NEWS

September 2008

2008 BILL WHELAN INTERNATIONAL BURSARY

Applications are currently being sought for the next round of The Bill Whelan International Music Bursary. The Bursary programme which was established in 2004 to support Irish music students studying abroad has already assisted a number of students from different disciplines ranging from film scoring, orchestration and music composition to continue their studies in the UK, USA and Germany. The bursary scheme is administered with the assistance of The Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO).

The very high costs associated with studying at prominent international music institutions raises significant obstacles for most Irish students offered places at such universities. The introduction of this award eases the burden significantly. Ongoing support and mentoring from the bursary selection team means that students are in a prime position to maximise their study and networking opportunities.

"As we head into year four, I am delighted to note the progress in the work and careers of the recipients to date and would encourage any students to come forward for the 2008 awards. Since I first launched the Bursary scheme with IMRO's co-operation in 2004, I have been investigating some further opportunities for Irish students to study abroad, and am actively engaged with institutions here and elsewhere to see how this might be expanded in the future. I expect to have something new to announce before this Bursary completes its term in 2008" outlined Bill Whelan at the announcement of bursary deadlines for 2008.

"Receiving the financial support which enabled me to study Screen Composition at the Royal College of Music in London in 2006 was just one of the incredible privileges that came my way through being a Bill Whelan Bursary recipient. Along with the respect that has come from being supported by Bill, I can barely describe the extent to which his sustained encouragement and enthusiasm has accelerated my career and personal development as a composer, both at and away from my writing desk. Having studied and worked alongside so many 'emerging' composers also fighting for successful careers, I am constantly aware of the gift the Bill Whelan Bursary has been to me, and have yet to hear of a funding scheme that can offer anything comparable " added bursary recipient Anna Rice.

Bill Whelan, best known as composer of Riverdance The Show, a Grammy Award winner for 'Best Musical Show Album', has worked extensively in theatre, television and film. His orchestral works include the specially commissioned piece, The Seville Suite (1992) and The Spirit Of Mayo (1993). His work in international film includes Lamb which he co-composed with Van Morrison, his emotive score for the Jim Sheridan/Terry George film Some Mother's Son and the original score for the film version of Brian Friel's award winning Dancing At Lughnasa which starred Meryl Streep. His production and arranging credits include U2, Van Morrison, Kate Bush, Richard Harris and The Dubliners.

Bill speaks to Galway Bay FM and Mid-West Radio

Bill speaks live today to Keith Finnegan of Galway Bay FM and Paul Claffey of Mid West FM Radio about the upcoming performances of Riverdance The Show in Castlebar. The show runs at the new Royal Theatre in Castlebar from September 3rd until 9th for more information check out www.theroyal.ie

July 2008

MUSIC, IRELAND and RIVERDANCE
Bill Whelan in conversation with Toner Quinn of the JMI. This wide ranging interview is available to JMI subscribers at www.thejmi.com

"Doing Something Irish" from Thomas Moore to Riverdance.
The first in a series of UCD Scholarcasts, given by PJ Mathews, lecturer at the School of English, Drama and Film at University College Dublin. An analysis of Thomas Moore’s Irish melodies and looks at Riverdance as a stable signifier of a complex cultural moment. To hear more please go to www.ucd.ie/scholarcast/scholarcast1.html

June 2008

CRASH ENSEMBLE CONCERT
A new work by 2007 Pulitzer Prize-winner David Lang receives its first performance in Dublin in June.

The Dublin based group, Crash Ensemble, is to give the world premiere of a David Lang work in a concert of music commissioned from American and Irish composers.

Presented under the banner of ‘Crash Originals’ at the Vicar Street venue, Thomas Street, Dublin on 10 June at 8pm, the concert includes two works first heard in 2007 -- Gerald Barry’s First Sorrow and Kevin Volans' Joining Up the Dots.

Based on a story by Franz Kafka, Barry’s strings-based work quotes the lullaby Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and, says the composer, is ‘about a trapeze artist who is happy only when aloft’. Volans has a long association with the Crash Ensemble, which premiered one of his works at RTÉ’s Living Music Festival last year.

Donnacha Dennehy’s Grá agus Bás (featuring guest vocalist Iarla Ó Lionáird) concludes the Irish contribution while Terry Riley’s Ancient Giant Nude Hairy Warriors Racing Down the Slopes of Battle completes the American involvement.

For further information and ticket sales please visit www.crashensemble.com or www.ticketmaster.ie (tickets are €20/€18 from any ticketmaster agents)

May 2008

IN PRAISE OF CONNEMARA
Helene Dunbar meets Bill Whelan and finds out that his latest work explores a deeper side of his psyche. Click here to read the interview

Interview with Kirsten Tagami of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bill speaks to Kirsten Tagami of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution while in town for Riverdance The Show at the Fox Theatre. Click here to read the interview


Globalising Irish Music
As part of the University College Dublin Scholarcast series, Bill was invited to give a lecture on “Globalising Irish Music”. Download the lecture or transcript.

April 2008

The Seven Ages
This is a ground-breaking history charting the birth, growth and development of the Irish state since its foundation in 1921. For this unique television series, two ex-presidents—Patrick Hillery and Mary Robinson—have given extensive interviews, as have three former Taoisigh Garret FitzGerald, Charles Haughey and—in his first-ever television interview—Liam Cosgrave. In frank and extended conversations, free from the burdens of office, they discuss the roles they played in shaping the modern Irish history. The series is a visual and oral record, a testimony from eye-witnesses both well-known and unknown, of the history, politics, culture and religion of the Irish state.

Music composed by Bill Whelan

DVD Available on Buy4Now

Zoë Conway
Zoë has recorded two solo albums to date, both released to critical acclaim. The first, simply titled Zoë Conway, was produced by Bill Whelan and received second place in the Irish Times top five releases of the year. The second, The Horse’s Tail, was released in October 2006 and similarly appeared on the top five trad releases of the year. For this album, she was commended by critics for capturing a sound which harks back to old LP recordings and reveals the raw energy of Irish traditional music. Both albums showcase Zoë’s original compositions alongside older traditional tunes. She has just released her first DVD, Zoë Conway Live, which is available exclusively on her website.

VANESSA MAE – Choreography
Vanessa Mae makes her Sony Classical debut and marks a new musical direction with the release of Choreography, a highly original album that celebrates dance rhythms from around the world. Original pieces and fresh arrangements have been created for the album by the Oscar-winning Vangelis, Bill Whelan of Riverdance (Emerald Tiger), Indian film composer A.R. Rahman (the musical Bombay Dreams) and Tolga Kashif (The Queen Symphony), amongst others. Vanessa Mae website.