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Have you seen The Journal of Music's new website at www.journalofmusic.com? Readers now have instant access to hundreds of articles, as well as a constantly-updated news feed and event guide. We'd love to hear your thoughts: please send any comments and suggestions to webmaster_at_journalofmusic_dot_com

Readers of The Journal of Music Weekly are invited to join Roger Doyle for the launch of his new CD Cool Steet Army on the Psychonavigation label, at the Project Arts Centre, Dublin, on Tuesday, 7 April, 5:30–7:30pm, with live music by the composer. Your name must be on the guest list. Book now: email psychonavigation_at_gmail_dot_com

Wexford Festival Opera has revised its dates for the 58th season and will be consolidated into a 12-day event, consisting of three main operas. The short-work productions, including Brian Irvine's Dumbworld, which was to be premiered in this year's festival, will be set aside. 

The festival will open on 21st October with The Ghosts of Versailles by Corigliano (1991), a co-production with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, followed by a double-bill of Une Éducation Manquée (An Incomplete Education) by Chabrier (1879) and Rossini’s La Cambiale di Matrimonio (The Marriage Contract) (1810) with Donizetti’s Maria Padilla (1841) making up the final production. 

Commenting on the change, Chief Executive David McLoughlin said, '2008 was a tremendously successful year for us in every aspect, however, we have to acknowledge the current economic climate we are all operating in and be pro-active in our approach in this financially challenging year in order to secure the festival’s future.' www.wexfordopera.com

Imagine Create 2009 is a three-day festival taking place in Derry on 2–4 April, organised by the University of Ulster and other regional partners including Derry City Council, Skillset Media Academy, North West Regional College, the Nerve Centre and the Void Gallery. The festival will focus on the creative applications of technology, specifically in the areas of music, image, games design, web media and digital interactivity. 

Events will take place at various venues around the city, with concerts by Scanner, Boxcutter and Hot Chip (DJ set); seminars by contemporary arts groups such as Artangel; and talks by industry professionals from the media, film, games and music industries (Lucasfilm, Dreamworks, EA, Crystal Dynamics, BBC, Apple). To win tickets to Scanner at Imagine Create on 4 April (including free entry to the festival finale, featuring Hexstatic, The Black Dog and Hot Chip DJs), email benedict_at_journalofmusic_dot_com with your name and phone number. www.creativetechnologies.info

Be our friend on Facebook! The Journal of Music now has its own facebook page at www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=54485034897 

Following finals at Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, the Belfast pianist Michael McHale has won the Terence Judd/Hallé Award. The winning performance included works by Liszt, Rachmaninov and Mozart. McHale, 25, studied with John O'Conor and Reamonn Keary at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, before continuing his studies at Cambridge University and the Royal Academy of Music in London. Read Michael Quinn's recent review of Michael McHale's latest CD with Ensemble Avalon at journalofmusic.com/article/876

Dublin City Council has announced details of its Incubation Space award. The award provides arts companies and collectives with a workspace at the LAB, Foley Street, Dublin 1 for a period of up to six months. The space is approximately 64.5m2 and has been home to a number of groups in the past, including Auralog (Anthony Kelly, Slavek Kwi, Dean McCrum, David Stalling) and the Barabbas Theatre Company. The deadline for applications is 5:00pm on 9 April. Email sinead_dot_connolly_at_dublincity_dot_ie

NUI Maynooth will host an international composition symposium on 1–2 May. The symposium will feature talks by some of the leading contemporary composers in Ireland and abroad, including Donnacha Dennehy, Jane O'Leary, Fred Desena and Kevin O'Connell, with a keynote address by John Buckley. The symposium will also host for masterclasses offering young composers the opportunity to work with top-class performers including the Crash Ensemble. Full programme and registration forms are available at music.nuim.ie

Foyle Piping Festival 

The first ever Foyle Piping Festival takes place in Derry this week, on 26–28 March. The Festival programme features pipers and pipe bands from around the world for performances, masterclasses, talks, workshops and sessions. Among those involved are Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, the St. Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band, Four Men and a Dog, Dublin’s Na Píobairí Uilleann, the Armagh Pipers’ Club, Steven McWhirter, Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, Andrew Carlisle, Colmcille Pipe Band and Bernagh. A free launch event, with Daniel Hasson (highland pipes), Andrew Carlisle (highland pipes) and Chris McMullen (uilleann pipes) takes place on Tuesday, 24 March at 1:15pm in the Great Hall, Magee University. www.culture.ulster.ac.uk

