Visually impaired Cork musician to raise awareness of Aboriginal music with tour of Ireland
Visually impaired mezzo soprano Clair Butler and her assistance dog Oshi with their passports. They are currently preparing for an upcoming research trip to the Australian National University in Canberra next January. Picture: David Creedon
Travelling to Australia for a special musical mission with her guide dog was never going to be an easy feat for Clair Butler.
It won’t be the first time, however, that the visually impaired musician has overcome the odds. Having accomplished her dream of becoming a professional soprano, the 34-year-old musician is passionate about promoting the music of the often marginalised Aboriginal community.
She is currently preparing for a concert at the Aula Maxima in UCC on October 4 which she hopes will help fund an upcoming field research trip to the Australian National University in Canberra in January. The Indigenous Music Revival concert will see the Government of Ireland PhD student perform and celebrate the work of both Aboriginal composers and Irish musicians.
Fundraising, however, is not Clair's only concern ahead of her trip Down Under. She must also prepare her guide dog for the 17-hour plane journey.
"I've been to the airport with the Guide Dogs for the Blind a number of times so my guide dog Oshi can practise getting on and off the plane. I’m also being encouraged to play airplane sounds for her so she is familiar with what to expect during the trip. So far the noise doesn’t seem to be bothering her.
"At two years old she is young so I’m hoping she will get through it okay. Since she’s a guide dog I’m able to have her there with me which makes things a lot easier. There is a lot involved but everyone has been very helpful, including her vet Pat Doherty and the state vet too.”
Clair's goal is to perform a collection of the indigenous compositions she will gather while in Australia for Irish audiences.
“I want to bring the music on tour around Ireland to promote the songs and raise awareness of indigenous composers. I am doing my PhD at the moment which focuses on the music of Aboriginal composers in the context of European classical music.
"I will be carrying out field research with Aboriginal composers in Australia. What inspired me to pursue this was the shared colonial history between Ireland and Australia that resulted in us almost losing our music and culture.
"We are fortunate that our own people experienced a revival of Irish culture and music that may otherwise have been lost. It’s important that we give back to support other communities to protect the musical traditions unique to them.”
Clair is looking forward to fully immersing herself in the project.
“I will be with the composers while they are working and really getting to know them. I’ll also be interviewing them about their music and backgrounds and they will in turn commission pieces for me to sing when I make it home to Ireland.
"I plan to take this music and perform it all over Ireland. I think it’s important to bring this into the mainstream so that people are listening to the work of indigenous composers from different parts of the world.”
Clair previously studied abroad for a semester at Wesleyan University in Connecticut as part of a BA in music course she undertook with UCC at the age of 25.
“I went over there with my then guide dog Ashay who has since passed away. Everyone loved her over there. One of the lecturers used to give her treats every day. I have no doubt that Oshi will be just as loved.”
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