Composers
Elaine Agnew
(b. 1967)In 2012 Elaine Agnew’s BBC Proms Commission ‘Dark Hedges’ was premiered by the Ulster Youth Orchestra, the Ulster Orchestra and flautist Sir James Galway in London’s Royal Albert Hall, one reviewer
June Armstrong
(b. 1951)June Armstrong is a piano teacher living and working in Belfast.
Alyson Barber
(b. 1983)Alyson Barber has composed an eclectic variety of pieces, including collaborations for theatre and animated shorts.
Ina Boyle
(1889 - 1967)Ina Boyle lived her life at Bushey Park in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow. Aged eleven, she attended her first harmony lesson with an S.S.
Éna Brennan
(b. 1990)Éna Brennan is a Dublin-based composer, arranger, violinist and graphic designer, originally from Brussels. Since moving to Dublin she has obtained a B.A.
Melanie Brown
(b. 1971)Dr Melanie Brown is a music graduate of Trinity College, Dublin and has an M.A. in Composition from NUI Maynooth. In 2011 she was awarded her PhD in Ethnomusicology at the University of Limerick.
Irene Buckley
(b. 1978)Irene Buckley holds a BMus and a PhD in Composition from University College Cork and an MA in Music Technology from Queens University Belfast.
Linda Buckley
(b. 1979)Linda Buckley is a composer from the Old Head of Kinsale currently based in Glasgow.
Solfa Carlile
(b. 1985)Solfa Carlile is originally from Cork. She was awarded the Bill Whelan Music Bursary and studied composition at Royal College of Music, London, graduating with a BMus in 2009 and MMus in 2011.
Rhona Clarke
(b. 1958)Rhona Clarke was born in Dublin. She studied music at University College, Dublin and completed a Ph.D. at Queen’s University, Belfast.
Amelia Clarkson
(b. 1995)Amelia Clarkson (b. 1995) is a composer from County Down. Her creative practice is centred on navigating potent political issues, juxtaposing folk and classical influences in her approach.
Ann Cleare
(b. 1983)Ann Cleare is an Irish composer working in the areas of concert music, opera, extended sonic environments, and hybrid instrumental design.
Pages
This section introduces the music of Irish composers of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It is intended as a good starting point for anyone not familiar with Irish contemporary music.
Each composer's page provides a photo, a biography, most recent works added to CMC's collection and other information. You can also purchase CDs and scores by each composer, access features about the composers, or view any upcoming events which include their music.
An Irish composer is defined as anyone who was born or is permanently resident in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland.
For any Irish composers interested in registering with CMC, please see our guidelines on how to apply.