Artists-in-Residence

For the first time in the season, we are thrilled to welcome new Artists-in-Residence – renowned American musician and composer Bryce Dessner (of The National) and celebrated Irish opera star Tara Erraught  - who will each work with the National Symphony Orchestra to bring their talent and experience to bear in a number of orchestral concerts and events. This year, we also welcome Jessie Grimes as our Learning & Participation Artist-in-Residence.

In the first of two concerts with the NSO, Bryce Dessner presents the Irish Premiere of Mari and his Violin Concerto, written for a ‘fantastically exciting violinist’ Pekka Kuusisto. The second features Dessner in performance alongside David Chalmin (guitars) sharing a stage with the NSO for his piece St. Carolyn by the Sea, followed by the Irish premiere of his Concerto for Two Pianos performed by siblings Katia and Marielle Labèque and Stravinsky’s Petrushka A post-concert discussion featuring Bryce Dessner and musicians will follow both performances, led by RTÉ broadcaster John Kelly.  
 
Tara Erraught will take centre stage in two unique concert performances with the NSO, one featuring great works by Haydn and Mozart led by conductor and harpsichordist Lawrence Cummings, the other, popular opera arias by Puccini, Donizetti, Rossini and more under the baton of Clelia Cafiero.

In an exciting new development Tara will also spearhead a week-long professional development programme Celebrating the Voice, featuring masterclasses led by Tara with pianists Morgane Fauchois-Prado and Dearbhla Collins and the NSO, as well as a high-ranking panel of international experts to lead a number of seminars (10-14 February ‘25). They include vocal health expert and New York based Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist, Paul Kwack (who works regularly with the Metropolitan Opera); panel discussions with Alexander Neef, Director of Opéra de Paris, Andreas Massow, Senior Artist Manager and former Casting Director at Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich as well as Q&As led by RTÉ Lyric FM’s Liz Nolan. 

As the NCH’s Learning and Participation Artist-in-Residence, Jessie Grimes will present and lead a suite of family friendly concerts with the NSO that include popular screenings of classic children’s stories by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, and Roald Dahl namely Stick Man and The Snail and the Whale and Revolting Rhymes. The ASD friendly Symphony Shorts concerts continue featuring Beethoven’s heroic Symphony No. 5 and Berlioz’s rousing Symphony fantastique.  The ever-popular Music in the Classroom concerts continue with music from the school curriculum for the Leaving Certificate, Junior Cycle and a programme suitable for Primary School children Musical Adventures.