ROISIN REIMAGINED

The Irish Chamber Orchestra is the orchestra that invites you in. That saves you a seat and welcomes you on a heart-rending, hair-raising and at the same time exciting journey - by playing old, by playing new, by playing everything with guts and fire.

From playing the classics, to performing with theatres, operas, DJs or dance companies, ICO forges new pathways to bring you unforgettable experiences. Led by concertmaster Kathrine Hunka, the musicians break new ground, boldly test the boundaries of classical music and thus provide the audience with unforgettable moments.

Each season they perform in Limerick and Dublin, regularly touring in the far corners of Ireland, as well as at some of the most prestigious halls in the world.

Since joining ICO as Principal Conductor/Artistic Partner in May 2022, Thomas Zehetmair has opened a new chapter in their work, stamping his own hallmark on ICO’s repertoire. Together, they have performed trailblazing new commissions from some of Ireland’s finest composers, and explored wonderful new ways of seeing and understanding the classics.

Most importantly, they believe that music is for everyone. That’s why ICO is also a charity, with a series of successful community engagement programmes. After 16 years, the ICO Schools initiative continues to provide valuable free music lessons to children and young people in Limerick City while ICO Youth provides an orchestral platform for teenagers. ICO Teach, their online tutorial website gives tutors and children access to free, outstanding music education, worldwide. They are also deeply immersed in the MA Classical Strings Programme at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick and proud to be the university’s orchestra-in-residence.
It's their rich creative musical heritage that inspires them. It's their unstoppable enthusiasm for what they do, and the people they do it with. As Ireland's national chamber orchestra, they are lucky to call the University of Limerick home and are funded by The Arts Council of Ireland/An Chomhairle Ealaíon.

A renowned artist with a proven record of performance, recording and innovation, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh is a multi-award winning traditional singer and musician from Corca Dhuibhne, West Kerry. Muireann is a leading exponent of the sean nós style, and loves to engage with audiences to share her love of the Irish song tradition. Her childhood in West Kerry saw her immersed in a rich cultural environment and vital living tradition. This was to be hugely influential on the foundation of her distinctive vocal and instrumental sound.

Muireann has enjoyed a successful career as a touring artist, with over thirteen years experience as lead singer and flute player with the Irish traditional supergroup Danú, as well as a many years performing as a solo artist. She holds an MA in Traditional Music Performance from the University of Limerick. In 2022 Muireann was awarded “Best Folk Singer” at the RTÉ Radio Folk Awards, and amongst many other awards, was Amhránaí na Bliana at the TG4 Gradaim Ceoil in 2011.

Muireann is also a popular television and radio presenter, having hosted a range of programmes for Irish and Scottish TV and Radio over the past 15 years, and currently presents her own music programme “Folk on One” on RTÉ Radio 1.

Always keen to explore new ground, she has collaborated with many musicians in genres ranging from traditional to classical, world music to electronica. Most recently Muireann recorded “Róisín ReImagined” an album of sean nós songs arranged by contemporary Irish arrangers with the Irish Chamber Orchestra which garnered many 5 star reviews.

Cormac McCarthy is a pianist, composer, arranger and conductor from Cork, Ireland. Cormac McCarthy is known for his diverse stylistic palette and is at home in a variety of genres. His music defies categorization (Lyric FM). After completing his Masters in Composition at MTU Cork School of Music, Cormac was awarded the prestigious Bill Whelan International Music Bursary in 2010, an award for young Irish composers studying abroad. He lived in Chicago for several years where he completed a Masters in Jazz Studies at DePaul University.

His compositions and arrangements have been performed and recorded by artists such as Phil Woods, Jeff Hamilton, Mick Flannery, Martin Hayes, Andrea Corr, Gavin James, Niamh Regan, Jack O'Rourke, the DePaul Jazz Ensemble, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the Crash Ensemble, the New Irish Jazz Orchestra and the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra. A new string quartet commissioned by the National String Quartet Foundation will be premiered this fall as part of a national tour by the Carducci Quartet.

As a pianist, he has performed extensively in concert halls, clubs and festivals across Europe and the USA, sharing the stage and recording studio with artists from a wide musical spectrum, including Peter Washington, Nell Ní Chróinín, Billy Drummond, Liz Carroll, Donal Lunny, the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. In 2015, Cormac Cottage released Evolution, his debut album as a bandleader, to critical acclaim. He is also a member of Martin Hayes' latest project, the Common Ground Ensemble. As a conductor, he has led the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra.

Cormac continues to be in demand as a composer, arranger and orchestrator while maintaining a busy concert schedule. He teaches piano, arranging and composition at the MTU Cork School of Music and is the leader of the Cork School of Music Jazz Big Band.