54K

For Immediate Release

Contemporary Music Centre Launches CD5

Dublin, 29 November 2005

The Contemporary Music Centre launches the fifth volume in its promotional CD series Contemporary Music from Ireland at 11.00am on 7 December 2005. Ms Rosemary Kelly, Chairperson, Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI), will officially launch the CD, which is jointly funded by ACNI and the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon, with support from Culture Ireland.

The Contemporary Music from Ireland CD series aims to give a snapshot of what's happening right now in contemporary music in Ireland. The CD features 12 composers with works all written in the twenty-first century. Composers include Simon Mawhinney, Jane O'Leary, Donnacha Dennehy, Elaine Agnew, Bill Campbell, Raymond Deane, Ciaran Farrell, Victor Lazzarini, Brian Irvine, Ricardo Climent, Deirdre McKay and Gerry Murphy.

As well as showcasing Irish composers CD5 features many different performing groups including the Callino Quartet, Concorde, the Crash Ensemble, the Vanbrugh Quartet, the National Chamber Choir, the RTE Concert Orchestra and the Brian Irvine Ensemble. Individual performers include London based pianist Evelyn Chang, Irish pianist Finghin Collins and Brendan Walsh, guitar.

Speaking about the production of CD5, Eve O'Kelly, Director, CMC, said, "we are very grateful to all the performers who so generously gave their services and whose support for Irish composers is a constant encouragement."

The CD will be distributed nationally and internationally to radio stations, festivals, concert promoters, performers, and universities. All the tracks from the CD may be broadcast and further information on all composers on the CD can be found on the Centre's web site at www.cmc.ie A special podcast on the CD is available on the homepage of the Centre's web site.

The Contemporary Music Centre (CMC) is Ireland's national archive and resource centre for new music, supporting and developing the work of composers throughout the Republic and Northern Ireland. It is used on a national and international basis by performers, composers, promoters and members of the public interested in finding out more about music in Ireland.

For further information contact Karen Hennessy, Contemporary Music Centre, 19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 8, tel: 01 673 1922, email: khennessy@cmc.ie