A round-up of recent news.

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra has appointed Lena Zeliszewska and Emily Davis to jointly take the role of Associate Leader. 

From Lublin in Poland, Zeliszewska has been the RSNO’s Associate Principal Violin since 2016. She previously worked with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra for six years as Sub-Principal First Violin as well as being guest leader with West Australian Symphony Orchestra, West Australian Opera, and the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, as well as Principal Second Violin with the Hallé.

Commenting on her new role, Zeliszewska said:

I am absolutely thrilled to have been appointed Associate Leader of the RSNO. Over the last two and a half years I’ve enjoyed immensely working with such fantastic musicians and wonderful friends. I believe that the orchestra has been going from strength to strength and I’m looking forward to the future with great excitement.

Violinist Emily Davis has been performing with the RSNO for just over a year, having joined the orchestra on their recent tour of the US. From 2014 to 2016, she was Principal First Violin with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, having collaborated with numerous orchestras including Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra. She is now also a Professor of Violin at St Mary’s specialist music school in Edinburgh. 

Commenting on her appointment, Davis said:

I am absolutely delighted to join the RSNO – they are a forward thinking and exciting ensemble to be a part of, and I’m extremely happy to become part of the team at this time.

Commenting on the announcement of the two new Associate Leaders, RSNO Music Director Thomas Søndergård said:

I’m delighted to welcome Lena and Emily to take on the joint role of Associate Leader, and to welcome Emily to the RSNO family. The standard of applications for this position was incredibly high, but the exceptional talent of both shone through. Their musicianship and personalities make a perfect fit for us and I look forward to working with them.

For more, visit www.rsno.org.uk.

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RSNO has also announced the appointment of Patrick Barrett as Junior Chorus Director. 

Irish conductor Patrick Barrett studied Music Education at Trinity College Dublin and at the Conservatory of Music and Drama at DIT before furthering his studies at Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Hungary and completing an MMus in Choral Conducting at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He also currently holds the role of Associate Artist at the Royal Opera House, which he will continue to hold, alongside his new RSNO role. 

Speaking about his new role, Barrett said:

Having heard the exceptionally high standard of singing that the members of Junior Chorus deliver on a weekly basis, I’m delighted and honoured to be joining the RSNO family as Junior Chorus Director. I look forward to working with everyone from August 2019.

RSNO Chief Executive Alistair Mackie welcomed the new Junior Chorus Director:

I am thrilled to have Patrick joining our artistic team in the role of Junior Chorus Director. He is a huge talent with vast experience, full of new forward-thinking ideas and a perfect fit for the RSNO at this time.

For more, visit www.rsno.org.uk.

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PRS Foundation has announced Joe Frankland as the company’s new Chief Executive. 

Frankland has been working with PRS Foundation since 2014, when he joined as Industry Fund Manager, with his role being to manage flagship schemes. He moved into his current role of Senior Grants and Programmes Manager in 2015, which sees him leading the grants team in planning grant and partnership programmes. Frankland is succeeding previous CEO Vanessa Reed who has been appointed CEO and President of New Music USA. 

PRS Foundation Chair Simon Platz said:

We are delighted to appoint Joe as the new Chief Executive for PRS Foundation. Joe’s years of experience delivering targeted support and developing talent will be a huge asset as he leads the Foundation into its third decade. I’d also like to thank once again Vanessa Reed for her huge contribution leading the organisation over the past 11 years and wish her all the best in the new role in New York.

Frankland commented:

I am incredibly excited and honoured to have been offered the role of PRS Foundation Chief Executive. I am proud to work with such an enthusiastic team and board and look forward to collaborating with partners and the industry to support the UK’s most exciting music creators and pioneering organisations.

For more, visit https://prsfoundation.com.

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Grace Tallon has been announced as the new Director of Newpark Music Centre in Dublin. A musician and former Councillor with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Tallon studied at the Conservatory of Music and Drama at DIT and at UCD before working as a PR consultant and project manager in numerous arts-based roles. Having founded arts and events company & Co., she is also a member of the Sounding the Feminists group. 

Commenting on the news, Tallon said:

I am delighted to take up the position of Director in Newpark Music Centre, an institution that has made a hugely significant impact on music education in Ireland. Through my professional and personal involvement in the Irish arts scene over the last number of years I have witnessed first-hand the positive impact quality music education can have on lives. I believe passionately in the arts and I look forward to shaping the future of Newpark Music Centre and broadening our remit. 

Bébhinn Murphy, acting Chair of Newpark Music Centre, added:

Grace steps in to lead the organisation at a significant time in its development – her experience in building and leading teams and in creative programming will be key to fulfilling Newpark Music Centre’s strategic vision. I have no doubt that her innate passion for the arts and music will ensure Newpark Music Centre’s continued growth and success. On behalf of the Board, I wish Grace every success in her new role.

For more, visit: http://newparkmusic.ie/ 

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Following an open call for applications in April, the Office of Public Works has announced Dave Flynn as the first Composer-in-Residence at Farmleigh House from July to October 2019. Farmleigh, which is on a seventy-eight acre estate in Dublin, is the official Irish State guest house. The residency concept was developed in consultation with the Contemporary Music Centre.

Congratulating Flynn on his appointment, Director of CMC Evonne Ferguson said: 

On behalf of the Board and team at CMC, I wish Dave Flynn every success during this very special four months as Composer-in-Residence in the inspiring surroundings of Farmleigh. It has been a joy to collaborate with the OPW and Farmleigh on this wonderful new initiative for contemporary composers from Ireland, which will bring composition, performance and participation in contemporary music to Phoenix Park in the heart of Dublin.

Farmleigh Librarian Nuala Canny said:   

The OPW and Farmleigh are delighted to welcome – for the first time under its Writer-in-Residence programme – a contemporary composer from Ireland, Dave Flynn. We are looking forward to a truly imaginative residency, which will give Dave a wonderful opportunity to explore Farmleigh as an inspiration for music composition and performance while further enhancing our visitors’ experience of Farmleigh through a beautiful contemporary music programme.

During the course of the residency, Flynn will compose a new work to be premiered at Farmleigh, and also engage in workshops and performances. Commenting on the news, he said:

Music abounds in and around the grounds of Farmleigh. It is silently reflected in elaborate paintings and tapestries, and a first edition of Moore’s Melodies in the stunning Guinness Library. The rhythm of writing comes alive as you browse through the literature of past writers-in-residence. A rare Regency-era ‘harp-lute’ sits in its open case in the Chinese room, waiting to be restrung so it can sing again. Beyond the silent music, animals and humans form an orchestra that plays the evolving symphony of life that Farmleigh composes each day. I look forward to welcoming audiences, composers, musicians, writers and other artists to explore the music of Farmleigh with me during the diverse events I will curate during my residency.

A composer, guitarist and founder of the Irish Memory Orchestra, Flynn is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2016 Eamonn Ceannt Commission, the 2004 Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival Composers’ Award, and the 2002 IMRO/Feis Ceoil Composition Award. In 2017/18, he was Associate Artist with Glór arts centre in Ennis. 

For more, visit www.cmc.ie

For June appointments, see here.