Festival of Music in Offaly announces another thrilling programme of events

THE programme for the eighth annual Birr Festival of Music has been announced.

Taking place from Thursday May 2nd-Monday May 6th, it’s one of the most exciting programmes yet for Birr’s annual classical music festival across the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Pianist, conductor, art-song specialist and one of Ireland’s most sought-after accompanists, Niall Kinsella continues as Artistic Curator in 2024 after first taking up this exciting role last year. He once again brings three thrilling events for the festival programme.

This year’s opening event, Celebrity Gala Concert, will see internationally-acclaimed Irish mezzo-soprano Paula Murrihy and world-renowned pianist Malcolm Martineau make a rare recital appearance in Ireland to present a wonderful programme of Debussy, Berlioz, Benjamin Britten, Vaughan Williams and Ina Boyle, which they will reprise at London’s prestigious Wigmore Hall at the end of May.

Highly-acclaimed Irish jazz vocalist Stella Bass brings her beautiful show to Birr accompanied by The Johnny Taylor Trio on Saturday May 4th. This is a magical celebration of the 60-year career of Ella Fitzgerald, with a specially-curated selection of their own Ella favourites.

The Laetare Vocal Ensemble will also make their festival debut. This award-winning Dublin choir performs a selection of beautiful choral music from the Renaissance to the present day, including new compositions by Birr’s Laura Sheils.

This year’s Birr Young Voices’ project, Creatures Great & Small in collaboration with Birr School of Music, takes its inspiration from the wonderful bogland photography of Tina Claffey. With songs of strange and familiar fauna and creatures created by the children in collaboration with Tina and artist Caoimhe Dunn.

The festival is also expanding its outreach to local secondary and primary schools. Senior music students at St Brendan’s Community School in Birr will experience the world’s first virtual reality community opera; Out of the Ordinary/As an nGnách by Irish National Opera. The Far Flung Trio - Katherine Hunka (violin), Dermot Dunne (accordion) and Malachy Robinson (double bass) - will visit local primary schools to present Peter & The Wolf, the much-loved story of the brave boy Peter with the well-known music of Sergei Prokofiev.

Senior music students at other local schools will also gain an insight into what it means to be a successful professional musician with acclaimed baritone Bruno Caproni and concert pianist Julian Evans presenting music and stories from their international careers.

The Trench Award 2024, one of the main events on the festival schedule, will showcase young singers and musicians of the future. Six singers/musicians from the Midlands region will each perform a 15-minute programme of their choice. All are pursuing professional careers in performance and were selected by an international panel of music experts. Recipients of The Trench Award, Birr Lions Club Bursary, Canto Al Serchio Prize (for voice), Audrey Chisholm Award (for instrument), will be announced.

There will also be a host of pop-up performances around the town and masterclasses in Birr Theatre & Arts Centre.

Director of Birr Festival of Music is Maureen de Forge: “We look forward to presenting a truly versatile and exciting range of performances at this year’s Festival. From the high-octane Celebrity Opening Concert, to wonderful choral singing and classic jazz, there is music to appeal to a broad range of tastes. Another welcome development sees our Schools Outreach programme expanding into neighbouring schools and our partnership with the thriving Birr School of Music continues to grow. We are extremely grateful to our funders, sponsors, patrons and audiences who make all of this possible and we extend a Céad Míle Fáilte to all for a special May Bank Holiday Weekend of music.”

Tickets go on sale on Tuesday March 19^th at 1.30pm - www.birrfestivalofmusic.com

Birr Festival of Music is kindly supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, The JVM Trench Will Trust, Creative Ireland, Offaly County Council, Birr Lions Club and Birr Theatre & Arts Centre.