news product links shop online contact home
 

BACK TO NEWS

COMPOSER SPOTLIGHT - WENDY IRELAND

Wendy Ireland is a Conservatorium graduate who obtained a DSCM majoring in 'Cello in 1980. In 2001 she completed a Master of Music (performance) degree at Newcastle University majoring in conducting.

As a professional Cellist, Teacher and Conductor, Ireland has worked with the Sydney and Newcastle Conservatoriums, the Hunter Orchestra, the Sydney Youth Orchestra and a number of Schools in the Sydney, Newcastle and Central Coast regions. Ireland is the founder of Newcastle’s Hunter Strings, a youth string ensemble program, which she directed for 9 years.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW/PURCHASE WENDY IRELANDS MUSIC

Since working as the Head of Strings at Newcastle Grammar School, Ireland has written a String program for Primary aged children based on her original compositions and arrangements for strings. She has also written a number of string orchestral and choral works for the school during the past 4 years.

In 2001 Ireland was invited to write songs for Alfred Publishing Australia's New VoicesChoral Series, edited by Richard Gill. To date, five of her compositions have been published by Alfred and were subsequently recorded by choirs from Newcastle Grammar School.

Many of Ireland's works have been performed during the past 6 years, her Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis by Newcastle Grammar School Chapel Choir in the 2001 Newcastle Cathedral Festival. Her first string orchestral work Orca's Shanty was given its premiere performance in December 2001 by the Sydney Youth Orchestra's Sinfonietta. It was then recorded for the Greater Taree City Council Heritage Festival CD project in 2002.

In 2002, Ireland received a commission from Hunter Singers to write a work for their Choir. Falling Down, for SSAAB Choir, 2 Marimbas and Percussion, was given its premiere performance in August 2003 in Newcastle's Christ Church Cathedral.

As well as building a composition repertoire for choral and educational string music, Ireland is pursuing her love of writing for solo strings and piano. She has recently written two works for viola and piano, which have been included in the 2007 AMEB Viola syllabus and is currently preparing her Junior String Program for publication. In recent years, she has completed a new composition for string orchestra, a number of transcriptions and arrangements and a solo piano piece, The Colours of One. Ireland's song Mosquitos was chosen for inclusion in the 2007 ABC song book.

   
Copyright Simply for Strings Pty Ltd 2006. All rights reserved. Website design by Shell Graphix.