Ailís has recently been working on a new commission funded by the Irish Arts Council Commissions Award.  Watershed – a song-cycle for pianist Yonit Kosovske, contralto Julie Comparini with text by the Irish based American poet Jessica Brown will be premiered in Ireland 2021.

The night it comes like violets
creeping open at first sun

the stars like the eyes of owls far away

hoo-whoo, nighttime lifts the burlap sack

Some mouth’s throat widening to sing a dark
and spectacular aria.

Evensong in Winter [extract] © Jessica Brown

Painting by Simon Brown