News
Contemporary Music Centre Salon
The Contemporary Music Centre of Ireland Salon Series presents Ailís' percussion quartet Dubinina's Tongue with images by Bo Gorzelak Perdersen at The Royal Irish Academy of Music on Tues 24th November 2015, 7.30pm with music by Frank Corcorcan and Garrett Sholdice.
Treasured, The Liverpool Philhamonic Music Room
8pm, Monday 23rd November 2015, Liverpool, UK. A kaleidoscope of new music from Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra trumpet player Brendan Ball where the trumpet is just starting the point. World premieres abound in an evening with Electroacoustics and a new brass...
The Consequences of Falling
Gary Farr and Geth Griffith perform The Consequences of Falling (double-bass & trumpet) at The Whitworth, Manchester, Saturday 12th September 4pm onwards as part of the Delia Derbyshire inspired evening of new music and food - The Green Lampshade. Commissioned by...
SKLONIŠTE
SKLONIŠTE (shelter; Bosnian) A new 50 minute music and film piece about the siege of Sarajevo, the experiences of international aid-workers and the surrealism of war will premiere at the Dublin Tiger Fringe Festival for three performances on 11th and 12th September...
Peggy Ramsay Foundation Award
Ailís is very grateful to have been awarded a bursary from The Peggy Ramsay Foundation to facilitate her writing of a play which deals with the aftermath of conflict, rape as a weapon of war and the motivations of international aid workers.
Finalist – O’ Neill Center National Playwrights Conference
Ailís' play The Tallest Man in the World is a finalist in the prestigious 2015 National USA Playwriting Conference at the Eugene O' Neill National Playwright's Center. "It is our pleasure to recommend The Tallest Man in the World, which rose through a...
Dubinina’s Tongue USA Premiere at CUNY, New York April ’15
Ailís Ní Ríain's new percussion quartet Dubinina's Tongue will be performed by The Royal Irish Academy of Music's Percussion Ensemble directed by Richard O' Donnell (National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland) at CUNY, Lehman College, New York City on 23rd April 2015 as...
Awarded METAL Residency May 2015
Ailís has been awarded an Artist's Time and Space Residency at Chalkwell House, METAL Culture in Southend-on-Sea during May 2015. During her residency at Metal in Southend on Sea, Ailís will focus on the writing and development of new theatre piece which explores the...
Percussion Quartet Premiere in Dublin
A new commission from The Royal Irish Academy of Music, 7pm, Weds 15th April, 2015 Dubinina's Tongue will be premiered by the RIAM Percussion Ensemble accompanied by projections of 30 new paintings by the Danish artist Bo Gorzelak Pedersen inspired by The Dyatlov Pass...
Desolate Heaven Methuen Drama’s Irish Anthology
Methuen Drama's Contemporary Irish Plays, published by Bloomsbury, showcases the new drama that has emerged since 2008. Featuring a blend of established and emerging writers, the anthology shows how Irish writers are embracing new methods of theatre-making to explore...
INTONE 5-29th March 2015 West Yorkshire, England
INTONE - an installation combining the paper sculpture of Nicola Dale and the words and music of Ailís Ní Ríain closes in Todmorden after a month in situ. Originally commissioned by Brass: International Festival Durham (2013), the pieces focuses on the unique role of...
Fellowship Bogliasco Foundation, Italy, Spring 2015
Ailís is coming to the end of her residential Fellowship at The Bogliasco Foundation in Italy, Spring 2015 in which she has focused on the composing of a set of piano pieces to be premiered in Autumn 2015 in the UK alongside a new play for theatre. She is very...
Irish Premiere of ‘Beautiful Cracked Eyes’
The pianist and composer David Bremner will give the Irish premiere of Beautiful Cracked Eyes for solo piano at The National Concert Hall of Ireland on 23rd February 2015, 8.30pm presented by The Association of Irish Composers. On the 4th March he will give a...
