The National Concert Hall's contemporary music festival takes place this month. The National Concert Hall has launched its ‘Composers’ Choice’ series for 2005.

Now in its sixth year, some changes have been made. Instead of taking place at Easter, the series now runs from 11-27 September, with the five concerts spaced out across three weeks, three of them taking place on Sunday afternoons.

The participating composers are Philip Martin, Stephen Gardner, Benjamin Dwyer, Eibhlis Farrell and Michael Alcorn and the series aims to showcase the work of living Irish Composers and provide a platform for the growth and performance of new music.

Judith Woodworth, director of the National Concert Hall said, ‘Composers’ Choice offers Irish audiences the chance to hear works by living Irish composers. We are particularly pleased to provide this platform to composers and performers of contemporary music who play an important part in developing and encouraging the progression of new music in Ireland’.

Two newly commissioned works, by Eibhlis Farrell and Stephen Gardner, are featured this year. Another innovation is a multimedia presentation, Scenes from Crow, with visuals by David Farrell and an amplified score by Benjamin Dwyer performed by the ensemble Vox 21.

Other unusual works in the series include lute songs by John Dowland sung by soprano Mhairi Lawson with lutenist Paula Chateauneuf. The multi-percussionist Renzo Spiteri performs Michael Alcorn’s work Thin Air, for percussion and live electronics. London-based ensemble Lontano performs works by Xenakis, Bill Evans, Stephen Gardner’s Mutable Sea and a new work by Gardner for ensemble and tape.

In conjunction with the series, the National Concert Hall is also offering a valuable opportunity for young composers, where they are invited to submit new works for adjudication with a substantial cash prize for the winning piece and a performance in 2006 by the NCH’s ‘Rising Star’ recitalist.

The series is sponsored by IMRO, RTÉ Lyric fm and The Sunday Tribune.

Further information: Lucy Champion, Education and Community Outreach Manager, The National Concert Hall, Tel: 01-408 6789 or email lucy.champion@nch.ie

Posted: 29 June 2005