Now that we've launched our new website, we have some fantastic opportunities for advertising online. Email benedict_at_journalofmusic_dot_com to find out how you can reach an audience of thousands for only €5 per day. www.journalofmusic.com

24.3.09 Ulster Orchestra; Tuomas Ollila-Hannikainen (conductor), Ronald Brautigam (piano); Weber, Beethoven, Stanford; Ulster Hall, Belfast, Co. Antrim; 7:45pm; £20/8 (www.ulster-orchestra.org.uk)
25.3.09 Ulster Orchestra; Carlos Kalmar (conductor); Fucik, Suk, Dvorak, Mozart; Ulster Hall, Belfast, Co. Antrim; 1:00pm; £5 (www.ulster-orchestra.org.uk)
27.3.09 Ulster Orchestra; Carlos Kalmar (conductor), Quirine Vierson (cello); Suk, Dvorak, Smetana, Martinu; Ulster Hall, Belfast, Co. Antrim; 7:45pm; £20, 8 (www.ulster-orchestra.org.uk)
28.3.09 At First Light: John McSherry, Donal O'Connor, Alan Burke, Francis McIlduff, Ruben Bada; An Droichead, Ormeau Road, Belfast, Co. Antrim; 8:00pm

25.3.09-29.3.09 Moving On Music Festival, Belfast (www.movingonmusic.co.uk)

27.3.09 - 29.3.09 Clare Guitar Weekend; Various Venues, Ennis, Co. Clare (www.clareguitarweekend.com)

27.3.09 Irish Chamber Orchestra, Stephen Hough (director, piano, conductor), Juliet Welchmann (cello); Mozart, Mendelssohn, Stephen Hough; Curtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music, Union Quay, Co. Cork; 8:00pm; €30/20/10 (www.irishchamberorchestra.com)
27.3.09 Electric Underground: Donal Dineen; Liquid Lounge, Marlborough Street, Co. Cork; 10:30pm; €10 (www.electricunderground.ie)
29.3.09 Cork School of Music Symphony Orchestra, Brian O'Kane (cello), Geoffrey Spratt (conductor); Elgar, Taverner ; City Hall, Cork, Co. Cork; 3:00pm; €25/8
29.3.09 Loudest Whisper; Children of Lir Album; Curtis Auditorium, CIT Cork School of Music, Union Quay, Co. Cork; 4:00pm

24.3.09 Daniel Hasson (highland pipes), Andrew Carlisle (highland pipes), Chris McMullen (uilleann pipes); The Great Hall, Magee University, Derry, Co. Derry; 1:15pm; Free admission
26.3.09 Four Men and a Dog: Cathal Hayden (fiddle, banjo, viola), Gino Lupari (vocals, percussion), Gerry O’Connor (banjo, fiddle, mandolin), Kevin Doherty (vocals, guitar), Liam Bradley (percussion), Dónal Murphy (accordion), Nicky Scott (bass); Sandino's Bar, Derry, Co. Derry; 9:00pm; £15/10
26.3.09 - 28.3.09 Foyle Piping Festival: Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band; St. Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band; Four Men and a Dog; Na Píobairí Uilleann; Armagh Pipers’ Club; Steven McWhirter; Andrew Carlisle; Colmcille Pipe Band; Bernagh; Various venues, Derry, Co. Derry

