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. |