195K

For Immediate Release

New Music Connects — Workshops and Concerts in Galway and Dublin

7 March 2007

The Contemporary Music Centre and Galway Ensemble-in-Residence commission new music from Irish composers for the ConTempo String Quartet

Announcing Ed Bennett, Rob Canning and David Flynn as the three Irish composers selected to participate in New Music Connects, a series of workshops and concerts taking place throughout 2007 in Galway and Dublin.

New Music Connects is a collaborative project between the Contemporary Music Centre and the Galway Ensemble-in-Residence, funded by the Arts Council/An Comhairle Ealaíon's Project: New Work Award Scheme 2006.

The project offers three composers an unparalleled opportunity to write for the internationally renowned ConTempo String Quartet, originally from Romania and now based in Galway. It involves a series of workshops as well as open communication between the composers and performers involved, and culminates in two concerts, one in Galway and one in Dublin, in December 2007. The first workshop takes place in Galway on 30 March 2007.

'The Contemporary Music Centre is delighted to announce Ed Bennett, Rob Canning and David Flynn as the composers chosen for New Music Connects and we look forward to working with these three composers throughout 2007 on this exciting project', says Karen Hennessy, Promotion Manager, The Contemporary Music Centre.

The work of Dublin-born David Flynn (b.1977), now based in Spiddal, Co. Galway, encompasses most musical genres including classical, jazz, rock and traditional. David is very active as a multi-genre performer and recently launched Draíocht, his debut CD.

Ed Bennett (b.1975), originally from Co. Down and now based in Birmingham, has been commissioned and performed internationally by many diverse artists and organisations. He collaborates with artists of other disciplines and directs and performs with his own ensemble, decibel.

Rob Canning (b.1974) is originally from Dublin and now lives in London, where he is pursuing doctoral studies with the assistance of an Arts Council award. His main area of interest is in computer-assisted performance and composition strategies

The Contemporary Music Centre is Ireland's national library and promotion agency for new music. It has its home in a historic building in Fishamble Street in the Old City of Temple Bar. The Centre is supported by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

For further information contact Karen Hennessy, Promotion Manager, The Contemporary Music Centre, 19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 8.
Tel: 01 673 1922 Email: khennessy@cmc.ie web site: www.cmc.ie

Notes for Editors

The ConTempo String Quartet, Galway Ensemble-in-Residence

The ConTempo Quartet was formed in 1995 when all the members were students at the Music University in Bucharest, Romania. From September 1999 they took up a position as Chamber Music Fellows at the Royal Academy of Music, London, where they stayed until 2002.

Recognised as one of the world's top string quartets, ConTempo has worked with many celebrated quartets, including the Emerson, Amadeus, Alban Berg, Hagen and Tokyo quartets. They have also toured the world extensively.

The ConTempo String Quartet became Galway's first Ensemble-in-Residence in January 2003. The Ensemble-in-Residence project is designed to bring music to new people and new venues in Galway City and County, and to broaden the experience of those already involved in music.