Following their previous sold-out concert, Iarla Ó Lionáird returns with what promises to be a very memorable and unique concert. It’s an inspiring pairing of two-time Grammy nominated vocalist Jarla Ó Lionáird with renowned pianist/composer Cormac McCarthy and acclaimed clarinet maestro. Matthew Burrill. An exciting, moving and dramatic new ensemble coming together to explore Yarla’s rich and varied repertoire through their compelling, transcendent interpretations.
Jarla Ó Lionard has had a long and unique musical career both internationally and in Ireland. From his iconic early recording of the vision song “Aisling Gheal” as a child to his pioneering recordings with Dublin’s Crash Ensemble and New York’s Alarm Will Sound, he has demonstrated a breadth of creative ambition that sets him apart from the Irish music community. .
A two-time Grammy nominated artist, O Lionaird has worked with a stellar line-up of composers from around the world, including Donnacha Dennehy, Dan Trueman, Kate Moore, Nico Muhly, Linda Buckley, Gavin Bryars and David Lang, and has performed and recorded with such luminaries as Peter Gabriel. , Nick Cave, Robert Plant and Sinead O’Connor. His unique singing style has taken him to stages and concert halls around the world, from Carnegie Hall in New York to the Sydney Opera House and beyond. He has performed as a soloist with concert and symphony orchestras including the Ulster Orchestra, the Kennedy Center National Symphony Orchestra, the Irish National Symphony Orchestra and the RTE Concert Orchestra. Also an accomplished broadcaster, O’Lionaird’s recent radio series Vocal Chords, exploring the mysteries of the human voice, for Ireland’s national classical music broadcaster RTE Lyric FM, won Gold and Silver awards at the 2016 New York Radio Festival. 2018
His own voice has also graced the silver screen, from Gangs of New York to Hotel Rwanda, and most recently as a singer in Brooklyn, starring Saoirse Ronan. He is the lead singer of the critically acclaimed Irish-American band The Gloaming.
“Superbly expressive” – The New York Times
“One of the most dramatic voices in modern music” – The Guardian
“O’Lionaird’s real triumph is his voice: soft as a feather bed, and searingly sharp as a blade when the mood strikes” – The Irish Times
“His voice will amaze you. He soars – and he is as deep, simple and beautiful as wild horses… The main word here is genius.” – Time Out New York
Cormac McCarthy is a pianist, composer, arranger and conductor from Cork, Ireland. Known for its diverse stylistic palette and equally adept across genres, his music “defies categorization” (Lyric FM). In 2010, having completed his MA in Composition at MTU Cork School of Music, Cormack was awarded the prestigious Bill Whelan International Music Fellowship, a special award for young Irish composers studying abroad. He spent several years living in Chicago, where he received a master’s degree in jazz studies from DePaul University.
His compositions and arrangements have been performed and recorded by artists such as Phil Woods, Geoff Hamilton, Mick Flannery, Martin Hayes, Andrea Corr, Gavin James, Niamh Regan, Jack O’Rourke, DePaul Jazz Ensemble, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, The Crash Ensemble, New the Irish Jazz Orchestra and the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra. He has performed extensively at venues, clubs and festivals throughout Europe and the US, sharing the stage/recording studio with artists from a wide range of musical spectrums including Peter Washington, Nell Ní Hróinín, Billy Drummond, Liz Carroll, Donal Lunney, The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Matthew Burrill is a sought-after musician and member of many jazz, improvisational and traditional Irish ensembles, including Ensemble Ériu and the Irish Memory Orchestra. He teaches in numerous music education projects throughout County Galway, has been the conductor of the University of Galway Concert Orchestra, and is the founder, teacher and director of the ensemble of the Headford Music Works teaching and performance program. In July ’22, Matthew graduated with honors from a two-year Master’s program in Jazz Performance and Composition at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London, thanks to a scholarship offered by the Academy.