PREVIEW: Walled City Music Festival 2015
Formed in 2008 by Artistic Directors Dr Cathal Breslin and his wife Dr Sabrina Hu, the Walled City Music Festival was tasked with bringing outstanding classical music to the heart of Derry.
The idea behind the festival was to create access and opportunities, and provide a much needed boost for the new generation of Classical Musicians in Northern Ireland.
With the aim to create a brighter future for the young people all over the country, through inspiration, education, and exposure to the highest level in the arts, the Walled City Music Festival does just that with the many concerts and workshops it holds to inspire and excite through classical music.
Year on year, some of the finest classical musicians have taken part in the festival, and this year is no different. A packed schedule lasting four days, the festival features international guest artists including Kathryn Stott and Martin Roscoe, Sylvain Blassel, Anne Akiko Meyers, Quercus as well as the festival artistic directors themselves.
Day One: Thursday June 4th, 7.30pm, Great Hall, Ulster University, Magee Campus
Kathryn Stott & Martin Roscoe (pianos).
Both Kathryn and Martin are considered to be two of Britain’s most versatile pianists and will perform at the opening night of the festival in the University of Ulster’s Great Hall at Magee.
From 2009 – 2014, Kathryn had been Artistic Director of the Manchester Chamber Concerts Society and was Guest Artistic Director of Incontri in Terra di Siena in 2010 and 2011, and has been a regular visitor to international festivals both as soloist and chamber musician. This year, Kathryn also celebrates a 30 year partnership with Yo-Yo Ma, and together they have regularly toured Europe, the USA, South America and the Far East.
Martin has succeeded Kathryn as Artistic Director of the Manchester Chamber Concerts Society, and has regularly worked with many of the UK’s leading orchestras while also being a Professor of Piano at the Guildhall School of Music in London.
Tickets: £10 / £5 conc
Day Two: Friday June 5th, 5.00pm & 7.30pm, Christ Church Northland Road/ Culturlann
This year’s University of Ulster end-of-year student showcase appears within the Walled City Music Festival’s programme for the first time, with the 2014 event considered to be a very successful event for the University.
The concert will feature final performances from University students and will span all genres of music, from classical and jazz to pop.
Tickets: admission free
Day Three: Saturday June 6th, 7.00pm & 9.00pm: Great Hall, Ulster University, Magee Campus
Sylvain Blassel (harp) with Sabrina Hu (flute) / Quercus
Having graduated in 1998 from the Lyon Conservatoire National Supérieur Musique et Danse (Lyon CNSMD) under the guidance of Fabrice Pierre, Sylvain has played with numerous orchestras and conductors such as Michel Plasson, Emmanuel Krivine, Alain Lombard, Iván Fischer and Marek Janowski.
He also has a love of restoring old harps, and teaches the harp at Lyon CNSMD and musical analysis at the Rennes Conservatoire. He is joined by the Walled City Musical Festival’s Co-Artistic Director Sabrina Hu.
Sabrina has performed at in many of the world’s most prestigious venues, most recently Carnegie Hall in New York City, the National Concert Hall in Ireland, Beijing University, the Central Conservatory of Music in China, and recitals in Seoul, Korea.
Sabrina is currently flute faculty at Rhodes College, Memphis Tennessee and has a genuine love for teaching.
Tickets: £10 / £5 conc
9.00pm: Quercus
Quercus Ensemble bring together some of the finest musicians in Ireland and encourage active participation through the initiation of various projects and events.
Tickets: £5 / £3 conc – free to ticket holders from the 7pm concert.
Also on the 6th of June is this year’s annual Composers Workshop, led by the Walled City Music Festival’s resident ensemble, Quercus, and 2015 Composer in Residence, Philip Cashian who is Head of Composition at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Day Four: Sunday, June 7th, 3.00pm, Recital Room, Magee Campus, UU
Quercus: In Pursuit of Love. Tickets: £5 / £3 conc
7.30pm, Great Hall, Ulster University, Magee Campus
Anne Akiko Myers (violin), Cathal Breslin (piano).
Anne Akiko Myers teams up with the Walled City Music Festival’s very own Cathal Breslin for what will sure be a great ending to the festival.
Anne has collaborated with a diverse array of musical artists from jazz icons such as Chris Botti and Wynton Marsalis to pop opera’s Il Divo.
Anne regularly performs with many of the world’s top orchestras, and has released 30 albums. She was also Billboard's top-selling traditional classical instrumental soloist of 2014.
Tickets: £10 / £5 conc
