Composers
Jürgen Simpson
(b. 1975)Jürgen Simpson was born in Dublin. His work spans multiple mediums and approaches including electroacoustic works, opera, music for film, dance, and sound installations.
Since 1999, SOFTDAY, the collaboration of Seán Taylor and Mikael Fernström has developed a number of high profile science/art projects.
Yue Song
(b. 1991)Yue Song is a Chinese composer and pianist based in Dublin, Ireland.
David Stalling
(b. 1971)Originally from Bochum, Germany, David Stalling is a composer, sound artist and audio producer since the early 1990s.
Charles Villiers Stanford
(1852 - 1924)Sir Charles Villiers Stanford was the most famous composer of Irish origin before independence.
Eric Sweeney
(1948 - 2020)Eric Sweeney was born in Dublin. He studied in Ireland, England, Belgium and Italy and his first compositions – songs, piano pieces and choral works – date from the late 1960s.
Andrew Synnott
(b. 1970)Andrew Synnott is a composer and conductor based in Dublin. He has conducted
operas for Irish National Opera, Wexford Festival Opera, Opera Theatre Company and
Declan Townsend
(b. 1938)Declan Townsend was born in Tralee, Co. Kerry. He has worked as a string teacher, secondary school music master, light opera and choral conductor, adjudicator, author and arranger.
Peadar Townsend
(b. 1974)Peadar Townsend graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, in 1993, where he later obtained a Professional Performance Diploma in 1997.
Fiachra Trench
(b. 1941)Fiachra Trench was born in Dublin in 1941. He studied science at Trinity College, Dublin and composition and organ at the Royal Irish Academy of Music with A. J. Potter and George Hewson.
Joan Trimble
(1915 - 2000)Joan Trimble was born in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh.
Niall Vallely
(b. 1970)Niall Vallely was born in Armagh in 1970 and began learning the concertina at the age of seven, taught by his parents Brian and Eithne Vallely, founders of the Armagh Pipers' Club.
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.