2018 2019 SEPTEMBER - JUNE CORK CORK ENNIS ENNIS TRALEE DUBLIN THURLES LIMERICK WATERFORD www.irishchamberorchestra.com Culture Ireland promotes Irish arts worldwide, creating and supporting opportunities for Irish artists and companies to present and promote their work at strategic international festivals and venues. Culture Ireland supports the Irish Chamber Orchestra’s international touring. www.cultureireland.ie Jörg Widmann conducting the Irish Chamber Orchestra in Essen, February 2018 MESSAGE FROM THE CEO In 2018/2019 the Irish Chamber Orchestra takes us on another exciting journey, re-creating old favourites, pushing out the boundaries, and exploring fresh, new music to present you with an unforgettable experience. We will introduce you to some extraordinary soloists who mould and shape our rich and varied scope of activity. We have an incredible synergy with the multi-talented composer and clarinettist Jörg Widmann (our Principal Conductor/Artistic Partner), his music and his mission. Our upcoming season celebrates great repertoire – from the first to the last concert, we span no less than four centuries of music, and we invite you to come and explore this with us. Over the coming season, the ICO collaborates with some of the world’s finest international soloists. We look forward to the return of flamboyant conductor, Jean-Christophe Spinosi who delves into the heart of Beethoven’s C Symphonies – his First and Fifth. From the concert hall to the sports stadium, come and see the ICO in a new guise, performing classic hits with some of Ireland’s finest rock bands at one of the country’s iconic music festivals Feile -The Trip to Tipp. We joins forces once more with Chamber Choir Ireland for the Irish premiere of Sir James MacMillan’s Stabat Mater, as part of NEW MUSIC DUBLIN 2018 supported by NCH, RTÉ and The Arts Council. The mesmeric Thomas Zehetmair returns to direct from the violin, performing Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 3. We also look forward to a mammoth collaboration with Chamber Choir Ireland for Mendelssohn’s jewel in the crown: his iconic Lobgesang – bringing Widmann’s extraordinary journey with Mendelssohn to a climactic conclusion. The cream of Irish and international soloists feature, including sopranos Genia Kühmeier, Anna Devin and tenor Colin Balzer. As always, we champion young Irish composers and musicians. Sam Perkin presents another ICO commission, while jazz flautist Michael Buckley tours with the ICO performing a recent concerto, Pipe Dreams by Ronan Guillfoyle; followed by another commission by rising star Sebastian Adams. Our December programme showcases the talents of Irish mezzo soprano Sharon Carty. Our international profile continues to flourish. In June 2019, the orchestra will tour South America with Jörg Widmann, with a further tour planned to the U.S. There have been glowing reviews of the ICO’s latest CD, our third recording of Mendelssohn’s Symphonies on the Orfeo label. Our Community Engagement programme really reflects who we are, as we venture beyond the concert hall with a variety of work at the University of Limerick, in schools, hospitals and many other community settings. Our Sing Out With Strings programme clearly demonstrates our innovation, our pride and creativity, as we continue to change lives through music. The ICO creates extraordinary musical experiences that empower individuals through collaboration with a deep-rooted passion for artistic excellence. The Irish Chamber Orchestra, resident at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, has its own studio on campus at the University of Limerick and is funded by The Arts Council of Ireland/An Chomhairle Ealaíon. Additional support from Culture Ireland contributes significantly towards the ICO’s international touring initiatives. I would like to acknowledge the unfailing support of all our Patrons and Friends for their continuing loyalty and support of the greater ICO family. GERARD KEENAN Chief Executive Officer IRISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA www.irishchamberorchestra.com The Irish Chamber Orchestra is Ireland’s most dynamic ensemble. Mixing traditional repertoire with new commissions and collaborating with everyone from DJs to dance companies, the ICO pushes the boundaries of what a chamber orchestra can do. These days, you’re as likely to find us at the Electric Picnic as Mozartfest, but wherever we perform, /IRISHCHAMBERORCHESTRA the ICO delivers world-class concerts feted for their energy and style. IRISHCHAMBERORCHESTRA Each year,@ICORCHESTRA Ireland’s busiest ensemble presents concert seasons in both Limerick and Dublin, embarks on two national tours, and makes a series of prestigious international appearancesWWW.IRISHCHAMBERORCHESTRA.COM supported by Culture Ireland. Our Artistic