23.3.09 Sean MacErlaine (alto sax), Pawel Szumilo (guitar), Pawel Wysota (double bass); Rathmines Public Library, Rathmines Road, Dublin 6; 1:00pm; Free admission
23.3.09 Musicians of the Future 2009: Sarabande, The Glenn Gould Project: Karishmeh Felfeli-Crawford; John Field Room, National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2; 8:00pm (www.glenngould.co.uk)
23.3.09 Trio Que Pasa; The Sugar Club, 8 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2; 8:00pm; €10/7 (www.myspace.com/trioquepasa)
25.3.09 Unwanted; The Cherry Tree, Walkinstown, Dublin 12; 9:00pm; €17/15
26.3.09 By Divine Comman; The Musicke of Mr. Bach and Mr. Handel: RTÉ Concert Orchestra, UCD Choral Scholars; Desmond Early (conductor), Mia Cooper (violin); Bach, Handel; St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin 8; 8:00pm; €25, 10 (www.rte.ie/performinggroups)
26.3.09 The Fold: Seán Óg, Fergus Cullen, Gavin Duffy, Karl Him, Iarla O'Lionáird; St Audoen's Church, Haymarket, Dublin 8; 7:30pm; €12 (www.thefold.ie)
27.3.09 Animal Collective; Tripod, Harcourt Street, Dublin 2; 7:30pm; €20, 24.50
27.3.09 Michael Fracasso; Séamus Ennis Centre, The Naul, Co. Dublin; 7:30pm; €15
28.3.09 John Feeley (guitar); Rathfarnham Castle, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14; 8:00pm; €15 (www.altents.ie)
28.3.09 Dirty Projectors, Polar Bear, Lucky Dragons; Crawdaddy, Harcourt St.,; 8:30pm; €17
28.3.09 The Lee Valley String Band; Séamus Ennis Centre, The Naul, Co. Dublin; 7:30pm; €16
28.3.09 Messiah J & The Expert; The Academy, 57 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1; 7:30pm; €14.50 (www.messiahjandtheexpert.com)
29.3.09 Irish Chamber Orchestra, Stephen Hough (director, piano, conductor), Juliet Welchmann (cello); Mozart, Mendelssohn, Stephen Hough; National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2; 8:00pm; €30/20/10 (www.irishchamberorchestra.com)
30.3.09 Cian Boylan (piano), Hugh Buckley (guitar), Damian Evans (double bass); Rathmines Public Library, Rathmines Road, Dublin 6; 1:00pm; Free Admission

28.3.09 Ulster Orchestra; Carlos Kalmar (conductor), Christopher Blake (oboe); Britten, Strauss, Suk, Mozart; Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh; 8:00pm

28.3.09 - 29.3.09 Gerry McCann Traditional Music Weekend; Bawnacre Centre, Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh

24.3.09 RTÉ NSO, Gerhard Markson (conductor), Bernd Glemser (piano); Haydn, Liszt, Brahms; Leisureland, Galway, Co. Galway; 8:00pm; €22/18/10 (www.rte.ie/performinggroups)
25.3.09 Líam Ó Maonlaí; Town Hall Theatre, Galway, Co. Galway (www.myspace.com/liamomaonlaimusic)

26.3.09 RTÉ NSO, Gerhard Markson (conductor), Bernd Glemser (piano); Haydn, Liszt, Brahms; Sports and Leisure Centre, Tralee, Co. Kerry; 8:00pm; €20/17/12/10 (www.rte.ie/performinggroups)
28.3.09 Féile Barr na Sráide: Sliabh Notes; John Wynne and John McEvoy; Damian Mullane; Karen Trench; Mairead Casey (dance); Ring of Kerry Hotel, Cahirciveen, Co. Kerry; 8:00pm

29.3.09 The Odd Couple; Phil Ware(piano), Eddie Lee(bass), Ken McDonald (drums) ; Murtagh's, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim; 7:00pm; Free Admission (www.sligojazz.ie)

25.3.09 RTÉ NSO, Gerhard Markson (conductor), Bernd Glemser (piano); Haydn, Liszt, Brahms; University Concert Hall, University of Limerick, Limerick, Co. Limerick; 8:00pm; €15, 20, 23/13, 18, 21 (www.rte.ie/performinggroups)
26.3.09 Irish Chamber Orchestra, Stephen Hough (director, piano, conductor), Juliet Welchmann (cello); Mozart, Mendelssohn, Stephen Hough; University Concert Hall, University of Limerick, Limerick, Co. Limerick; 8:00pm; €30/20/10 (www.irishchamberorchestra.com)
27.3.09 Líam Ó Maonlaí; Dolans Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick, Co. Limerick (www.myspace.com/liamomaonlaimusic)

23.3.09 RTÉ NSO, Gerhard Markson (conductor), Bernd Glemser (piano); Haydn, Liszt, Brahms; Sligo IT, Sligo, Co. Sligo; 8:00pm; €21/10 (www.rte.ie/performinggroups)
29.3.09 The Odd Couple; Phil Ware(piano), Eddie Lee(bass), Ken McDonald (drums) ; Tobergal Lane Café, Tobergal Lane, Sligo, Co. Sligo; 3:00pm; Free Admission (www.sligojazz.ie)

27.3.09 RTÉ NSO, Gerhard Markson (conductor), Bernd Glemser (piano); Haydn, Liszt, Brahms; WIT College St. Chapel, Waterford, Co. Waterford; 8:00pm; €22/18/10 (www.rte.ie/performinggroups)

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our information, we advise subscribers to verify all details.

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