Hello everyone,
We apologise for the lack of posts! It has
been a busy few weeks – St.Patrick’s Day, Easter celebrations, not to mention
the 1916 Easter Rising commemorations.
All in all it has been a busy few weeks in
Dublin and we’ve loved every minute!
1916 Easter Rising
April 1916 marked a very special date in Ireland’s
cultural calendar this year, as the nation united to commemorate those who
sacrificed everything in a heroic bid to gain independence for the nation.
While the venture may have failed, its premise certainly mobilised,
incentivised and inspired Irish citizens to continue the fight for freedom, and
in 1948, Ireland was officially recognised as a republic.
To acknowledge the bravery and the commitment of these people, Ireland dedicated Easter Week 2016 to their memory and what their sacrifice represents. The week was essentially a celebration of Irish arts and culture, with many new works composed by some of the country's most renowned musicians, playwrights and composers.
Naturally, the team in the DIPF office
was drawn to the fantastic music commemorations that left the nation, not to mention the
world, completely spellbound.
Two concerts in particular stood out. ‘A Nation’s Voice’ was a fantastic
spectacle that took place in Collins’ Barracks in Dublin. The concert was free
admission, and was a collaborative venture in association with the Arts Council, RTÉ and the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. The concert featured a
specially commissioned orchestral and choral work from composer Shaun Davy and
text by writer Paul Muldoon. Over 31 choirs from 18 counties participated in
this event, in all over 1100 voices!
Another highlight was RTÉ’s ‘Centenary’ concert, which took place in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. This was a multi locational, part live and part recorded concert that recounted Ireland’s history through many art forms. The concert featured many acclaimed Irish acts and artists such as Sharon Shannon, Danny O’Reilly and Imelda May, and was very well received by audiences both in Ireland and worldwide.
Another highlight was RTÉ’s ‘Centenary’ concert, which took place in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. This was a multi locational, part live and part recorded concert that recounted Ireland’s history through many art forms. The concert featured many acclaimed Irish acts and artists such as Sharon Shannon, Danny O’Reilly and Imelda May, and was very well received by audiences both in Ireland and worldwide.
Highlights from 'A Nation's Voice'
Events such as these are hugely symbolic and representative of the importance of music, culture and arts in Irish society, as well as the appreciation for them. Dublin is such a wonderful place for performance, and audiences love anything live! 2016 is a particularly special year to be Irish, or even just to be in Dublin. These breathtaking concerts for the centenary were just two of many arts related events taking place throughout Dublin and Ireland as a whole, with many more scheduled to occur!
It is a particularly special year to be hosting the festival, and we look forward to presenting what promises to be a very exciting programme. DIPF will also contribute to the centenary commemorations with the premiere of a very special piece that has been commissioned by American composer and DIPF 2016 guest faculty member Frederic Rzewski. Rzewski has composed this piece specifically for this year’s festival and for the centenary, and it is an honour to showcase it to Irish audiences. Stay tuned for more updates!
In all, the 1916 commemorations have highlighted why Dublin is such a wonderful place to visit, to work and to live!
The aim of DIPF is identify, nurture and support existing talent in the field of piano performance. We welcome advanced pianists of any nationality to be part of our academy, to attend an unforgettable concert series, and to experience all of the vibrancy, culture and heritage of Dublin. Applicants must be
18 or over but exceptions will be made for talented students below this age.
Interested applicants can find out more here:
Edmund Battersby (1949 – 2016)
We were very saddened to learn of the
sudden passing of our esteemed DIPF core faculty member, mentor and friend Professor
Edmund Battersby.
Professor Battersby was a world-renowned
classical pianist, a member of the arts faculty of the Jacobs School of Music
in Indiana University, USA, and served as DIPF core faculty member from 2013 - 2015. A graduate of Juilliard, New York, he enjoyed a
glittering international career as pianist, orchestral soloist, chamber player
and teacher.
His
contribution to the festival was immense - as well as being a committed and
devoted tutor to the students of the Summer Academy, he also wowed Dublin audiences
with mesmerising piano performances.
Not only that, he was also a wonderful
support to the DIPF directors, particularly to DIPF Artistic Director Dr. Archie
Chen, to whom the professor was a mentor, confidant and close friend.
DIPF is and always will be honoured and
incredibly grateful to have had a talent such as Edmund Battersby be part of
the festival. Throughout his time as faculty member he instilled within
students a lasting confidence and passion for piano performance and partook in
the festival with energy, enthusiasm and gusto. He is and always will be
incredibly missed. Thank you for everything Edmund!
DIPF 2016 wants you!
We are so excited to announce that
applications are now open for the DIPF 2016 Summer Academy.
However, if you want to know more, or have
any questions, just get in touch - we’d love to hear from you! Alternatively, keep a close eye on our website where we will be posting regular updates!
Before we go, here's a snippet of why we love our festival's home city!
That's all for now!
Slán and talk soon!
DIPF 2016