The Bosch Project at DaDaFest, Liverpool
A music-theatre project in development. Stage one funded by an Unlimited R & D Award. Art by Zeke Clough. Showcased in London and at DaDaFest Congress, Liverpool in December 2014. "Ailís Ní Ríain’s Unlimited R&D commission ‘The Drawing Rooms’ was a...
4* Reviews from The Telegraph, The Times and Time Out
Not About Heroes has been receiving strong reviews, Trafalgar Studios, London, November-December 2014. Read some of the national press reviews: The Telegraph , Time Out , The Arts Desk . "Ailís Ní Ríain’s memorable cello music supports the lyrical script with its...
The Drawing Rooms sharing at DaDaFest, Liverpool
Ailís new music-theatre work (text and music by Ailís) inspired by the paintings of Bosch, The Drawing Rooms (working title) is a collaboration with visual artist Zeke Clough, musicians Tom McKinney and Lauren Bedford and creative sign-language interpreter Rachael...
Not About Heroes in France
Another good review for Not About Heroes. Next stop France at The Wilfred Owen Memorial, La Maison Forestiére in Ors before a month's run at London's Trafalgar Studios. Ailís has composed the music for this production - a contemporary classical suite for solo cello....
Presentation at DaDaFest International Congress 2014
Ailís has been invited to talk at the forthcoming DaDaFest International Congress in Liverpool on December 2nd 2014. With the central theme of disability culture as a catalyst for social justice, the congress will showcase how empowering people through culture is a...
Awarded International Artist Development Award
Ailís has recently returned from Bosnia where she was conducting research towards a new work for theatre. This is her second trip to Bosnia and on this occasion she was grateful to be supported by the artists' international development programme which is jointly...
4* Review for Not About Heroes in Liverpool
Not About Heroes by Stephen MacDonald, directed by Caroline Clegg, composed by Ailís Ní Ríain - 4* review in the Liverpool Echo. Read here. "An equally spare score from Ailis Ni Riain underpins the text with the melancholy strains of a lone cello. This is a superbly...
‘Not About Heroes’ opens at The Lowry, Manchester
"The discrete music by Ailis Ni Riain brings a sense of the period in which the play is set." - What's on Stage "This Feelgood Theatre production is well served by heartfelt performances from Simon Jenkins and Alasdair Craig, and by some beautiful accompanying music."...
Concorde Ensemble Premiere New Commission from Ailís Ní Ríain
Sundays@Noon: Up Close With Music. 12 noon on 5th October 2014 at Dublin's Hugh Lane Gallery. Featuring five works by Irish composers which were commissioned and premiered earlier this year by Concorde including Ailís Ní Ríain's 'When I die, you can do what you want'...
Delia Darlings at North Wall Arts Centre, Oxford
Continuing to tour, The Consequences of Falling duo for double-bass (Geth Griffith) and trumpet (Brendan Ball) will be performed as part of Delia Darling's forthcoming concert at Oxford's North Wall Arts Centre on Thursday 9th October 2014 where...
Talk at Unlimited Festival, Royal Festival Hall
Ailís will give a talk about her new music-theatre work at Be There at the Start as part of Unlimited Festival at London's Southbank Centre at 10.30am on Thursday 4th September. Ailís has been awarded an R & D development grant by Unlimited to research, develop...
Darmstadt International Summer Course for New Music
Ailís has been awarded support by the Irish Arts Council to facilitate her attendance and participation at Darmstadt International Summer Course for New Music in August 2014. Darmstadt is a world renowned meeting point for composers, interpreters, performers, sound...
‘Not About Heroes’ National UK Tour
Ailís has been commissioned to compose an original score for solo cello to illustrate Feelgood Productions UK tour of the play Not About Heroes by Stephen MacDonald, directed by Caroline Clegg. It opens in Scotland in September and runs until December including a one...
‘Ostrov’ at Theatre 503, London, June 2014
A new short play entitled ‘Ostrov’ (Island) was commissioned and premiered at Theatre503 in London as part of their Russian festival of new plays running from 23-28th June 2014. Directed by Sarah Davey-Hull and starring Elicia Daly and Samuel Caseley. 'Ostrov' is...
