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IRISH HERITAGE APRIL NEWSLETTER

World Premiere of New Composition
New YouTube Channel
Vacancy for an Artistic Adviser-Britain
Blackwater Valley Opera Festival
Irish Heritage Charity Golf Day
News from and about Irish Heritage People

Irish Heritage Newsletter – April 2019
Welcome to the April issue of the Irish Heritage newsletter.
You will read about the successful Showcase Ireland concert on 3^rd April including the world premiere of the winning entry in our Bursary for Composition.
There is information about our new YouTube channel and our search for a new Artistic Adviser-Britain.
There are details about Irish Heritage’s Charity Golf Day on 14^th June and the appearance of our Bursary stars at the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival on 31^st May.
Further details can always be found at www.irishheritage.co.uk

News

“A Wonderful Evening’s Entertainment”

This is just one of the many compliments received by Irish Heritage after the inaugural “Showcase Ireland” concert in the elegant surroundings of the Princess Alexandra Hall in St James’s on 3^rd April.

The concert featured London debuts by three emerging talented performers from Ireland, soprano Fiona Flavin, pianist Kevin Jansson and cellist Killian White.

Fiona Flavin, an honours graduate of the Cork School of Music, performed pieces by Philip Martin, Lizst, Puccini and Mozart which demonstrated the range of her pure voice. 18-year-old Kevin Jansson gave a virtuoso performance of Rachmaninov’s Sonata No 2 in B-flat minor Op 36 (1931 version) which confirmed the young pianist’s growing reputation as one of the finest musicians of his generation. Killian White, recipient of the 2018 RDS Music Bursary, gave an energetic and passionate interpretation of Gaspar Cassado’s Cello Suite.

The concert was produced by Irish Heritage’s Artistic Adviser-Ireland, Audrey McKenna.

The enthusiastic reception the young artists received from the large audience was tribute to their undoubted talent and performances.

Pictured (left to right): Audrey McKenna, Irish Heritage; Joanna Quinn, RDS; Bernie Brennan, President RDS and Killian White.
There are more photos from the evening on the Irish Heritage website just go to the news story and follow the link at the end of the report.

World Premiere of New Composition

Irish Heritage’s Showcase Ireland concert on 3^rd April also provided an appropriate setting for the world premiere performance of the winning composition in our inaugural music bursary for composition.
The winning entry, a duet for harp and flute called “Give Me Your Hand and Come What May”, was composed by Niall Tormey and performed by flautist Amy Gillen and harpist Tara Viscardi. Niall flew in from Ireland for the premiere.

The £3,000 Bursary, which was made possible through the support of The Ireland Funds and a generous donor, was open to young, first or second generation Irish composers studying at recognised music conservatoires and other colleges in Ireland and Britain.

Pictured after the performance are (left to right): Peter Power-Hynes of Irish Heritage, harpist Tara Viscardi, composer Niall Tormey, Katie Jemmett of the Ireland Funds, flautist Amy Gillen and Ruaidhri Dowling of the Embassy of Ireland.

New YouTube Channel

Irish Heritage is pleased to announce the launch of its YouTube channel.
The channel provides the organisation with another valuable means of delivering on its mission to support young Irish performers and composers and bring them to the attention on music lovers worldwide.

The initial videos on the channel feature performances at Irish Heritage’s Showcase Ireland concert in the Princess Alexandra Hall on 3rd April including the world premiere of Niall Tormey’s Burary-winning composition.

Commenting on the launch of the channel, Patrick Lennon, Chairman of Irish Heritage said, “Today’s digital technology adds a new dimension to how we can fulfil our mission. Having improved our presence on Twitter and Facebook, it is time to open a YouTube channel and invest in video material for broadcast on it. Happily, our Showcase Ireland concert provided a wealth of high standard performances by a talented singer and musicians that we are proud to bring to the attention of a wider audience.”

