Noel Burke was born in London to Sligo parents.

Evelyn Grant is a flute-player and presenter of Week End Drive on RTÉ Lyric fm. She is also musical director and conductor of the Cork Pops

Having a Jewish husband and a son with Down syndrome ensured Irish composer Deirdre Gribbin’s piece on the Kindertransport movement is particularly personal. It will be premiered in West Cork, writes Cathy Desmond.

ELLA Van Poucke’s career took a big leap forward last July when she emerged as the “Golden Star” of the prestigious Premio Chigiana held in Siena in Italy, writes Cathy Desmond.

Multi-talented musician Kevin Jansson, hailed as one of the finest of his generation, is the January 2018 recipient of the Cork Person of the Month award.

Our regular contributors select their highlights of the year.

Aoife Burke is a cellist from Cork, and currently holds a residency at the Triskel Arts Centre in Cork, as part of which she curates the summer lunchtime concert series and the Spotlight chamber music series. 

The sonorous sounds of a string sextet playing Dvorak in the elegant 19th century library in Bantry House drew the 22nd West Cork Chamber Music Festival to a close.

DURING his music lesson, a string broke on young Conor Russell’s violin. A minor setback, and a common experience of every student. What happened next set a life-long course for Russell who is now one of Ireland’s most established violinmakers, or luthiers, as they are known in the trade.

AS THE annual West Cork Chamber Music Festival settles comfortably into its third decade, a stellar line-up of musicians will again gather from all over the world for a classical music festival cum country house party on the edge of the Atlantic, writes Cathy Desmond.

Growing up I was more on the shy side, but music enabled me to find a great way of self-expression.

Sunshine giving you that festival buzz? We've got the ultimate guide to some of the best festivals around!

Sinéad O’Halloran is a 22-year-old cellist from Blackrock, Cork. She is the co-founder and artistic director of the Ortús Chamber Music Festival, which is taking place in Midleton, Cork city and Cobh this weekend. She is currently based in Düsseldorf where she is studying for her Bachelor of Music.

As the Vanbrugh Quartet get a lifetime achievement award, Gregory Ellis reflects on his 30 years with the group, writes Cathy Desmond

A programme of readings, a feature of the West Cork Literary Festival since it began in the mid-90s, is to be dedicated to the memory of former Irish Examiner columnist Denise Hall.

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1. Vintage Fun

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

A group of top instrument makers will show off their age-old crafts at West Cork Chamber Music festival, writes Cathy Desmond

As a small child, Waley-Cohen insisted her parents book music lessons for her, says Jo Kerrigan

MUSIC NEWS: Though there were all sorts of stories about Michael Jackson’s perilous finances through the years, the late prince of pop did listen to some of the right advice when he managed to amass the rights to songs by an impressive roster of artists. 

A landmark West Cork hotel is set for major refurbishment after it was bought out of receivership by a local consortium.

Bantry House/ St Brendan’s Church

Cremona Quartet in rehearsals at Bantry House, West Cork.

MUSIC NEWS: Perhaps it’s fortunate for the Glastonbury organisers that Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs isn’t on their bill this weekend. 

Liana Gourdjia has fond memories of her first encounter with Menahem Pressler, founder of the famous Beaux Arts Trio.

Here’s are some of the best things to do during the week ahead

THE newly formed Cork City Musical Society, in association with the Firkin Crane, is about to stage its debut production, Sweet Charity. 

Declan Townsend is relishing the prospect of the aural delights on offer at this year’s West Cork Chamber Music Festival

Venue: University College, Cork

This year’s West Cork Chamber Music Festival promises to be the best ever, writes Declan Townsend.

Two sensational concerts by the CSO, Vanbrugh Quartet and Camerata are planned for Holy Thursday and Good Friday, says Declan Townsend

Aficionados of classical music will be flocking to Cork School of Music this evening where Ukrainian-born pianist, Alexei Grynyuk, will perform Liszt and Schubert pieces, under the auspices of the Cork Orchestral Society.

THE 20-year-old Franz Schubert was once asked how it was possible for him to have composed so much music at his age.

IN the arts, January is a quiet month. Yet last week, I saw two major plays, Druid’s production of Dion Boucicault’s The Colleen Bawn and the revival of Martin McDonagh’s A Skull in Connemara.

Bittersweet is how violinist, Catherine Leonard describes the feeling she anticipates when she and pianist, Hugh Tinney will perform the last event in the West Cork Music’s Concert Series at Bantry House on Saturday.

ARTISTIC director of the New Ross Piano Festival, pianist Finghin Collins, has put together a bold Russian-themed programme for the festival’s eighth edition. Having secured President Michael D Higgins as the festival patron, and taking place amid celebrations of the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy’s visit, it’s an auspicious year for the festival.

Declan Townsend finds the programme for the West Cork Chamber Music Festival has him feeling like a child in a sweet shop, hoping he can sample everything

Francis Humphrys tells Nicki ffrench Davis about overseeing Bantry’s three summer festivals

The West Cork Chamber Music Festival’s creative approach and warm welcome continues to draw performers of the highest calibre, writes Jo Kerrigan

THIS was the question asked of Francis Humphrys, the artistic director of the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, by the French horn virtuoso, Herve Joulain.

West Cork Chamber Music Festival broke attendance records for its 37 concerts over nine days in Bantry, says Declan Townsend

What I do: Baroque cellist and virtuoso recorder player.