CMC Launches Contemporary Artists Network of CMC Colleagues

Tue 2 Feb 2021

CMC was happy to launch the Contemporary Artists Network of CMC Colleagues in December 2020. CMC-represented composers and performers who are interested in engaging with contemporary music from Ireland were invited to participate in this CMC Colleagues programme, whereby they were paired as artistic partners for 2021, either randomly or by mutual agreement. In facilitating this network for collaboration between composers and performers in exploring possibilities to create collaborative work for mutual professional benefit and development of their artistic practice, CMC hopes that this initiative will foster a closer sense of community in the contemporary music sector.

Those interested were invited to apply by 13 December 2020, and pairings of participants were randomly selected via a live draw during CMC’s virtual Christmas Party on 17 December 2020. However, where mutual preferences were expressed by any composers and performers in the information sought from participants, they were automatically paired as CMC Colleagues. As the connector through this Contemporary Artists Network, CMC is available to offer ongoing support to CMC Colleagues throughout 2021 in making the most of this programme as they explore possibilities to create collaborative work for mutual professional benefit and development of their artistic practice. On a practical level, composers and performers can come to whatever arrangements suit them best for collaboration and, whenever Covid–19 restrictions are relaxed and face-to-face collaboration is permitted, meetings of CMC Colleagues in CMC’s building will be welcomed.

The aim of this Contemporary Artists Network is to develop new music networks and encourage creative collaboration, and the creation of a new work is not a necessary outcome of this programme. However, where new works result from collaboration by CMC Colleagues, it is hoped that these works will feature in future concerts (live/online) by the participant performers and CMC will promote and document these performances.

We are delighted that a total of 41 composers and 40 performers signed up to participate in the Contemporary Artists Network for 2021. While the number of men and women who signed up for the programme is 50/50 gender balanced overall, approximately 70% of the composers who signed up are men versus 30% women whereas the opposite is true of performers, with approximately 70% women and 30% men. As some people are doubling up by participating in two collaborations, a total of 87 CMC Colleagues will be participating in the following 40 collaborative projects during 2021:

  • Composer Derek Ball and french horn player Hannah Miller
  • Composer Daragh Black Hynes and french horn player Cormac Ó hAodáin
  • Composer David Bremner and violinist/violist Larissa O’Grady
  • Composer Patrick Brennan and accordionist Dermot Dunne
  • Composer Irene Buckley and clarinettist Carol McGonnell
  • Composer John Buckley and singer Aylish Kerrigan
  • Composer John Buckley and violinist Jane Hackett
  • Composer Eoin Callery and pianists Louise and Alison Thomas
  • Composer Seán Clancy and singer Bríd Ní Ghruagáin
  • Composer Rhona Clarke and pianist Isabelle O’Connell
  • Composer David Coonan and singer Amy Ní Fhearraigh
  • Composer Jerome de Bromhead and violist Adele Johnson
  • Composer Eoghan Desmond and flautist Catríona Ryan
  • Composer Seán Doherty and pianists Finghin and Dearbhla Collins
  • Composer Benjamin Dwyer, harpist Anne-Marie O’Farrell and harpsichordist David Adams
  • Composer Paul Hayes and oboist/cor anglais player Ben Gannon
  • Composer Francis Heery and singer Bríd Ní Ghruagáin
  • Composer Fergus Johnston and pianist Tiffany Qiu
  • Composer Mary Kelly and singer Daire Halpin
  • Composer Jenn Kirby, Robbie Blake of Tonnta and conductor Sinéad Hayes
  • Composer Fiona Linnane and singer Ava Dodd
  • Composer Adam McCartney and flautist Miriam Kaczor
  • Composer Anselm McDonnell and cellist Martin Johnson
  • Composer Ben McHugh and singer Sylvia O’Brien
  • Composer Stephen McNeff, singer Gavan Ring and pianist Louise Thomas
  • Composer Áine Mallon and saxophonist Gavin Brennan
  • Composer Peter Moran and violinist/violist Cora Venus Lunny
  • Composer R.A. (Rod) Moulds and pianist Fiachra Garvey
  • Composer Gráinne Mulvey and singer Aylish Kerrigan
  • Composer Gerry Murphy and flautist Emma Coulthard
  • Composer Kevin O’Connell and singer Michelle O’Rourke
  • Composer Anne-Marie O’Farrell and double bassist Dominic Dudley
  • Composer Jane O’Leary and pianist Therese Fahy
  • Composer Sam Perkin and clarinettist Déirdre O’Leary
  • Composer Evangelia Rigaki and singer Elizabeth Hilliard
  • Composer Amy Rooney and flautist Aisling Agnew
  • Composer Matthew Rowan and flautist Lina Andonovska
  • Composers Softday (Seán Taylor and Mikael Fernström) and Ultan O’Brien and singer Elizabeth Hilliard
  • Composer Norah Walsh and french horn player Cormac Ó hAodáin
  • Composer Matthew Whiteside and organist/pianist David Bremner

If you have any questions about the Contemporary Artists Network of CMC Colleagues, please contact Linda O’Shea Farren at losheafarren@cmc.ie.