Music of the highest level making welcome return to Birr this week

THE eighth annual Birr Festival of Music takes place this week from Thursday 2 - Monday 6 May with one of its most exciting programmes yet, featuring musicians of the highest level and promising a very entertaining time for all who attend.
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 challenging and rewarding role last year. He's once again bringing three eagerly anticipated events to the festival programme.
This year’s opening event, Celebrity Gala Concert (Birr Theatre Friday May 3, 8pm), will see internationally-acclaimed Irish mezzo-soprano Paula Murrihy and world-renowned pianist Malcolm Martineau make a rare recital appearance in Ireland.
During this very special concert they will 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 4 May. This will be a magical celebration of the 60-year career of Ella Fitzgerald, with a specially-curated selection of their own Ella favourites. It starts at 1pm and takes place in Craughwell's Courtyard.
The Laetare Vocal Ensemble will also make their festival debut. This award-winning Dublin choir will perform a selection of beautiful choral music from the Renaissance to the present day, including music by Birr’s Laura Sheils. The concert starts at 8pm on Saturday May 4, in the Church of Ireland on Oxmantown Mall.
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. The project will feature songs of strange and familiar fauna and creatures created by the children in collaboration with Tina and artist Caoimhe Dunn. Creatures Great & Small takes place on Monday May 6 at 3.30pm in the Church of Ireland, Oxmantown Mall. Entry is free. Choral Director will be Gregory Ward, and the accompanist will be Sophie Ward.
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. Out of the Ordinary/As an nGnách tells the tale of a community forced to flee their barren homeland. It was written by composer Finola Merivale and librettist Jody O’Neill working with director Jo Mangan and students from rural Ireland and communities from Inis Meáin, Tallaght and South Dublin.
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. The Far Flung Trio have been warmly received at festivals and in concert series all over the country, delighting audiences with their mix of virtuosity and playfulness, tradition and innovation.
Senior music students at Coláiste Naomh Cormac and Banagher College 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 in Banagher and previous winners at The Trench Award Martina Rosaria O’Connell and David Vesey visiting Kilcormac. Bruno and Julian have attended every Birr Festival of Music and have played a prominent role in the festival on each occasion. Their musicianship is of the highest quality and it is great to see them back in Birr once again this year. Bruno and Julian will also be performing “Memories in Music” at 2.30pm on Friday May 3 in Birr Community Nursing Unit. This trip down memory lane will bring much-loved melodies and classic songs to residents, family, friends and staff. It will be a 30-40 minute performance in the Dining Room.
Music in Birr Castle, for Festival Patrons & Sponsors, will take place in the beautiful Music Salon in Birr Castle on Sunday 5 May at 3pm. The concert will feature three exceptionally-talented young artists - Martina Rosaria O’Connell (flute), Julieanne Forrest (violin) and David Vesey (piano) – all previous prize winners at The Trench Award.
The Trench Award 2024, one of the main events on the festival schedule, takes place on Sunday May 5 at 7.30pm in Birr Theatre & Arts Centre. It 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. The Masterclasses in Birr Theatre take place on Monday May 6 from 11am to 1pm. They are free and open to all. You will be able to observe the Trench Award finalists in vocal and piano being given tuition by Bruno Caproni and Julian Evans. Music students and teachers are especially welcome!
Director of Birr Festival of Music is Maureen de Forge. Maureen told The Midland Tribune that the festival committee is looking 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 are on sale. See www.birrfestivalofmusic.com
Birr Festival of Music is kindly supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, The JVM Trench Will Trust, Creative Ireland Creative Communities, Offaly County Council, Birr Lions Club and Birr Theatre & Arts Centre.