Concorde’s Up Close with Music series returns for a 3rd season in January

The series takes place at the RHA Gallery, Dublin on the last Sunday of each month beginning and continuing until April.

The concerts take place from 2.30 - 4.30 and focus on new Irish music in an international context and will showcase new commissions by composers Linda Buckley, Ed Bennett, and Jane O’Leary. Also featured will be music from USA, Scotland, Spain, Finland, Australia, Iceland, Hong Kong, Portugal, England and Sweden, selected following submissions from over 250 composers in 44 countries.

The opening concert on 25 January features a new work by the ensemble’s artistic director, Jane O’Leary alongside works by guest composer Carolyn O’Brien (USA) and Irish composer Geoff Sheil.

Jane O'Leary's new work, A Winter Sketchbook, was written for Concorde musicians Madeleine Staunton (flute) and Elaine Clark (violin). The composer writes about the piece:

'These little pieces capture some impressions from the time of year in which they were written. As if sketched in sound, they are full of colour and sharp contrasts, leaving the listener to conjure up his/her own individual images. A memory of the very sharp bright light from a low winter sun may provide a focus for the sounds as the music unfolds.'