Brian Boydell Centenary Conference
The Long Room Hub
June 23-24, Trinity College, Dublin.
Born in Dublin in 1917, Brian Boydell was one of Ireland’s major 20th century composers. As a musicologist, he published seminal research on music in 18th century Dublin. As a broadcaster, performer, adjudicator, public lecturer, an often outspoken agitator for music, singing teacher, Professor of Music at Trinity College Dublin, one of the founders of the Music Association of Ireland and long-time member of the Arts Council, his influence on music and music education in Ireland was significant. An honorary DMus of the National University of Ireland (1974) and Fellow of the Royal Irish Academy of Music (1990), he was elected to Aosdána, the affiliation of creative artists in Ireland, in 1984.
To mark his centenary, a celebratory conference will be held on Friday 23/Saturday 24 June 2017 at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Trinity Long Room Hub, Trinity College Dublin, to re-evaluate his contributions to Irish musical, artistic and academic life, and their place within the wider contexts of musical, cultural and artistic developments in Ireland in the 20th century.
The conference address will be delivered by Prof Barra Boydell, followed by a video message from Dr Mary Robinson, current Chancellor of Trinity College Dublin. Peter Murray, Director of the Crawford Art Gallery Cork, will present a guest lecture on Brian Boydell’s paintings, some of which will be on display during the conference. A celebratory concert will take place at the RIAM on Friday evening featuring some of Ireland’s most distinguished performers including ConTempo Quartet, Sylvia O’Brien, Bill Dowdall and Clíona Doris. A special screening of Anne Makower’s 1997 documentary All My Enthusiasms will close the event on Saturday evening.
Further information on the conference, including registration details, is available here.