Month: September 2012

Join songwriters from Canada, Denmark, Sweden and the US who have already signed up for the the 9th Annual Inisheer, Ireland Listening Room Songwriters Retreat Oct. 7-14 2012.

The 875 Euro fee includes bus & ferry transport from Galway to the island, hotel housing, meals, workshops, individual career consultations and two concerts, in Inisheer and Galway.

Participants on Listening Room International Songwriter Retreats work daily with different co-writing partners and assignments designed to stimulate inspiration and help shape rough ideas into completed works – using everything that comes up along the way within inspiring, supportive community settings. 

This year’s retreat is being presented in partnership with Swedish artists Annika Fehling and Grammy nominee Eva Hillered. Further info at www.listeningroomretreats.com or by writing Brett Perkins directly: brettperkinsdk@nullgmail.com

The Contemporary Music Centre will be alive with sounds as it opens its doors to the public for Culture Night and hosts Live at Our Place, giving visitors the chance to hear what’s innovative and what’s vibrant in new music from Ireland.

This year’s event takes place from 5pm-10pm on Friday 21st September and has been curated by CMC composer Karen Power. Taking her cue from John Cage in his centenary year, she has devised a five hour ‘happening’ which will take place across all floors of the centre’s Georgian home in Fishamble Street in the Historic Quarter of Dublin.

Visitors are invited to drop in and sample live performances, improvisation and audiovisual works that will give a flavour of the diversity and creativity of Irish music today, as well as the range of composers represented by the Centre and the music that makes up its archive.

The Cork-based Quiet Music Ensemble and newly-founded Kirkos Ensemble will act as ensembles-in-residence for the evening, performing music by an array of young and established Irish composers. In addition, there will be solos and live electronic sets by guest performers and composers. CMC will also present live works and video screenings of collaborative image and sound works drawn from a call for submissions for the Culture Night event.

CMC’s Live at Our Place

Date: Friday 21 September 2012, 5pm – 10pm
Venue: Contemporary Music Centre, 19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 8
Admission: FREE

Curated by CMC composer Karen Power
Performers include Kirkos (Sebastian Adams, director) and Quiet Music Ensemble (John Godfrey, electric guitar; Ilse DeZiah, cello; Sean Og, clarinets/saxophone; Dan Bodwell, double bass)

Composers performing live electronic sets: John Godfrey, Scott McLaughlin, Karen Power, Judith Ring

Featuring music by: Elaine Agnew, Michael Alcorn, Derek Ball, Enda Bates, Brian Bridges, Irene Buckley, Rob Canning, Sean Clancy, Rhona Clarke, Ann Cleare, Siobhán Cleary, Frank Corcoran, Raymond Deane, Fergal Dowling, Roger Doyle, Eilbhlis Farrell, Stephen Gardner, Piaras Hoban, Scott McLaughlin, Jonathan Nangle, Ailís Ní Ríain, Breffni O’ Byrne, Kevin O’ Connell, Garrett Sholdice, David Stalling, James Wilson, Paul Wilson. More information about all of these composers is available at www.cmc.ie

Following the success of previous collaborative film scoring workshops, the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, in association with Filmbase, The Contemporary Music Centre (CMC) and FÁS Screen Training Ireland will bring together the very best emerging Irish filmmakers and composers to work on an exciting collaborative project.

The focus of the project is a one day recording session in RTÉ studios in early 2013. This will involve the RTÉ Concert Orchestra performing and recording original scores for short film submissions received from student and professional Irish filmmakers.

We are now seeking applications from interested composers who would like to participate in this project. Because of the limited number of places available we have set down a number of qualifying criteria for those wishing to take part.

1. Previous experience in scoring to picture (short film/advertisements etc.) desirable. 

 2. The ability to score for full orchestra is essential. 

3. The ability to work to a tight deadline is also essential. 

 This initiative will provide emerging filmmakers and composers with a valuable opportunity to enhance their skills with hands-on experience in a vital aspect of film post-production. It is also a rare opportunity to have a score composed for full orchestra.

If you meet the above criteria and would like to participate in this program please send us an up-to-date CV and samples of your work, outlining your film and TV scoring experience to date. A total of 4 composers will be selected for inclusion in the project.

CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS: 5th OCTOBER 2012

Please send your submission to:

Scoring For Film Program 2013
C/o Keith Johnson
Director of Marketing & Membership
Irish Music Rights Organisation
Copyright House
Pembroke Row
Lower Baggot Street
Dublin 2

The Hit is a music competition that gives fledgling songwriters the chance to have chart success with an established artist. From all of the song submissions received, Grammy Award winning music producer Steve Lillywhite (producer of bands such as U2, The Killers and the Rolling Stones) selects a shortlist of songs. Then, during the show, the chosen songwriters pitch their songs to two established stars. The stars are under pressure to select one song they can turn into a hit – but ultimately the audience will decide. At the end of the show two songs, one by each artist, will be released on iTunes.

 The host of The Hit is Laura Whitmore from MTV Europe, and the two stars seeking their next hit song are Brian Mc Fadden and Royseven. Brian shot to fame as a member of Westlife, one of the most successful boybands of all time, and has since gone on to secure four number one singles as a solo artist while enjoying TV success in Australia. Up against Brian is award winning band Royseven who scooped the Meteor Choice Music Award for Best Song 2011.

The format was created by Vision Independent Productions in Dublin and is backed by Warner Brothers International and RTÉ. The pilot episode of The Hit will be broadcast on RTÉ 2 in Ireland on September 6th at 9:30pm.