‘Populating the Irish Stage’ Cork, June 2014
Ailís has been invited to give a talk about her writing at the forthcoming conference on Irish drama 'Populating the Irish Stage' organised by University College Cork in Cork, Ireland 27-28th June 2014. Other speakers include Frank McGuinness, Louise Lowe and...
Delia Darlings UK Tour – Norwich Arts Centre 4th June 2014
Composer:Curator with SAM 2014-2015
Ailís has been selected as a ‘Composer Curator’ with Sound and Music. Supported by SAM and Todmorden Town Council she is curating a live concert series of new music in Todmorden during the coming year. More details will follow.
Desolate Heaven on James Tait Black Drama Prize longlist
Ailís Ní Ríain's play Desolate Heaven has been shortlisted for the prestigious James Tait Black Drama Prize. The 14 nominations – chosen from more than 180 plays world-wide – showcase a range of diverse productions from a mix of new and established writers. Judges...
‘Cimbalom/Guitar’ at Sonic Vigil in Ireland, May 2014
Cimbalom/Guitar was included in the Sonic Vigil Festival in Cork City, the Republic of Ireland from 2-4 May 2014.
Delia Darlings UK Tour 2014
Thurs 17 April 2014 The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire Sat 19 April 2014 Horse Hospital, London Sat 26 April 2014 Cube Microplex, Bristol Wed 4 June 2014 Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich...
Delia Darlings Tour featuring Ailís Ní Ríain Commission
‘The Consequences of Falling’, Manchester, April ’14
Delia Darlings presented Delia Derbyshire Day 2014 to a packed audience at The International Anthony Burgess Foundation in Manchester on Saturday 12th April. Here is a photo of trumpeter Brendan Ball (of The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra) and bassist Geth...
‘Unlimited’ Research & Development Award
Ailís has been awarded a research and development grant to develop a new piece of music-theatre including live-drawing, live music and BSL as part of the Unlimited 2014 initiative. The programme will include festivals at Southbank Centre in 2014 and 2016 and showcases...
Delia Derbyshire Day 2014
Ailís is a founder-member of Delia Darlings, a new music collective who draw inspiration from the first lady of electronic music, the British composer Delia Derbyshire. We have been given exclusive access to Delia's audio archive at Manchester University and in 2013...
‘When I die, you can do what you want’ – New Music Dublin Festival
'When I die, you can do what you want' (2014) a video-piece in collaboration with video artist Adela Jusic and violinist Elaine Clarke was included as part of the AV installation work at the New Music Dublin Festival in March 2014 at The National Concert Hall of...
‘Desolate Heaven’ 4* Reviews The Irish Examiner & Sunday Business Post
Desolate Heaven at Cork’s Everyman Palace Theatre directed by Tony McCleane-Faye and starring Mary McEvoy. The play premiered in London’s Theatre503 in early 2013. "A play that demands a psychological engagement." - The Irish Times "A surreal tale of friendship...
Desolate Heaven opens in Cork 3rd February 2014
New commission from Concorde Ensemble, Ireland.
New edition of Desolate Heaven
A new edition of Desolate Heaven is about to be published by Methuen Drama (part of Bloomsbury) which will be available from January 2014. “The writing is fresh and true, and it nibbles and gnaws at the heart.” – Lyn Gardner, The Guardian “Is an intriguing mix of...
Invitation to Caen University & Conservatoire, Normandy
In December Ailís visited Caen in Normandy at the invitation of Irish drama specialist Professor Thierry Dubost Professor to give seminars on her playwriting at Caen University and a seminar on her music to a group of Professors at Conservatoire National de Région.
‘End with Words of Hope’ opens The Irish Canon series in Dublin
The Irish musicians Paul Roe - (clarinet) and Elizabeth Hilliard (soprano) performed End with Words of Hope at the Contemporary Music Centre of Ireland in Dublin as the Association of Irish Composers launched its new concert series The Irish Canon on 20th November 2013.
Completion of Finzi Scholarship Research Project
Ailís was a recipient of a Finzi Scholarship in 2012. It funded travel and research to the former Yugoslavia and the establishing of new collaborative work in Bosnia. The Finzi Scholarships seek to recognise and perpetuate the philosophical, creative and enabling...
