Dr. Orla Flanagan

  Choral Music   Music   Music Conducting   Musicology/Music Theory   New Music   Performing Arts   Vocal Music

My research is largely practice-led through choral conducting and vocal technique, interpretation of repertoire and historical style, and engagement with the creation of new works through commissioning and national and international performances of music by contemporary composers. As the conductor of one of Ireland's leading choral ensembles, Mornington Singers, I consistently engage with innovative artistic programming and interpretative experimentation based on historically informed performance styles, as well as evolving international trends. I am particularly committed to the performance of new music, with projects including Under-Song, a CD recording of unaccompanied choral music by Ireland's leading composers (2017, part-funded by Dublin City Council), and To the Northeast, a CD devoted to the choral works of Aosdána member John Buckley (forthcoming, 2018, part-funded by the Arts Council of Ireland). In 2014 the Mornington Singers held a composition competition which led to the emergence of more than thirty specially-composed pieces by Irish composers, a selection of which formed the basis of a public workshop on choral interpretation. The prizewinning pieces have since been premiered and recorded by the choir, and constitute valuable additions to the Irish choral repertoire. I have also performed, recorded and toured with professional vocal ensembles such as the National Chamber Choir of Ireland, Milltown Chamber Choir and EnsemBéal, with creative outputs including a CD recording of Christmas music, multiple broadcasts on national radio and television, creative collaborations with leading poets and composers, and a performance for President Barack Obama at the White House in 2011. Much of my research in both practice-led and more traditional scholarship focuses on music and the expression and interpretation of sacred text. This has led to my studies in music, text, and context in the compositions of Felix Mendelssohn (the subject of my doctoral thesis, 2012) and more recently to a special issue of the peer-reviewed online journal, Religion, Education, and the Arts, entitled 'Sacred Music: Perspectives on Performance (2016, co-edited with Dr Róisín Blunnie, DCU), featuring articles and compositions by Irish and international scholars and performers. I have a particular interest in the principles of music learning espoused by the Hungarian composer and educator Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967). My teaching in areas such as aural training, keyboard skills and choral conducting is largely informed by my ongoing research in this area. My approaches to choral interpretation, rehearsal and performance are constantly informed by my ongoing research in historical and contemporary performance styles, and this has been recognised with special awards for conducting at Cork International Choral Festival (2006, 2011 and 2014) and at Maribor International Choral Competition (Slovenia, 2009), in addition to the Morningon Singers' performance awards, including 1st Prize and Ireland's Choir of the Year (Cork, 2014), 2nd Prize in the Mixed Choirs Category at the Concorso Polifonico Guido d'Arezzo (Italy, 2017) and 1st Prize in Lyric FM's Choirs for Christmas competition (2009). My research in historical performance practice relating to music from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and contemporary eras has led to frequent invitations to give workshops and seminars on choral interpretation.