Linda Buckley.

Waterford New Music Week, now in its twelfth year, is the only festival of contemporary music in South East Ireland. The 2012 festival will run from 16 to 20 April, and takes place in seven venues across Waterford, including Waterford Institute of Technology and Garter Lane Arts Centre.

This year’s festival is organised around a central theme of improvisation. Barry Guy will lead an improvisation and composition workshop, which will culminate in a concert programme from Guy and Maya Homburger that sets baroque music into a context of free improvisation.

RTÉ Lyric FM Composer in Residence Linda Buckley will lead listening and improvisation workshops, whilst the Contemporary Music Centre’s Evonne Ferguson and the National Chamber Choir’s Paul HIllier will explore contemporary choral writing in a workshop that also features the music and participation of composers David Fennessy and Piers Hellawell.

A range of jazz and improvised music events take place throughout the week, with the first night featuring a big band performing music exclusively from Irish composers. A range of contemporary music concerts take place throughout the week.

 Although fifteen events have free admission, booking is recommended. For full details of the programme, and tickets, click here.