Committee works closely with our Artistic Partners to devise exciting, diverse and innovative programmes, mixing standard repertoire with new work – often specially commissioned – from the best young Irish composers. This versatile approach enables us to appeal to music fans of every stripe while upholding the highest artistic standards. The driving force behind our recent success is our Principal Conductor/Artistic Partner Jörg Widmann, a composer, conductor and clarinettist whose irrepressible energy and pursuit of excellence has enabled the ICO to expand its horizons, attracting outstanding international performers such as Tabea Zimmermann, Igor Levit and James Galway. The last five years have seen ICO perform at leading concert halls and festivals across Europe and release a series of acclaimed recordings on the prestigious Orfeo label. The ICO recently completed a three- year residency at Heidelberger Frühling and is currently orchestra-in-residence at Kilkenny Arts Festival. 57609 CUBE PKT Folder FIN.indd 1 25/08/2016 10:08 Widmann’s enthusiasm and commitment is matched by the orchestra itself, led by the ebullient Katherine Hunka and comprised of 22 outstanding musicians. The ICO’s special rapport, forged over 20 years of playing – and sometimes singing! – together, creates the unique sound that has captivated audiences all over the world. The orchestra enjoys outstanding support. The enthusiasm and forward thinking of CEO Gerard Keenan has been instrumental in realising some of the ICO’s most exhilarating collaborations, while the board, chaired by Aibhlín McCann, comprises members whose diverse professional expertise is matched by their determination to realise the orchestra’s vision. At the heart of this vision is the belief that music is for everyone. That’s why the ICO has implemented an ambitious and far-reaching strategy that aims to take music out of the concert hall and into the local community, inspiring children to try music for themselves, and supporting them on their journey from first lesson to public performance. Our groundbreaking initiative, Sing Out with Strings (SOWS), offers primary school children in Limerick the chance to learn music for free. Now in its eleventh year, the project has been hailed as a model of social inclusion, offering opportunities for young people, developing key life skills and providing tangible long-term benefits for participants, their families and the wider community. The success of SOWS has inspired us to set up a youth orchestra, the ICOYO, which provides aspiring musicians aged 12 to 18 with the support they need to grow. And it doesn’t stop there: the orchestra has made its home at the University of Limerick for over 20 years, and we’re deeply involved in the MA in Classical String Performance, supporting young talent through workshops and masterclasses. The ICO is orchestra-in-residence at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick, and is funded by The Arts Council of Ireland/An Chomhairle Ealaíon. For details of the ICO’s current season, click HERE. www.irishchamberorchestra.com Violin Board of Directors/Executive Katherine Hunka Concertmaster Aibhlín McCrann (Chair) Nicola Sweeney Principal 1st violin Frank Casey (Hon. Life President) André Swanepoel Principal 2nd violin Rosemary Collier Anna Cashell Eamonn Cregan Diane Daly Joseph Dundon Oonagh Keogh Joan Garahy Emily Nenniger Karen Morton Kenneth Rice Gearóid Stanley Louis Roden Cliodhna Ryan Chief Executive Gerard Keenan Viola Joachim Roewer Principal Friends/Finance Cian Ó Dúill Margaret Kelly Mark Coates Smith Robin Panter Marketing & Communications Manager Charlotte Eglington Cello Christian Elliott Principal Operations Manager Richard Angell Cathriona Murphy Aoife Nic Athlaoich Education & Outreach Officer Double Bass Kathrine Barnecutt Malachy Robinson Principal Artistic Advisor Oboe Sonja Stein, Sonja Stein Company Daniel Bates Principal Matthew Draper Horn James Palmer Principal “There is a taut vivacity to the playing of this Stephen Nicholls orchestra that’s easily traced to the geniality of the group” The Irish Independent KATHERINE HUNKA Director/Violin Born in London, Katherine Hunka began playing the violin at the age of four. Whilst growing up under the guidance of teacher Sheila Nelson, she performed chamber music at London’s South Bank and the Royal Albert hall, was soloist with the City of London Sinfonia and led the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. Katherine was awarded a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music where she spent five years studying with Gyorgy Pauk, and then furthered her studies in the USA at Indiana University where she also acted as teaching assistant to her professor, Mauricio Fuks. This instilled in her a great love of teaching. She has since returned