Killaloe set for music festival
St Flannan’s Cathedral hosts the 11th SCS Killaloe Music Festival for a weekend of music, art and culture from June 2-4.
This year’s programme continues the tradition of bringing together musicians from across Ireland and the world to the beautiful historic twin towns of Killaloe-Ballina. We are also excited to continue our partnership with Limerick-based company Shannon Coiled Springs (SCS).
Artistic Director Katherine Hunka has created a programme like no other, supporting Irish musicians from around the globe to join in the celebration of music. Through the works of Bach, Rachmaninov, John Kinsella and a world premiere by our very own Katherine Hunka, the weekend festival will be an immersive experience for all the family.
On Friday June 2, the festival will open with Bach’s Allemande, Sarabande and Gavotte from Partita No 6 in E minor, performed by celebrated pianist Hugh Tinney, followed by works from Beethoven, Merz and Françaix. Friday’s programme will also include award-winning cellist Guy Johnston, violinist Florian Donderer, Diego Chena on bassoon, Katherine Hunka and Diane Daly on violin, Seamus Hickey on viola, Peggy Nolan on cello, Aura Stone on double bass, Carol McGonnell on clarinet and Hannah Miller on the French horn.
COFFEE CONCERT
This year’s weekend festival will also include a Coffee Concert at 11am on Saturday, June 3. This Rising Star performance will highlight the extraordinary talent of young soprano Aimee Kearney, performing works by Bach, Schubert, Richard Strauss, Mahler, Ravel, Balfe and more. She will be accompanied by Andrew Synott on the piano. At 3pm, the Far Flung Trio will provide a fun and informal, free songwriting event suitable for all ages in the Killaloe Catholic Church. The 8pm evening concert begins with the World Premiere of Deirdre Gribbin’s Strawberry Moon, commissioned by the Dublin International Chamber Music Festival and performed by Diane Daly, followed by further works from Rachmaninov and Beethoven. After this, the Late Night Concert kicks off at 10pm, with popular Irish folk duo Zoë Conway and John McIntyre.
The final day of the festival will start off with a lunchtime concert at 1pm across the river in the Ballina Catholic Church, the first time the festival will span both sides of the Shannon. Here, a Chamber Choir Ireland Quartet will be joined by two well-established local choirs - the Gúnas (Director Rhoda Clery) and the Killaloe Male Voice Choir (Director Anne Cullen) for a concert of sacred and secular gems. Following this, at 3pm there will be the always popular Musicians of the Future Children’s Concert and will include a series of performances under the musical direction of Diane Daly.
The festival will then draw to a close with an final evening concert at 8pm, beginning with a performance by the Chamber Choir Ireland Quartet, with a touch of Mozart, Kinsella and Tchaikovsky, and of course a World Premiere of Artistic Director Katherine Hunka’s Unwound, performed by the composer.
The SCS Killaloe Music Festival will coincide with a showcase of artworks from local artists that will be on display in Killaloe’s cathedral for the duration of the festival. For more information on tickets and this year’s festival programme, please visit our website on www.killaloemusicfestival.com.