorn, Kevin Volans and James MacMillan. She was recently appointed as the first RTÉ lyric fm Composer-in-Residence in association with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, and her first commission “Hiccup” (2008) for early instruments will be broadcast throughout the EBU on Handel’s anniversary in April 2009. Her year long residency includes a new carol “Curoo Curoo” for RTÉ lyric fm’s annual “Choirs for Christmas” competition and an orchestral piece for the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, alongside a series of education and on-line projects. Her works have been performed worldwide by artists such as Lontano, the Vogler Quartet, the National Chamber Choir, Concorde, the European Union Chamber, the Irish Chamber, the Ulster Youth and Ulster Orchestras and pianists Angela Hewitt and Romain Descharme. Recent premieres include “one less petal, one less flame” (2007), a major education commission celebrating the Flight of the Earls in Donegal. Irish pianist Isabelle O’Connell performed “Seagull” (2005) at the Carnegie Hall in New York while Concorde performed her song cycle “In the Adriatic” (2006) at the Unicum Festival in Slovenia in May 2008. Elaine Agnew has directed extensive education and community projects and is the Artistic Advisor of Music Network’s Continuing Professional Development programme. She was awarded a Major Individual Arts Award from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and has recently returned from her first trip to Australia where she met with composer Elena Kats-Chernin. A second visit is planned in 2009 to work with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Elaine Agnew is currently writing a series of chamber pieces with poet Chris Agee in collaboration with Maltese musicians and a new score for a production by Tall Tales Theatre Company of “Maisy Daly’s Rainbow”. (biography © Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland) |
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