"I am thrilled to have been selected for the Music Network Performance Residency at the CCI, Paris. The opportunity will give me much needed space and time to develop a new project titled ‘Infinite Space: Reimagined’. I am deeply grateful to CCI Paris and to Music Network for this award." Síomha Brock
Music Network and the Centre Culturel Irlandais (CCI) are delighted to announce Síomha Brock has been awarded the annual Music Network/Centre Culturel Irlandais Music Performance Residency for 2023-2024.
This annual Residency was created to enable Irish musicians to further their performance practice at the Centre in Paris and also provides a valuable opportunity to showcase work on an international stage.
Síomha is a singer and composer based in Co. Clare, whose debut album ‘Infinite Space’ was released in April 2022. The album, a collection of original songs in both English and Irish, was produced by GRAMMY-nominated Tyler Duncan. Síomha has toured extensively across Ireland and internationally including appearances at Celtic Connections (UK), Fete de la Music (FR), and in 2023 she was selected as an Official Showcase Artist at Folk Alliance International in Kansas (USA). In 2021 & 2022 she undertook three mentorships - one in Irish language translation and writing with bilingual poet Ciara Ní É, one in vocal performance with renowned vocal coach Gemma Sugrue and one in Studio Recording with her long-term creative partner Martin Atkinson Borrull.
During this residency, Síomha plans to use the skills learned through her recent mentorships to reimagine her album and explore new Irish translations of its English songs. Her key areas of interest as an artist are in performance and composition with a particular focus on using the Irish language in a new context. During her residency Síomha plans to dive deeper into the language of her music, re-working the arrangements and continuing to develop her practice and the creative potential of this body of work.
As part of this new project titled ‘Infinite Space: Reimagined’ Síomha is aiming to self-produce an EP as a follow-up to the original album and prepare arrangements ready for live performances and a tour at the end of 2023.
Commenting on the news, Music Network CEO Sharon Rollston said: “We are delighted to once again be partnering with Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris on this residency and to be able to support the development and work of this year’s recipient Síomha Brock. This Residency offers a wonderful opportunity for a musician to further their performance career at the center in Paris, and is an important avenue for showcasing Ireland’s dynamic contemporary musical culture on an international stage.”
Speaking about the award Síomha said “I am thrilled to have been selected for the Music Network Performance Residency at the CCI, Paris. The opportunity will give me much needed space and time to develop a new project titled ‘Infinite Space: Reimagined’. I am deeply grateful to CCI Paris and to Music Network for this award.”
The one-month Residency will take place at the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris between September 2023 and August 2024 and offers recipients the opportunity to tap into the resources of both CCI and Paris.
Former recipients include Sue Rynhart (2022-2023), Caitriona Frost (2021-22), Macdara Yeates (2020-21), Mairéad Hickey (2019-20), Aisling Kenny (2018-19), Sam Comerford (2017-18), Barry Donoghue (2016-17) and Rhob Cunningham (2015-16).
Music Network Residencies
We support musicians to develop their professional careers at all stages.
Every year we provide professional and emerging musicians with residency opportunities both at home and abroad. Our residencies give musicians time, mentoring, funding and other supports to assist the development of their practice and careers.