Delia Darlings at Capsule’s Bring To Light, Birmingham
Capsule presents Bring To Light new music festival in Birmingham where Delia Darlings perform on Sunday 27th October. The show will include Ailís' 2013 commission for double-bass and trumpet 'The Consequences of Falling' loosely based on Delia Derbyshire's piece Pot...
New commission for contemporary music ensemble Concorde
The Irish contemporary music ensemble Concorde have commissioned Ailís to compose a new work for solo violin with video and text. It will be premiered at the RHA Gallery in Dublin in January 2014 as part of Concorde's 'Up Close' series. The piece is a collaboration...
2 Steep 4 Sheep broadcast on Ireland’s RTE Lyric FM ‘Nova’
RTÉ's Lyric FM broadcast 2 Steep 4 Sheep (some hills are) on NOVA 29th September. This recording was made at the Hilltown Music Festival earlier in 2013 where it was given its Irish premiere by harpsichordist Yonit Kosovske.
INTONE at Durham International Brass Festival 5-21 July 2013
INTONE is commissioned as part of Brass:Pitch at the UK's Durham International Brass Festival Taking the unusual power of the crown and the cloak wielded by the Prince Bishops of Durham as their starting point, Ní Ríain and Dale present INTONE, an installation piece...
The Hearing Test on BBC Radio 4, June 2013
Simon Armitage explores the creative possibilities opened up by Oblique Strategies cards, invented in 1973 by Peter Schmidt and Brian Eno. He interviews Ruth McCullough from AND Festival and includes Ailís Ní Ríain's The Hearing Test in 2012 - played by Adam...
‘2 Steep 4 Sheep’ Irish Premiere at Hilltown New Music Festival 20th July 2013
Yonit Kosovske will give the Irish premiere of 2 Steep 4 Sheep (some hills are) for harpsichord and tape as part of the Hilltown New Music Festival on 20th July 2013 in Co. Westmeath, Ireland. Yonit has performed as a soloist, chamber artist, and artistic director...
The Tallest Man in the World @ Cork Midsummer Festival ’13
The Tallest Man in the World, a new theatre-piece by Ailís Ní Ríain will be presented by Corcadorca Theatre Company as part of the Cork Midsummer Festival in Cork, Irish Republic between 27-30 June 2013. Festival preview here The Irish Times "A significant talent."...
‘First Absolute Execution’ @ CMC April 2013 Salon
First Absolute Execution, a 12 minute duo for bass clarinet and accordion was performed by Paul Roe and Dermot Dunne at the Contemporary Music Centre of Ireland’s Salon Series on March 22nd 2013 in Dublin. The piece was originally commissioned by Music for Galway in...
‘Chainstitchembroidered’ @ National Concert Hall
The American classical duo Linda Chatterton (flute) and Matthew McCright (piano) gave the Irish premiere of Chainstitchembroidered (2012), at The Kevin Barry Room at the National Concert Hall of Ireland on 22nd March 2013. The piece is based on a selection of piano...
London Premiere of ‘Chainstitchembroidered’ 18th March 2013
American flautist Linda Chatterton & Matthew McCright gave the London premiere of Chainstitichembroidered, a new work they commissioned in 2012 which is based on several piano preludes by the writer and composer Anthony Burgess. at St Martin in the Fields...
‘Desolate Heaven’ at London’s Theatre 503
Desolate Heaven, a new play by composer & playwright Ailís Ní Ríain has opened in London at Theatre 503 starring the veteran Irish Tony award winning actress Bríd Brennan. 5th Feb-2nd March 2013 and has been included in Lyn Gardner's 'Theatre Tips' in The...
Premiere: ‘The Consequences of Falling’ @ Delia Derbyshire Day
New commission The Consequences of Falling was premiered by Heather Bird & Brendan Ball on 12th January 2013 at Manchester's Band on the Wall as part of Delia Derbyshire Day. Commissioned by Delia Darlings, the commission forms part of a new tour of new music by...
