The Arts Council has announced the appointment of Fergus Sheil to the new consulting role of Music Specialist beginning in July 2004. As a member of the arts policy team reporting to Séamus Crimmins, Arts Policy Director, he will be responsible for providing policy advice to the Council on music and for developmental work in this artform.

Fergus Sheil is a conductor of orchestral, operatic and contemporary music. A music graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, he has undertaken private conducting studies with Leon Barzin in Paris as well as at many international masterclasses. He won the 1995 BRI (British Reserve Insurance) conducting competition in the UK, and subsequently performed throughout Ireland as well as the UK, mainland Europe, Africa and America where he made his USA début in New York’s Carnegie Hall.

At home, Fergus has appeared with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, the Ulster Orchestra, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the Irish Chamber Orchestra as well as having worked for Opera Theatre Company, Opera Ireland, Wexford Festival Opera and Lyric Opera productions. He also spent four years on the music staff of Scottish Opera, conducting numerous performances for the company.

In 2002, Fergus took up the position of Director of Crash Ensemble. He has appeared with Crash throughout Ireland, Denmark, Sweden and Estonia. With the Ensemble, he also launched a new festival of contemporary music and won acclaim for his performance of Michael Gordon’s video opera, Van Gogh, prepared in conjunction with the composer. Fergus Sheil’s performances have been broadcast on RTÉ, BBC, Danish, Estonian and Swedish Radio as well as on the Internet.

Further information: Michelle Hoctor, Press and Communications Officer, The Arts Council.