Esker Orchestra returns on summer tour

One of Ireland’s most exciting peer-led orchestras is set to return to Cork shores on its summer run of shows.

The Esker Festival Orchestra will return for its sixth annual residential and summer tour, including a concert at CIT Cork School of Music in association with Cork School of Music on Friday 9 August at 6pm.

The Esker Festival Orchestra brings together Irish and international emerging young professional musicians, allowing young musicians from across the country to perform together, socialise together and to build relationships.

The orchestra was set up in 2014 and is entirely led and run by its members for its members, allowing those taking part to gather invaluable first-hand experience in the world of orchestral music.

This year’s Cork show comes alongside performances in the National University of Ireland in Galway on Thursday 8 August and in the Capuchin Friary in Dublin 7 on Saturday 10 August.

The orchestra will be conducted by Paul McCusker from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, winner of the Hugh S Roberton Prize and the 2018 Feis Ceoil Conducting Competition, and the 2019 programme will include Prokofiev’s Symphony Number One ‘Classical’, Kodaly’s ‘Dances of Galanta’, Richard Strauss’ ‘Horn Concerto Number Two’ featuring Hannah Miller as soloist, as well as the world premiere of ‘Water Music’ by young Irish composer Donagh Marnane.

Along with the three national concerts, there will also be two chamber music concerts featuring tutors and soloists on Wednesday 7 August in Galway’s Black Gate Theatre at 9pm and Sunday 11 August in Dublin.

The Esker Festival Orchestra is supported by the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras, The Arts Council, RTÉ Supporting the Arts, NUI Galway and CIT Cork School of Music.

Tickets are available at eskerfestivalorchestra.com/events/ or on the door for each venue (€15/€10 concession).

Full concert and tour details can be found at eskerfestivalorchestra.com.