Delia Darlings present Delia Derbyshire Day 2013
Delia Derbyshire Day 2013 will be the first of its kind - a day to celebrate and highlight the fascinating work of Delia Derbyshire (1937-2001), the pioneering electronic music composer most famous for realising the original Dr Who theme and her work for the BBC...
Eyeless Premieres at Béal Festival, Dublin
Eyeless, written and composed by Ailís Ní Ríain was premiered by Iarla Ó Lionáird and EnsemBéal conducted by Orla Flanagan as part of Béal Festival at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin on 9th November 2012. Watch an extract "One of the new works that left the strongest...
Premiere of ‘Eyeless’ with Iarla Ó Lionáird
Eyeless, a commission from Ireland's Béal Festival, will be premiered by the renowned exponent of the Irish traditional singing style séan nós - Iarla Ó Lionáird in Dublin on Friday 9th November. Eyeless combines music and poetry written by Ailís Ní Ríain.
Treasured Sells out & Reviews
Treasured closed on 6th October at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral, it was seen by over 4000 people and several performances sold out. Read the Total Theatre review here and the Liverpool Echo review here. Read a review here The Arts Desk
Treasured in the Press
TREASURED is a ground breaking site-specific work coming to Liverpool Anglican Cathedral October 2012 . Treasured, a unique, large scale multimedia theatrical event will transform this huge, iconic Liverpool landmark into a living, breathing canvas of Titanic...
Tower Talk at the Irish World Academy
On September 12th 2012 Ailís was invited to present a workshop with the new MA Students in dance, electronic arts and ritual chant and a 'Tower Talk' seminar about her collaborative work at the magnificent Irish World Academy in Limerick, Southern Ireland.
Women in Music in Ireland Conference
Ailís was invited to take part in the closing panel discussion at the recent Women and Music in Ireland Conference at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin. Her composition DON'T! was performed by Paul Roe (Clarinet) and Martin Johnson (Cello) of Concorde at the...
‘Treasured’ Recording Session with RLPO Brass
Recording the music for 'Treasured' with brass players from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. TREASURED is a ground breaking site-specific work coming to Liverpool Anglican Cathedral October 2012 ....
‘The Hearing Test’ @ DaDaFest & AND Festival
The Hearing Test is a new and developing online residency collaborative art project between the Irish composer and writer Ailís Ní Ríain and the Spanish creative technologist and artist Andrea Pazos for Abandon Normal Devices Festival and DaDaFest 2012. Both artists...
‘Chainstitchembroidered’ Premiered in Manchester
A new commission, 'Chainstitchembroidered' for flute & piano by Ailís Ní Ríain commissioned by the American musicians Linda Chatterton (Yamaha Artist) and Matthew McCright based on Anthony Burgess’ Badly Tempered Electronic Keyboard received its premiere at the...
‘Treasured’
Wax Cylinders Archive ‘Phonographies’
Ailís Ní Ríain's recitation of 'All Love is Insane' from her music-theatre, sign language work Brief-Blue-Electric-Bloom is included as part of Phonographies - a Wax Cylinder Archive by Aleks Kolkowski. Phonographies is a vast array of improvisations, readings,...
New collaboration with Iarla Ó Lionáird
Ailís is very proud and pleased to be working with the renowned traditional Irish singer Iarla Ó Lionáird on a new commission for which she has written a new set of texts. The new work will be premiered on 9th November 2012 in Dublin.
New Commission for The British Flute Society’s International Convention 2012
Ailís has been commissioned by the American flautist and Yamaha Performing Artist Linda Chatterton and pianist Matthew McCright to compose a new work for flute and piano which will be premiered at the British Flute Society's International Convention in Manchester,...
TAKEN article in Stimulus Respond Magazine
An interview with Ailís about TAKEN appears in the Arts-Culture-Fashion magazine Stimulus Respond. https://www.stimulusrespond.com/
New commission for Béal Festival, Ireland
Ailís has been commissioned by Ireland's Béal Festival. The new piece were be premiered as a new vocal commission for Béal Festival in Dublin in November 2012 alongside new works by composers Christopher Fox, Tom Johnson and David Bremner.
