by Claire O’Brien
MULTI-AWARD winning artist Anne-Marie O’Farrell has been appointed composer-in-residence at Limerick’s Mary Immaculate College.
Dr. Ailbhe Kenny, Lecturer in Music Education at MIC and leading this initiative stated that the purpose of the residency programme was to enliven the musical culture of the MIC campus, and to allow practicing artists to feed into the educational programmes of the institution.
Dublin native O’Farrell said that choosing composition for one of the arts residences endorses the central role music plays in our lives. A leading exponent of the Irish harp as a recital instrument, her innovations and composition for the instrument have led to performances and recordings for TV and radio throughout Europe, the USA, Scandinavia, Japan, Russia and Africa.
She performed during the state visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland, and has also played for President Robinson, President McAleese, and President Michael D. Higgins. A prolific recording artist, she has released numerouscommercial recordings.
Director of the Arts Council Orlaith Mc Bride remarked that the residency is an effective way of bringing contemporary arts into the working environment of Ireland’s teacher training colleges,enabling staff and students to have encounters with artists and their practice.
The Composer-in-Residence at MIC is the second in a series of three artist residencies planned for the College.
