The January–February issue of JMI is out now!

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West Cork Music have announced details of their annual composition awards, which are open to composers under the age of thirty on 1 January 2009. Composers are invited to submit works of five to eight minutes in duration for a workshop and performance at the 2009 West Cork Chamber Music Festival in June. Works for string quartet, string trio and piano trio will considered. The composer of each selected work will receive a prize of €800. The deadline for submissions is 31 January. Visit www.westcorkmusic.ie

A new Diploma in Opera Studies has been created at Independent College, Dawson Street, Dublin. The Diploma course begins on 5 February and will be led by George Fleeton. For more information contact Caroline Mellows at caroline_dot_mellows_at_independentcolleges_dot_ie">caroline_dot_mellows_at_independentcolleges_dot_ie.

Belfast's Anderson Music School has launched a major new initiative: an Irish Traditional Youth Orchestra. The Orchestra, which will be led by Neil Martin, is currently looking for participants from both traditional and classical music backgrounds. Musicians who have studied music to grade 6 level or above should phone 028 90 434 894 for an audition application form.

Tony Fenton has announced the shortlist for this year's Choice Music Prize on Today FM. The shortlist, which was selected by a panel of twelve judges representing print, radio, online and TV media, reads as follows: Fight Like Apes for 'Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion'; Mick Flannery for 'White Lies'; Halfset for 'Another Way of Being There'; Lisa Hannigan for 'Sea Sew'; David Holmes for 'The Holy Pictures'; Jape for 'Ritual'; Messiah J & The Expert for 'From The Word Go'; Oppenheimer for 'Take The Whole Mid-Range And Boost It'; R.S.A.G. for 'Organic Sampler'; and The Script for 'The Script'. The winning act will be announced at a special event in Vicar Street, Dublin on 4 March, which will be broadcast live on Today FM. The prize is €10,000. Visit www.choicemusicprize.com

Wexford Opera House, which reopened in 2008, has appointed a Thomas de Mallet Burgess as Director of People and Culture. Thomas de Mallet Burgess is an opera director, who previously served as Artistic Policy Consultant to the Opera House, work that included developing the artistic programming for the Wexford Opera Festival along with its Artistic Director David Alger. For the past for years, de Mallet Burgess has led TEAM Educational Theatre Company in Dublin. Speaking of his appointment, he commented, 'Theatre for young audiences, education and outreach will all form important parts of my vision for the future of Wexford Opera House and I intend to start by organising resident youth drama, dance and opera (a first for Ireland) companies in the building... It is still my intention to secure a professional resident dance company and theatre company and while negotiations are on-going, nothing has yet to be confirmed.' Visit www.wexfordoperahouse.ie

Nós Nua is a song competition in Celtic and Scots languages, which will take place in Inverness, Scotland on 20 June. Meaning 'new style', the competition follows the format of the Eurovision Song Contest, with entries generally from the UK, Ireland and Brittany. The languages featuring in past entries include Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Scots, Ulster Scots, Manx, Welsh, Cornish, and Breton. The deadline for submissions is 28 February. The event will also feature a conference on minority languages. www.nor-ur.eu

Road Records, on Fade Street Dublin, is to close within the next two to three weeks. Considered by many to be the most important independent record store in Dublin, Road Records gained a reputation for supporting unestablished Irish artists. In a statement, Road Records owners cited downloading and file sharing; online cd sales; competition from multinational stores; the economic downturn; falling CD prices; and a perception that young people no longer buy music as reasons for the closure. The full statement can be read on our blog here www.thejmi.com/blog/?p=80

Walton's New School of Music, Dublin has announced a new course entitles Music Notation with Sibelius. The course will be taught by Rory Pierce and will incorporate classes on score and part creation, note entry, shortcuts, playback options and scanning music. The course runs for five weeks and begins on 23 February. The cost per student is €220. www.newschool.ie

Music for Galway's Russian Romantics event takes place on 23–25 January at the Town Hall Theatre, Galway. With performance by ConTempo Quartet, Ian Fountain, Conor Biggs, Pádhraic Ó Cuinneagáin, Simon Aspell and Christopher Marwood, the concerts will feature music by Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, Taneyev, Borodin, Medtner and Mussorgsky. www.musicforgalway.ie

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23.1.09 Ulster Orchestra, David Parry (conductor), Carmen Giannattasio (soprano), Gwyn Hugh Jones (tenor), Noel Thompson (presenter), Belfast Philharmonic Choir; Waterfront Hall, Belfast, Co. Antrim; 7:45pm; £23.50/8