Funding award by The Finzi Trust
Ailís is delighted to have been recently awarded funding by The Finzi Trust to commence research into new music international projects in Eastern Europe. She is grateful to the Trust for their support and will begin her research by visiting Slovenia in 2012.
StreetSong at Irish Female Artists Exhibition, London
Ailís Ní Ríain's ISCM World Music Days prize-winning electroacoustic piece StreetSong was chosen to accompany a new exhibition celebrating the work of contemporary Irish female visual artists in London from 15th to 25th March 2012.
TAKEN, Clitheroe Castle, Mid Pennine Arts
To coincide with the 400th anniversary of the Lancashire Witch trials, TAKEN, a music installation for Clitheroe Castle ‘Keep’ commissioned by Mid Pennine Arts has been extended until June 2012. It can be heard daily from 10am to 5pm and is free to visit. TAKEN is a...
StreetSong at The Manchester Irish Festival 2012
StreetSong was played as part of the 2012 Manchester Irish Festival on 11th March at Manchester Cathedral alongside works by Irish composers Elaine Agnew, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin and John Kinsella.
Premiere at York Late Music Festival 2012
Jeremy Huw Williams premiered Mourning Bracelet by Ailís Ní Ríain in York on 7th April 2012 as part of York Late Music. It is a setting of a recent poem by the contemporary York-based poet Carole Bromley written in the voice of Charlotte Bronte. "I wear my sisters...
Quantitas Speaks at Royal Festival Hall, London
duoDorT premiered Quantitas Speaks, a new work they commissioned and developed at Aldeburgh Music, at the Royal Festival Hall on 9th March 2012 as part of Women of the World Festival. It was also performed at Newcastle University on 20th April. Based on a new...
StreetSong broadcast on RTE Lyric FM
StreetSong was commissioned by the Contemporary Music Centre of Ireland in 2006 to celebrate their 20th anniversary was installed outside the Centre in the old Temple Bar area of Dublin city. It was broadcast on RTE Lyric FM's Blue of the Night on 1st February and on...
StreetSong launched on CMC CD Volume 10
A new CD featuring my 2006 piece StreetSong was launched on 7th December at the Contemporary Music Centre of Ireland. StreetSong was commissioned by the Contemporary Music Centre of Ireland to celebrate their 20th anniversary and was installed for one month in the...
Residency with DuoDorT at Aldeburgh Music
In November 2011 Ailís took part in a Residency at Aldeburgh Music with piano duo DuoDorT where she developed a new work for two pianos, voices, text and wine glasses based on an artwork by Manchester based Zeke Clough. Quantitas Speaks will be premiered by DuoDorT in...
Lighthouse Lullaby at Cardew Festival, London
Lighthouse Lullaby, a sound installation for Maryport Lighthouse in West Coast Cumbria is presented as part of the 2011 Engine Room Festival in London until 15th December 2011. Lighthouse Lullaby was featured on BBC Radio 4's The Today Programme.Listen here and watch...
DON’T! Performed by Concorde in Dublin
DON'T! A duet for Bass Clarinet and Cello was performed at the Rubicon Gallery, Dublin on 13th November 2011 by Martin Johnson and Paul Roe, members of longest established Irish contemporary music ensemble Concorde.
Desolate Heaven at Everyword in Liverpool
Desolate Heaven, a new play by Ailís Ní Ríain was given a two day workshop and subsequently read as part of the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouses' Everyword Festival at Liverpool Playhouse on Wednesday 16th November. With Bríd Brennan, Laura Pyper and Lisa...
Sawn-off Opera Residency at Opera North in Leeds
Sawn-off Opera developed three new mini-operas by Ailís Ní Ríain with libretto by David Gaffney and Directed by Caroline Clegg as part of a residency at Opera North in Leeds from 7-12 November 2011 supported by Arts Council England, the RVW Trust and Opera...
