www.musicnetwork.ie
Music Network announced the second round of successful applicants of the Performance and Touring Award 2007 in early July, which provides support and work for professional musicians in Ireland. With funding from the Arts Council, the Performance and Touring Award was developed by Music Network, the national music development organisation, to assist Irish and Ireland-based musicians in realising performance opportunities.

“Although just over one year old, the Performance and Touring Award has already resulted in an extremely valuable and vibrant new source of artist-led programming, accessible by promoters and audiences,” explains Music Network CEO Deirdre McCrea. “Since May 2006, the award has enabled nineteen exciting performance-based projects, resulting in ninety-seven individual concerts to take place around Ireland. This has positively impacted on the work of seventy Irish and Ireland-based musicians in genres including classical, jazz, Irish traditional, rock/pop and crossover.”

The total award fund for this round of applications was at €33,300. Nine applications were received broadly definable as: four rock/pop, three classical/contemporary classical, one traditional/folk, and one jazz. The total amount sought by applicants to this round of the scheme was €72,159.70. The four successful applicants are as follows:
Ann Scott (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards) and Katell Keineg (vocals, guitar, percussion, keyboards) awarded €4,500 towards a 5-concert collaborative tour featuring reworkings and re-interpretations of repertoire from both artists. The tour is to include dates in Clonakilty, Limerick, Galway, Longford, and Dublin in September 2007.

Kevin Brady awarded €6,789 towards a tour by The Kevin Brady Trio featuring (Bill Carrothers, piano; David Redmond, double bass; Kevin Brady, drums). The tour is to promote the ensemble’s debut album. Dates will include five concerts and two workshops on improvisation and composition by Bill Carrothers. Touring to Dublin, Galway, Sligo, Cork and Boyle will take place in November 2007. Mary Dullea awarded €10,233 towards a tour by the Fidelio Trio (Darragh Morgan, violin; Robin Michael, cello; Mary Dullea, piano) to promote the ensemble’s new CD, “Bulb,” which includes commissions from three Irish composers, alongside a performance by Ravel’s piano trio and other works. The tour includes dates in Dundalk, Dundrum, Waterford, Limerick, Cork and Manorhamilton for February 2008.

Karen Dervan awarded funding (the amount to be confirmed) towards a tour by Lynda O’Connor, Nicole Hudson (violins), Karen Dervan (viola), Lioba Petrie (cello), Berni Balfe (clarinet) Jane O’Leary (composer) and Linda Buckley (composer) with repertoire celebrating Irish contemporary music and the Elizabeth Maconchy centenary. Concerts are taking place in Dublin, Bray, Dundalk, Cork, Limerick, Loughrea and Kilkenny between September and November 2007.

The third 2007 deadline for applications to the Performance and Touring Award is 5pm on Monday 8th October and is open to musicians and ensembles of all genres, who are of Irish nationality or resident in the Republic of Ireland. Eligible projects include concert/performance tours, concert/performance series in one or more venues, and individual concerts/performances, as well as associated outreach/audience development activities. The award is also open to multi-disciplinary projects involving live music performance as a key structural/thematic element. The award can be used to cover costs associated with realising collaborative projects either with other Irish/Ireland-based artists, or with international artists visiting Ireland.
Further information and application packs are available from Music Network, Coach House, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2,
Tel: 01 6719429 or from www.musicnetwork.ie