Two of Ireland’s most talented young musicians, violinist Mairéad Hickey and cellist, Sinéad O’Halloran are busy carving out prestigious international careers for themselves and are hugely in demand. Cork audiences are fortunate that each Spring they combine their talents to bring the Ortús Chamber Music Festival to the city and county when they perform alongside some of their most sought-after international colleagues and this year’s festival has an incredible line up. On violin there is Patrick Rafter from Dublin and celebrated American violinist William Hagen, on viola Timothy Ridout from the UK, and Dutch cellist Ella van Poucke. Ortús 2019 is delighted to welcome brilliant Irish pianist, Michael McHale, and London based clarinettist Jessie Grimes will also perform, as will Clare Uilleann Piper, Fergal Breen.
This last year has been an exciting year for Sinéad as she was selected as Principal Cellist of the European Union Youth Orchestra which gave her the opportunity to lead the section at the BBC Proms and on tour across Europe, South American and the UAE. She performed in front of 84 Heads of State at the 100th Anniversary of Armistice Day under the Arc du Triomphe. Mairéad too has had a very busy year and one of her highlights was touring in Siberia. Last May, she played at the Mantova Chamber Music Festival in a recital with pianist Alexander Lonquich. They performed in the Teato Bibiena, a beautiful theatre where a teenage Mozart performed at its opening concert.
The Ortús Chamber Music Festival takes place from March 1st to 3rd in Cork City, Cobh, and Watergrasshill, with works by Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann, Dvorak, Stravinsky and Dohnanyi amongst those being performed.
“It is fantastic to see how our festival has developed over the past four years and I can’t wait to perform such an incredible programme of music alongside great musicians and friends back in Cork” says co-Artistic Director, Sinéad, and Mairéad added, “it is always very special to perform for a Cork audience and I am excited to bring home such an array of wonderful musicians.”
Concerts will be on Friday, March 1st at 8pm in University College Cork, in The Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh at 2pm on Saturday, March 3rd and at 8pm in First Fruits Arts Centre in Watergrasshill. The final concert will be at 3pm in CIT Cork School of Music on Sunday March 3rd. Tickets are available on ortusfestival.ie at Pro Musica in Cork City, or at the door.
Ortús Festival gratefully acknowledges the support of the Arts Council, RTÉ Supporting the Arts, Cork County Council, Cork City Council and all other supporters and friends.
