Author Archive
Paul Hillier & National Chamber Choir
On Friday 3rd May at St. Finbarre’s Cathedral, Cork, The National Chamber Choir of Ireland, conducted by Paul Hillier, performed Solfa Carlile’s choral work ‘Upon the Rose’, along with Enda Bates’ ‘Euphony’, commissioned for the Cork International Choral Festival. ‘Upon the Rose’ was the winner of the Sean O’ Riada Composition Competition 2013. The concert also featured other contemporary works by Rautavaara, Berio, Ligeti and Andriessen. A report of the festival, written by Declan Townsend for the Irish Examiner newspaper can be viewed here.
Concerts in April and May
Solfa’s flute piece Dystopia will be performed by William Dowdall in a concert at the Kevin Barry Room, National Concert Hall, on 19th April at 8pm. Tickets and info here.
The following evening, Saturday 20th April, Solfa’s piece ‘Is Mairg an Té gan Cheol’, a collaboration with lyricist Risteard Uí Chróinín, will receive its premiere performance by the Cork Chamber Choir in a concert at St.Anne’s, Shandon, Cork, at 6pm. Tickets and info here.
On Friday 3rd of May, Solfa’s a cappella choral piece,’Upon the Rose’, winner of the Seán O Riada Composition Competition will be premiered by the National Chamber Choir of Ireland in a concert as part of the Cork International Choral Festival. Tickets and info here.
Bill Dowdall Concert
Solfa’s solo flute piece, Dystopia, will receive another performance at the Kevin Barry Room, National Concert Hall Dublin, by renowned Irish flautist Bill Dowdall on 19th April. Details and tickets available here.
Sean O’Riada Competition
Solfa Carlile’s a cappella choral work ‘Upon the Rose’ has been chosen as the winner of this year’s Sean O’Riada Composition Competition at the Cork International Choral Festival. The work will be performed by the Irish National Chamber Choir on Friday 3rd May in a concert at St. Finbarre’s Cathedral, Cork.
The winning composition was selected by a panel, comprising of composers and choral experts, and becomes a featured work at the Seminar for New Choral Music (artists in residence – The National Chamber Choir of Ireland). It receives its premiere performance during the Festival at a Gala Concert given by the National Chamber Choir of Ireland, conducted by Paul Hillier, on Friday 3rd May, 2013. Details of the concert and how to book tickets are available on the Festival website, here.
Chroma Piece
Solfa’s piece Rose Dillon was performed in a workshop by Chroma Ensemble last Friday (15th Feb) at the Denis Arnold Hall, Oxford University Faculty of Music. The piece was conducted by John Traill, and the workshop was led by Dr Martyn Harry. The musicians were Kathryn Thomas (Flute), Stuart King (Clarinet), Roderick Chadwick (Piano), Caroline Balding (Violin) and Clare O’Connell (‘Cello).
Performances Spring 2013
Solfa’s solo Flute Piece, Dystopia will receive another performance in Dublin in March 2013. Her choral pieces, Is Mairg an Te gan Cheol, with words by Risteard Ui Chroinin, will also receive performances in March by the Cork Chamber Choir, along with two contrasting settings of James Joyce’s poems, Lean out of the window and Dear Heart.
Xenia Ensemble
The Italy-based Xenia Ensemble performed the premiére of a specially-composed string quartet by Solfa Carlile on December 8th. It was included in a program of Contemporary Folk Music, performed in Turin. Details of the concert, the EstOvest programme and the quartet are visible here.

Xenia Ensemble
Saul and the Witch Premiere
On Saturday 30th June, Solfa’s piece ‘Saul and the Witch’ will be performed and discussed in a Workshop at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival in Bantry. The work will be performed by the Westland Piano Trio and discussed in conversation with the Festival’s composer-in-residence, Thomas Larcher. Two other young composers, J.Harry Whalley and Bill McGrath will have their works discussed in the same workshop.
Arcomis Album Launch
‘Dystopia‘ has been selected for publication in the Arcomis Flute Album. The piece, originally composed in 2010 for flautist Chris Hankin, will be performed at the Elektrostatic Arcomis Flute Concert, at Colston Hall, Bristol on Wednesday 16th May. Carla Rees will perform the piece, along with other contemporary works for flute to be included in the album. Information on the concert here
West Cork Chamber Music Festival
Solfa has been chosen as one of the winners of this years West Cork Chamber Festival Composition Competition. Her work Saul and the Witch will be rehearsed in a workshop by the Westland Piano Trio on Saturday 30th June at 2pm, and will receive its premiere at a concert at 2pm on the 5th of July in Bantry, Cork.


