Let's Talk About The Arts Festival Conversations

Our final interview for our Festival Conversations with West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival is with composer Linda Buckley. Linda’s song cycle ‘The Finite Air’ is a new commission which will be performed by dynamic duo Fiachra Garvey and Rachel Kelly who also opened this years Festival. It was such a joy to be joined by the artists involved in the West Wicklow Chamber Festival 2021. Fiachra has created a beautiful, passionate and proud festival in his hometown. He has some of the most diverse, innovative and passionate artists participating in the Festival every year. He is truly passionate about his Festival and brings his exceptional artistry and infectious energy to a Festival that celebrates classical music and the garden of Ireland that is Wicklow. If you are in a position to do so, please head over to westwicklowfestival.com to show your support. All FC with this years artists of WWF will stay available and the concerts from the 2021 programme will be available to listen, watch and enjoy online for the next 2 weeks.

The Sitkovetsky Trio will participate in the West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival on the 10th of June 2021.  Alexander Sitkovetsky, the violinist of the piano trio joined me to chat ahead of the trio's diverse and innovative programme.  For more information on the West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival check out westwicklowfestival.com 

Killaloe Music Festival has a jam packed weekend of diverse, unique and exciting concerts. The Festival is in its 9th year and will take place from the 4th to the 6th of June. Let's Talk About The Arts Festival Conversations is joined by the wonderful Katherine Hunka, who was recently appointed Artistic Director of Festival. We discuss her new role, curating programmes, what she is hoping to bring to the festival and reimagining this special festival for the online platform. You can find all information for the Killaloe Music Festival at killaloemusicfestival.com. There is no charge for tuning in. However, do consider showing your support and donating if you are in a position to.

Phoebe White and Peter Regan are this years Rising Stars at the West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival. The talented Irish violin and piano duo started their partnership back at school, and after years of studying across the globe from the States to Toronto to London and Berlin, the two infectious artists are joining forces again for the WWF.

Sean Shibe is a versatile and innovative guitarist whose career has reflected these artistic qualities. He will be performing a diverse and exciting programme for the West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival on Thursday the 27th of May. Ahead of his performance being streamed, he joined me to chat about his own approach to the guitar and the music available to the instrument, the programme he will be performing for West Wicklow and his love for coming to Ireland.

Let’s Talk About The Arts Festival Conversations is delighted to be joined by West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival for it’s 2021 May/June programme. The festival is in its 5th year and will run from the 20th of May until the 14th of June 2021, with an online performance every Thursday and Monday evening at 8pm. The festival would normally take place in Rossborough house in West Wicklow, however has reimagined for the times we find ourselves in. It is a celebration of classical music, both old and new and the garden of Ireland, Wicklow. LTATA is joined by some of the participants of the reimagined online 2021 programme. Fiachra Garvey is the Artistic Director and Founder of the West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival. He is a Wicklow man himself and is a renowned international pianist. As well as his many duties as Artistic Director, this year will see Fiachra performing alongside mezzo soprano Rachel Kelly, both opening and closing the festival. For more information on this years 2021 West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival, visit westwicklowfestival.com where you can donate or purchase your tickets to this years events. WWF is a charity organisation and is doing an incredible job at bringing high quality music to Ireland, so please consider showing them your support. You can also check them out on their social platforms @west.wicklow.festival on instagram and West Wicklow Festival on Facebook.

Luke Lally Maguire is a recent graduate from TU Dublin Conservatoire and is currently a member of the ABL Aviation Opera Studio. The Dublin born pianist had a hugely successful run at this years Feis Ceoil, and will be joined by his partner Eimear Harper for the Virtual Gala after their joint win in the Milne Cup. Luke shared his infectious energy with LTATA and his love of the community feel the Feis Ceoil creates each year.

Festival Conversations with the Feis Ceoil continues with trumpeter Leo Brytha and trombonist Ross McDonnell who are members of the Brass Quintet Vox Amicum. The group have not been together long and have already had a successful win at the Feis Ceoil, taking home the Anchor Cup this year. Ross and Leo chat about their own experiences with the Feis Ceoil, how Vox Amicum prepared for the online platform as a quintet and special reason why the group was formed.

Let's Talk About The Arts presents Festival Conversations For this series of Festival Conversations, Let's Talk About The Arts speaks with the participants of the Feis Ceoil Virtual Gala after a hugely successful online festival. Katie Richardson McCrea is a mezzo soprano from Dublin. She has competed in the Feis for a number of years and this year won first place in the Lieder Prize. She joins me to chat about what she has learnt throughout her years of competing and her experiences of preparing for a virtual Feis Ceoil.

Let's Talk About The Arts presents Festival Conversations For this series of Festival Conversations, Let's Talk About The Arts speaks with the participants of the Feis Ceoil Virtual Gala after a hugely successful online festival.  In this episode, the CEO of the Feis Ceoil, Laura Gilsenan celebrates the tradition and prestige of the Feis, and gives us an insight into the parts of the Feis you mightn't know about, all ahead of the Virtual Gala from the 23rd to the 25th of April 2021.