Composers

Format: 2024

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 graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, in 1993, where he later obtained a Professional Performance Diploma in 1997.

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 was born in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh.

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.

Born in Dublin, Gerard Victory was educated at University College Dublin and Trinity College.

Kevin Volans was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, and studied at the University of the Witwatersrand and later with Karlheinz Stockhausen and Mauricio Kagel in Cologne.

“Contemporary, sophisticated, musical gold”; The Irish World 2016
“Beautifully scored rhapsody”; The Examiner 2012

Wallace, born in Waterford city, was the son of a British army bandmaster from Ballina, Co. Mayo.

Norah Walsh is a composer, musical director and musician based in Dublin, Ireland.

Jennifer Walshe was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1974.

Working between Edinburgh, Belfast and London, Harry Whalley is an award winning composer of contemporary classical, film and electroacoustic music.

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.