Talented Musical Trio to play Nenagh

STRUNG, a contemporary traditional/classical trio featuring well known local musician Lucia Mac Partlin joined by Maria Ryan and Aonghus McCarthy, will perform at Dún Mhuire in Nenagh on Thursday week.

With a traditional Irish backbone, influences of folk music from around the world, jazz and progressive music, this up and coming group have made a name for themselves through their compositions and original arrangements, and are now beginning to gain notoriety across Ireland and abroad. They met and began to work and play together, and develop their musical maturity and unique sound while studying at the Cork School of Music.

Lucia and Maria play both fiddle and viola and Aonghus plays piano. Only days out of the recording studio, their debut album is now in the making and is due for release this autumn.

Lucia, who hails from Ballina, was educated at Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan and St Mary's Secondary School, Nenagh. She began playing the fiddle at the age of 4. While she started playing classical music, she quickly began to develop an interest and a love for traditional Irish music and has since become an accomplished player in both genres - among many more. She is the winner of many national titles, including the Senior Fiddler of Dooney title, the International Pan Celtic title, and has several All Ireland titles from both the Oireachtas and Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

Lucia completed her Music Degree at Cork School of Music in 2015 where she received First Class Honours. She is currently studying for her Masters Degree in violin performance under the tuition of the RTÉ Vanbrugh String Quartet leader Gregory Ellis. She has toured with different groups across Europe, America and Asia, and played alongside many well-known artists including Michael O'Suileabhain, Liam O’Flynn, Tommy Fleming and Frankie Gavin, to name but a few. She has performed live on TV and radio and as a session musician on many recordings.

Lucia was a member of the National Youth Orchestra and Leader of the Tipperary Millennium Orchestra. Currently, Lucia plays with the Cork School of Music Symphony Orchestra, the National Folk Orchestra of Ireland, and performs at the Brú Ború Comhaltas Centre in Cashel during the summer months. She also is a member of the traditional group Around the House and the Ken Kellegher Céilí Band.

Aonghus Mc Carthy comes from a family immersed in music. His father Johnny McCarthy is known far and wide for his music as a solo player, composer and member of the Four Star Trio. Aonghus himself is a Cork born pianist who began his piano studies at the age of 4. While undergoing his classical training at Cork School of Music, he has always had a participating interest in traditional music. He is a highly regarded and accomplished session musician, performing on various platforms, both as a jazz musician and also many high profile stage productions. He is recognised for his ability to sensitively integrate his classical and jazz backgrounds with an ingrained appreciation for traditional music.

As a member of Strung, Aonghus’ versatility and musicality allows him to contribute to the group’s imaginative arrangement, while adding creative harmonic and rhythmical accompaniment.

Twenty-two year old Maria Ryan from Pallasgreen in Co Limerick features on violin, viola and vocals. She has recently finished her four-year BMus Degree with First Class Honours under the guidance of Elizabeth Charleston and is currently studying her Masters Degree in Performance in Cork School of Music. Maria began learning violin at the age of 4 at Limerick School of Music where she received a scholarship for getting the highest grade in any instrument. Her love of music doesn’t just stop with classical; her passion for many different styles of music including folk, jazz and bluegrass, to name a few, has allowed her to travel the globe with a variety of musicians.

Maria is currently the leader of the CSM Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Conor Palliser and is a past member of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland. Maria is a member of the award winning Choral group Voci Nuove, Cormac McCarthy’s Jazz Band, and Around the House Traditional Group. And when she is not doing all that she is in the studio working as a session musician on various recordings from Rock to Electronic.

STRUNG will be playing in the intimate venue of Dún Mhuire in Nenagh on Thursday February 11th at 8pm. Tickets available from Dún Mhuire or phone 087 6670770.