Irish Memory Orchestra 10th Anniversary Concert in The Studio at the National Concert Hall

The Irish Memory Orchestra boasts some of the most exciting and diverse musicians in Ireland.  Performing by heart and from the heart and bringing together the finest classical, traditional and jazz musicians, the IMO has wowed audiences across the globe with its ground-breaking and inclusive approach to music-making.

Founded and artistically led by Dave Flynn, the Irish Memory Orchestra has been described in The Irish Times as ‘a bold, visionary undertaking.’  After a decade of critically acclaimed performances from Clare to Korea, the IMO has chosen Ireland’s National Concert Hall to celebrate its 10th anniversary.  Performed by some of Ireland’s finest musicians, this concert promises to be a highlight in the year’s calendar.  Featuring works composed by a range of Irish composers such as Liz Carroll, Máirtín O’Connor, Bríd Harper, Anne-Marie O’Farrell and Michael McGoldrick alongside the World Première of Deich, a 10th anniversary fanfare by Dave Flynn and a new arrangement of his Music for the Departed, this programme has something for everyone and can be enjoyed by all music lovers.

The IMO will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a concert in The Studio at the National Concert Hall, Dublin at 8.30pm on Saturday, 12 August 2023, conducted by Dave Flynn.  Bríd Harper (fiddle), Tara Connaghan (fiddle), Jack Talty (concertina), Aisling Agnew (flute/whistle), Anne-Marie O’Farrell (Harp), Róisín Donohoe (viola/voice), Neil Ó Lochlainn (double bass), Etain McCooey (oboe), Matthew Berrill (saxophone/clarinets) and Brian Fleming (percussion) will take to the stage to perform audience favourites from IMO concerts over the past decade alongside world premierès of new works.  For a grand finale at the end of the concert and showcasing the IMO’s outreach programmes throughout its history, these IMO musicians will be joined by talented young musicians from the IMO Youth Orchestra launched in Galway last year and some past Apprentices.

A lively Opening Medley of works by various composers will be followed by The Cuckoo composed by Máirtín O’Connor.  The first half will close with the World Première of a new arrangement of Music for the Departed by IMO’s Artistic Director and composer Dave Flynn.  Music for the Departed is a musical description of the grieving process in seven continuous sections, which was first performed in 2006 as a work for trio Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill (who, sadly, passed away last year) and Ioana Petcu-Colan, and by the IMO conducted by Bjorn Bantock on a specially constructed stage in an underground cavern at the ESB Power Station in Turlough Hill, Co. Wicklow in 2014 to mark the power station’s 40th anniversary.  Dave has arranged Music for the Departed specially for this 10th anniversary concert in memory of Dennis Cahill.

Staying with new works, the second half of this concert will open with the World Première performance of Deich, a new fanfare composed by Dave Flynn to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Irish Memory Orchestra.  This will be followed by a medley of Irish reels, Lost in the Loop by Liz Carroll and Cat Chase Mouse by Mairtín O’Connor.  Marking 10 years since its premiere by the IMO at glór in Ennis in November 2013, the concert will finish with a Suite from The Clare Concerto by Dave Flynn, which was commissioned by the Clare Arts Office under The Per Cent for Art Scheme.

“Composer Dave Flynn has assembled a formidable collective of musicians, composing critically acclaimed music especially for them … they are steadily garnering a reputation for melding traditional and classical music with a twist.”  The Irish Times

“Flynn’s craft in combining traditional and contemporary music elements is always something to appreciate, but here he achieved more; he has broken down boundaries for people with sight loss.”  The Journal of Music

“I’ve never seen musicians work together so brilliantly and with such intensity…”  Fergus Finlay, Irish Examiner

Programme

Opening Medley by various composers, including Bríd Harper, Anne-Marie O’Farrell and Michael McGoldrick

The Cuckoo composed by Máirtín O’Connor

Music for the Departed – world première of new arrangement of suite composed by Dave Flynn Interval

Deich – world première of new 10th anniversary fanfare composed by Dave Flynn
Lost in the Loop composed by Liz Carroll and Cat Chase Mouse composed by Mairtín O’Connor
Suite from The Clare Concerto composed by Dave Flynn

Presented by the Irish Memory Orchestra, this concert is supported by The Arts Council /An Chomhairle Ealaíon with YPCE Bursary funding.  The IMO would also like to acknowledge sponsorship by IMRO as part of its public relations programme.  This event is also supported by RTÉ Supporting the Arts.

Saturday, 12 August 2023, 8.30pm
The Studio at National Concert Hall, Dublin

Tickets €25 (€30 premium tickets include Pre-concert Meet & Greet and free CD)
Book via NCH Box Office: https://www.nch.ie/Online/