24.1.09 The Sullane Sessions: Fiona Kelleher (vocals), Jim Murray (guitar), Richard Lucey (accordion), Ciaran Coughlan (piano); Kilworth Village Arts Centre, Kilworth (near Mitchelstown), Co. Cork; 8:15pm; €15/12.50

24.1.09 New Year Viennese Concert: Ulster Orchestra, Christopher Bell (cond.) & Anna Devin (soprano); The Diamond, Coleraine, Co. Derry; 8:00pm (www.ulster-orchestra.org.uk)

20.1.09 Horizons: John Buckley: RTÉ NSO, Gavin Moloney (conductor), William Dowdall (flute); Buckley, Gothe, Hoddinott; National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2; 1:00pm; Free admission (www.rte.ie/performinggroups)
21.1.09 Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part: Cormac Breatnach (whistles), Len Graham (voice), Brian Fleming (percussion); Coach House, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2; 8:00pm; €15/10 (www.musicnetwork.ie)
22.1.09 In The Country; Susannah & The Magical Orchestra; National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2; 8:00pm; €20
23.1.09 RTÉ NSO, Daniel Klajner (cond.) & Jean Louis Steuerman (piano); Rachmaninov, Haydn, Mussorgsky (arr. Ravel); National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2; 8:00pm; €35/10 (www.rte.ie/performinggroups)
24.1.09 Teada; Séamus Ennis Centre, The Naul, Co. Dublin; 5:30pm; €16
24.1.09 Lucio Capece (saxophone, bass clarinet), David Lacey (percussion, electronics), Paul Vogel (computer, clarinet); Temple Bar Galleries, 5 - 9 Temple Bar, Dublin 2; 7:00pm; €5
25.1.09 Sundays at Noon: The Silk and Bamboo Trio; Hugh Lane Gallery, Parnell Square, Dublin 1; 12:00pm; Free admission

19.1.09 Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part: Cormac Breatnach (whistles), Len Graham (voice), Brian Fleming (percussion); Station House Hotel Theatre, Clifden, Co. Galway; 8:00pm; €12/10 (www.musicnetwork.ie)
23.1.09 - 25.1.09 Russian Romantics: ConTempo Quartet, Ian Fountain (piano), Conor Biggs (baritone), Pádhraic Ó Cuinneagáin (piano), Simon Aspell (viola), Christopher Marwood (cello); Rachmaninov, Mussorgsky, Borodin, Medtner, Tchaikovsky; Town Hall Theatre, Galway, Co. Galway; €55/20/7 (www.musicforgalway.ie)

20.1.09 - 21.1.00 Casadh Arís: Rachel Holstead (music), Feargus Ó Conchúir (dance), Chris Hurley (film); Lab na Mainistreach, Dingle, Co. Kerry (www.rachelholstead.net)
25.1.09 Slide; Tech Amergín, Waterville, Co. Kerry; 8:00pm; €18/15
25.1.09 Mis: Kerry Orchestra, Aidan O'Carroll (conductor); Danny Sheehy (narrator); Siobhán Cleary, Liszt, Haydn; Siamsa Tíre, Tralee, Co. Kerry

22.1.09 Capriccio Stravagante: Irish Baroque Orchestra Chamber Soloists; Kilkenny Castle, The Parade, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny; 8:00pm

22.1.09 Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part: Cormac Breatnach (whistles), Len Graham (voice), Brian Fleming (percussion); Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda, Co. Louth; 8:30pm; €15/12 (www.musicnetwork.ie)

22.1.09 The Sullane Sessions: Fiona Kelleher (vocals), Jim Murray (guitar), Richard Lucey (accordion), Ciaran Coughlan (piano); Solstice Arts Centre, Navan, Co. Meath; 8:00pm; €15/12

20.1.09 Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part: Cormac Breatnach (whistles), Len Graham (voice), Brian Fleming (percussion); Iontas, Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan; 8:30pm; €15/12 (www.musicnetwork.ie)

25.1.09 The Odd Couple; Tobergal Lane Café, Tobergal Lane, Sligo, Co. Sligo; 3:00pm - 5:00pm

23.1.09 Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part: Cormac Breatnach (whistles), Len Graham (voice), Brian Fleming (percussion); Courthouse Arts Centre, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow; 8:30pm; €15/13 (www.musicnetwork.ie)

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