This year’s scheme provides two residencies for established musicians - violinist Lidia Jewloszewicz-Clarke and singer Simon Morgan - and an additional residency to support the work of an emerging musician, for guitarist Chris Comhaill.
Now in its 9th year, the scheme provides musicians with space and time to create new work, develop their skills, collaborate with others and showcase their music. This year’s residencies will run from April to October and will provide each artist with funding, a dedicated space to work in and mentoring to support their career development.
Audiences will also have an opportunity to engage with the musicians at a series of public performances in Dún Laoghaire throughout the residencies.
The Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Cllr. Mary Hanafin said: “Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is thrilled to offer this opportunity for musicians to focus on the creation of new music and I very much look forward to hearing the wonderful music they create throughout their residencies.”
The first musician to take up their residency is this year’s dlr emerging artist awardee Chris Comhaill. Chris will focus on developing new arrangements and compositions for his Celtic folklore and myth-inspired project Dúchas. He will explore the use of technology to create soundscapes which, when combined with Celtic-inspired melodies, will create an immersive experience, bringing together traditional and contemporary music styles. Chris will perform these new works at dlr LexIcon in early June.
In July, Polish violinist Lidia Jewloszewicz-Clarke will embark on a cross-cultural collaboration with Irish violinist Larissa O’Grady. Now based in Dún Laoghaire, Lidia was born one day and two thousand miles apart from Larissa. Together they will explore the concept of identity, belonging, cultural connections, exchange and cultural integration. This contemporary violin duo will delve into repertoire that represents where they came from as a starting point to create a brand new work inspired by their surroundings and experiences in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.
In August, singer Simon Morgan will collaborate with guitarist Drazen Derek and saxophonist Richie Buckley to develop material for their exciting ‘Stolen Chicken’ collective. During his residency Simon also plans to draw on jazz and traditional Irish influences to create new music for a project involving the Richie Buckley Quintet. Both ensembles will present a concert in October to mark the end of this third and final residency of 2023.
Frank Curran, Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council: “Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown has a wealth of musical talent and dlr County Council is delighted to join forces with the Arts Council and Music Network to offer 3 musicians an opportunity to create new work in the beautiful LexIcon library.”
Commenting on the announcement, CEO of Music Network Sharon Rollston said: “It’s a pleasure to work with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council once again on the management of this annual scheme. These residencies will provide valuable time and resources for the appointed musicians to develop their artistic practice, advance their careers and produce exciting new work which we look forward to sharing with local audiences as the year unfolds.”
The Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Musicians-in-Residence Scheme is jointly funded by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and the Arts Council and is managed by Music Network.
Lidia Jewloszewicz-Clarke is an award-winning Polish violinist living in Ireland, who has led a varied career as a creative, soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician and educator.
As a musician with a keen interest in contemporary music and new work, Lidia is currently undertaking advanced study in compositional technique with Ailbhe McDonagh and improvisation techniques with Christian Howes supported by The Arts Council. Lidia is also a violinist in the Banbha String Quartet and a member of Musici Ireland.
Lidia’s most recent collaborations include: Musici Ireland’s ‘A Mother’s Voice’ which premiered in 2023 with music composed by Linda Buckley and Irene Buckley, and Tom Lane’s String Quartet ‘Refractions’ with Banbha Quartet in 2022. She also led the chamber ensemble for the Irish premiere of Dubliners, an opera by Andrew Synnott in 2017.
While in London she performed the European premiere of Luigi Nono’s Prometeo with London Sinfonietta and Mason Ensemble in 2008 and Ingrained Deeds, Bird Seeds and other Granular Material by Catherine Kontz at Tête-à-Tête opera festival at Riverside Studios.
Simon Morgan is one of Ireland’s finest High Baritones, a graduate of University College Dublin, The Royal Irish Academy of Music and The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
In the classical world, he has performed leading Baritone roles in multiple award-winning opera productions at Galway Artists Festival, Kilkenny Arts Festival, The Gate Theatre, the National Concert Hall and Cork Opera House.
Meanwhile, in the contemporary Irish music world, he has composed and produced musical projects both internationally and across all the country’s top arts venues. His project ‘Thomas Moore Reimagined’ has been performed at the National Concert Hall and all over Ireland and at festivals abroad, with the accompanying album reaching number 1 in the Irish iTunes charts.
Blurring the lines between musical art forms, Simon continues to work with leading figures in Irish Jazz, Traditional and Classical music fields to produce works and concerts internationally.
Chris Comhaill is a musician, producer and songwriter who aims to create compelling and engaging music across an eclectic array of genres.
As a solo artist and as a guitar accompanist Chris has performed across Ireland and internationally. Chris has been invited to perform his Dúchas project at the Florence Academy of Art, the Irish Embassy in Tanzania and the Irish Cultural Centre London, as well as having sold out shows in prestigious venues such as St. Patricks Cathedral, the National Concert Hall of Ireland and the Whale Theatre.
He has performed for crowds at Irish festivals such as Electric Picnic and Body & Soul and has had the honour of playing for An Uachtarán, the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins. He has played support for and shared the stage with acts such as The Script, George Ezra, Kurt Elling, Celine Byrne, Paul Byrom, KÍLA and Mundy. Chris studied music at UCD, BIMM and DCU and holds an Honours Degree and Masters Degree, as well as a Diploma in Guitar Performance.
Chris is involved with Irish musical heritage and culture and regularly performs his Dúchas project, a repertoire of traditional Celtic music arranged for solo guitar. He is co-director of the Celtic music group Celtic Calling. As a producer, he releases music under the moniker Front Row Seats exploring his love of jazz, neo-soul and hip-hop. He is the director of the world music group w-IRE ME with singer Filipa Quintino, and he is one half of the Between Two Moons project with oud player Yusef Hourani, a composer for film and an in-demand session musician.
The Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Musicians-in-Residence Scheme is jointly funded by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon and is managed by Music Network.