The Contemporary Music Centre announces seven newly represented associate artists
Following the latest application process, with review by an independent panel, CMC Ireland is delighted to announce the associate representation of artists Liam Bates, Xenia Pestova Bennett, Geoff Hannan, Paul Scully, Yue Song, Omar Zatriqi and Eduard Zatriqi.
As a CMC Associate Artist, artists’ works are documented and disseminated as part of CMC’s collection online and in our library on 19 Fishamble street. CMC looks forward to supporting the work of these seven exciting composers and facilitating further engagement with their music.
In 2024, CMC welcomes the following Associate Artists:
For extended biographies for each of the composers, and to find works archived in CMC's collection, click the composer's name.
Liam Bates
Crafting music that transforms into a deeply resonant and emotive experience for me, has always been the compass for my compositional aspirations. I draw from my great love of both classical traditions and contemporary styles to tell stories and convey emotions that bridge diversities, welcoming audiences into my world of imagery and exploration.
- Liam Bates
Xenia Pestova Bennett
Described as “a powerhouse of contemporary keyboard repertoire” (Tempo), pianist and composer Xenia Pestova Bennett has earned an international reputation as a leading proponent of uncompromising music. Her work spans a wide range of sound worlds, styles and genres from classical to contemporary art music, free improvisation, experimental electronica and avant-pop.
Xenia has performed at international festivals, in concert halls, tropical rainforests, caves, ponds and countless weird and wonderful venues and spaces. She has commissioned and recorded dozens of new works, collaborating with major innovators in contemporary music and exploring classical music boundaries with electronics, toy pianos, synthesizers and the Magnetic Resonator Piano.
https://xeniapestovabennett.com
Geoffrey Hannan
Geoff Hannan was born of Irish parents in London, UK. In 1998 he was awarded the Gaudeamusprijs for Rigmarole. He has been performed at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the London Sinfonietta’s ‘State of the Nation’ and SOUNDINGS at the Austrian Cultural Forum by groups such as the Ives Ensemble (Netherlands), IXION, CONTINUUM (Canada) and EXAUDI Vocal Ensemble. In 2019 he was awarded an Ivor Novello for Pocket Universe.
Geoff has also written the music for the multi-award-winning animation Kahanikar and the BAFTA-nominated short Take Your Partners. As an arranger he has transcribed Elgar’s Enigma Variations for piano quartet, John Williams’ Prologue and Main Title Music from Superman the Movie for piano duet, and Harrison Birtwistle’s Carmen Arcadiae Mechanicae Perpetuum for percussion quartet with the composer’s blessing.
Geoff lives in Dublin, Ireland, and his music is represented by Donemus.
"His music is not harmless pastoral panacea or cream cake. It can be a bracing tonic, or open windows onto magical and insane soundscapes" — Michael Finnissy.
Paul Scully
Paul Scully is a composer from Dublin, Ireland. His practice is multidisciplinary and combines performance art, theatrical elements, video, and electronics. Speech and language feature heavily in his music and much of his work is site-specific, considering the full gamut of an audiences’ experience.
His recent works Will we Give it a Bash? and Everything’s Left That’s Worth Defence – both premiered in 2022 – seek to subvert the assumptions of the audience through playful, humorous, and often chaotic means. He is the general manager of the experimental music ensemble Kirkos and runs their venue and artist space, Unit 44, in Stoneybatter, Dublin.
Yue Song
Yue Song is a Chinese composer and pianist. In 2018, she moved to Ireland to commence PhD studies under Professor Gráinne Mulvey at TU Dublin Conservatoire, and was awarded her PhD in 2023.
She has composed works in various genres, including opera, orchestra, Chinese orchestra, various chamber music ensembles, solo pieces, and electronic music. She originally comes from a classical music background, and is interested in many different styles of music and art forms, especially theatre and literature – for this reason, she has always been particularly interested in opera and likes to write her own librettos.
Eduard Zatriqi
Eduard Zatriqi earned a PhD in music composition from Queen's University Belfast in 2015. Spark Opera premiered his two operas, Van Helsing: The Opera Exclamation Mark (2009) and The Monster in the Dark (2012). Eduard won the 2011 West Cork Chamber Music Festival Composition Competition for his Piano Trio. He won the 2016 Peter Rosser Award for War Games, which was performed by Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble on BBC Radio Three in 2017. Eduard won the 2018 Hibernian Orchestra Composition Competition for Human Machine, and was also commissioned by Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble to write Balkan Spectres. New Horizons Music commissioned Eduard to compose his latest work Pierrot's Splendiferous Symphonic Dances.
https://soundcloud.com/eduard-zatriqi
Omar Zatriqi
Omar Zatriqi (b. 1987) is a composer from Bangor, County Down. He studied composition under Prof. Piers Hellawell and Dr. Simon Mawhinney at Queen's University Belfast, achieving a BMus (with First Class Honours), MA, and PhD. In 2013, Omar's opera Science won a Director's Choice Award as part of Boston Metro Opera's International Composers' Competition. Fata Morgana won the 2018 Peter Rosser Composition Award, while Key Chain was one of four winning string quartets at West Cork Music's 2018 Composition Competition. Most recently, Omar was commissioned by Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble (with PRSf funding) to compose his string duo Blood Dances.
https://soundcloud.com/omar-zatriqi
Applications for CMC Associate Artist Representation can be made at any time, with the review and selection process taking place twice annually. For more information on CMC Associate Artist Representation, and how to apply, click here.