The videos can be found at:
1. The highlights of the concert at https://youtu.be/x18QBoXDtq0
2. The world premiere of the composition at https://youtu.be/lHZ8pQFW5Fs

Vacancy for an Artistic Adviser-Britain

Irish Heritage wishes to appoint an Artistic Adviser for Britain to complement its Artistic Adviser for Ireland.
Reporting to the organisation’s Board, this important, voluntary role is to help fulfil the purpose of Irish Heritage by identifying and supporting the most talented, emerging Irish classical music performers and composers from the island of Ireland especially those based in Britain.

Among the principle duties of the Advisers are to assist with the development and implementation of an artistic programme in detail for one year and in outline for a further two years that fits within the Irish Heritage event year from 1^st September – 31^st August.

Anyone interested must be currently involved in a professional capacity in the music industry in Britain.
For further information including a detailed description of the role, please contact the Chairman of Irish Heritage, Patrick Lennon at mail@patricklennon.com

Forthcoming Events

31^st May
Blackwater Valley Opera Festival, Lismore, County Waterford

See the stars of the 2018 Irish Heritage Music Bursary for Performance - Amy Gillen, Tara Viscardi and Brian Hughes, in a special recital in the Festival’s unique Dromore Yard venue at 12.00pm on Friday 31^st May. Visit www.blackwatervalleyoperafestival.ie for details.

14^th June
Irish Heritage Charity Golf Day at Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf and Spa.

Irish Heritage’s popular, annual fund-raising event takes place at this fine venue and course on Friday 14^th June.
Entries will be welcomed from teams of four golfers at £125 per person including evening dinner. Non-golfers are welcome to attend for dinner at £50 per person. Holes around the course can be sponsored at £100 each and advertising is available in the bespoke brochure that will accompany the day.

The day starts with breakfast and registration from 9.00am and concludes with dinner at 7.00pm followed by prize-giving and entertainment which includes a performance by Irish Heritage’s bursary recipients.
Please contact Tom Scanlon at tom@scanlon.com for further details about participation and sponsorship.

News from and about Irish Heritage Performers

Adam Heron

Adam, who received the Irish Heritage Music Bursary for Performance in 2017, has been in touch to let us know that he will be performing over coming months as follows:

29^th April – Recital in St James’ Piccadilly, London SW1 at 1.00pm.
26^th June – Lunchtime concert in St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick at 1.15pm.
27^th June – Music for Calary Festival, Calary, Co. Wicklow at 8.00pm.

Have you considered becoming a “Friend of Irish Heritage”?

By becoming a Friend of Irish Heritage you join a special community of people who are committed to making the dreams of young Irish classical performers and composers a reality and to helping maintain the high quality and breadth of our programme of concerts and other events.

Your annual subscription of £50 provides vital funding for the essential support and performance opportunities Irish Heritage is able to offer talented musicians, singers and composers that are awarded Bursaries or are identified by Irish Heritage’s artistic advisers.

For further information and an application form, please visit: www.irishheritage.co.uk and click on the “Join Us” tab.

Without the generosity of our Friends, much that we do at Irish Heritage would be impossible.

Irish Heritage – An Introduction

Irish Heritage is a not-for-profit, voluntary, performing arts organisation, established in London in 1974, to promote the appreciation and understanding of classical music and music composed by Irish composers performed by Irish musicians and singers in Great Britain to a wide audience.

It is the only Irish arts organisation in Britain dedicated to helping young Irish musicians and composers in the early part of their careers when their needs are greatest. It awards two valuable Bursaries annually, one for performance, the other for composition.

Irish Heritage presents a programme of public events in established music venues and supports other organisations, including the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival that share its aims in music and the arts. It has links with the Royal Dublin Society and conservatoires in Ireland and Britain to identify emerging, talented young performers and composers.

The organisation’s values: Creativity, Encouragement, Collaboration, Enjoyment and Inclusivity, reflect the legacy inherited from our founder Ethna Kennedy that we are committed to maintaining and enhancing.

Visit www.irishheritage.co.uk for more information.

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