The Esker Festival Orchestra was formed in 2014 to provide a high quality, beneficial and meaningful musical opportunity for young emerging musicians from all across Ireland. Esker is unique in that its members come from all over the country to play and socialise together, without financial burden. The orchestra provides a platform for musicians to participate in an orchestra where they otherwise may have not had the opportunity.

This summer Esker Festival is building on the success of its debut year by playing five concerts around the country. They will be performing Sibelius' Second Symphony, Dvorak's Cello Concerto, with rising star Yseult Cooper Stockdale as soloist and the world premiere of 'The Space Inside' by young Irish composer Robert Coleman. The orchestra is conducted by Peter Joyce and led by Hugh Murray.

Concert dates:

• Wednesday July 8th 1pm - Free Outdoor Concert of Film Music in Galway City, in collaboration with the Galway Film Fleadh.

• Friday July 10th 1pm - Shortened Lunchtime concert in Aula Maxima in NUI Galway. Includes performances of The Space Inside and Sibelius' Second Symphony.

• Friday July 10th 8pm - Redemptorists Church, South Circular Rd. Limerick.

• Saturday July 11th 8pm - Curtis Auditorium, Union Quay, 
Cork, in association with CIT School of Music.

• Sunday July 12th 7pm - St. Ann's Church, Dawson St. Dublin 2.

Kirkos Ensemble, Ensemble Music, and Gruel Guerilla proudly present:
BLACKOUT Concert #1 :: Quatour pour la fin du temps by Olivier Messiaen
10.30pm, Friday–Saturday 8–9 May 2015
The Royal Irish Academy of Music, Westland Row, Dublin 2

B L A C K O U T # 1

Kirkos Ensemble and friends are proud to present BLACKOUT, a concert series of contemporary music and food in complete darkness.

For the first concert in the series, we’re serving up Olivier Messiaen’s seminal Quartet For The End of Time, performed by a quartet of Kirkos members: Róisín Walters - Violinist [violin], Yseult Cooper Stockdale [cello], Leonie Bluett [clarinet] and Máire Carroll [piano].

Written while imprisoned in Stalag VIIIA, the work is a devout celebration of the composer's beloved God, summoning the entire spectrum of human suffering as it reaches for the heavens. This music cries out for the embrace of darkness.

Kevin Volans, Roger Doyle, Ed Bennett, and Robert Coleman have written solo works in response to Messiaen’s seminal work – one for each musician.

Meanwhile, Kevin Powell [Gruel Guerrilla] and Vania Ling will be serving up a delicious plate of culinary delights to compliment and heighten these great pieces.

The experience will be enhanced with superb French wines provided with the support of the French Embassy in Ireland.