The Man Made of Rain, National Concert Hall, Ireland
The Man Made of Rain was performed at The National Concert Hall in Dublin on Wednesday 19th October by Slovenian based musicians Jose Kotar & Luca Ferrini. Based on the book-length poem by Brendan Kennelly, Ailís recited his poetry within the...
‘Boy You Turn Me’ at Birmingham Book Festival
Boy You Turn Me is a specially commissioned music installation for Birmingham Literature Festival 2011 by composer Ailís Ní Ríain and Salt published writer David Gaffney. Situated in an empty shop in the Pavilions shopping centre it uses a unique structure of an inner...
AND Festival & DaDaFest Research Residency
Ailís has been selected for a unique new research residency with AND Festival in partnership with DaDa - Disability and Deaf Arts in Liverpool. An opportunity for a D/deaf artist to work alongside a technologist to develop an web based art project around...
New commission for piano duo duoDorT
Ailís has been commissioned to compose a new piece for duoDorT. The new piece will be developed as part of a Residency with duoDorT at Aldeburgh Music, Suffolk in November 2011 where it will subsequently receive it premiere. Supported by the PRS Foundation for Music...
TAKEN on BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour
TAKEN was featured on BBC 4's Woman's Hour on 15th July 2011. TAKEN is a sound installation comprising 12 humming voices and harp for Clitheroe Castle 'Keep' in East Lancashire, Northern England based on the last days and hours of the Lancashire Witches as they were...
TAKEN is Launched at Clitheroe Castle ‘Keep’
Contemporary Heritage: A new way of seeing is an ambitious programme of site-responsive commissions at historic sites across Pennine Lancashire. The interventions, inspired by Pennine Lancashire’s heritage, animate each site and offer visitors a rare chance to...
Drake Music commissioned film ‘Music in Translation’
The film Distant Interiors with music by Ailís was commissioned by Drake Music and created in Spring 2011 by three artists investigating translation and interpretation via remote collaboration. They communicated via email, file-sharing and the DMIT blog. Watch...
Motiroti commission ‘Pulse’ for What Counts? Exhibition
A new commission from London-based arts organisation Motiroti, Ailis' 'Pulse Prelude I', is based on 7 'pulses' submitted by people interested in the project. was unveiled as part of the What Counts exhibition at The Rag Factory, London from 26 June-3 July...
Sawn-off Opera awarded Arts Council England funding
Sawn-off Opera have recently been awarded funding by Arts Council England to support the further development of a new suite of mini-operas by Ailis Ni Riain (Composer) and David Gaffney (Librettist), Directed by Caroline Clegg of Feelgood Theatre Productions at Opera...
DOWN selected for The Open West
DOWN, a sound and sculpture work by Ailis Ni Riain and Visual Artist, Nicola Dale commissioned by METALCulture has been selected for The Open West in Cheltenham from 9 Feb to 5 March 2011. The work includes 12,000 painstakingly hand crafted paper feathers made from...
StreetSong at Sensorium Festival, Dublin
StreetSong (2007), commissioned by the Contemporary Music Centre of Ireland & winner of the 2007 ISCM World Music Days 'Short Cuts' Competition will be played at Sensorium Festival at the CMC, Dublin on 11th March 2011.
Wayfayer, Cultural Leadership Programme
Ailis has been selected to take part in the Cultural Leadership Wayfayer Programme during Spring 2011 where she will benefit from 1:1 mentoring, action-learning and work-share with other participants. Supported by the Cultural Leadership Programme.
Premiere: Reinventions in Copenhagen
Commissioned by the Danish trio TTAATTOO (viola, piano & clarinet), funded by the Irish Arts Council and premiered on 12th December 2010 at Mostings Hus, Copenhagen. Reinventions is based on six of JS Bach's keyboard inventions and includes the spoken...
Premiere: Dancing Fears for Ghandini Juggling
Commissioned by the Ludlow Assembly Rooms, Dancing Fears was premiered there by Gandini Juggling on 17th December 2010. During the last past 18 years, the Gandinis have performed over 4,000 shows in 40 countries and are in constant worldwide demand for their virtuoso...