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Dr. Evangelia Rigaki

Assistant Professor (Music)
HOUSE 5, COLLEGE

 rigakie@tcd.ie

 3531896 4270


Biography

Dr. Evangelia Rigaki has a diverse compositional portfolio ranging from instrumental works to experimental music theatre, dance, performance art, installation and opera. Her compositions are rooted in instrumental theatre, experimental music theatre and contemporary opera and she is collaborating closely with leading musicians, singers, directors and writers/ poets. Evangelia joined Trinity in September 2010 and since has taught a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. She is the founding Director of the 'MPhil in Composition' (2012-2020) and also curates the 'Music Composition Centre's public lectures and public Masterclasses. Since June 2020 she is the Head of the Music Department.  In March 2014 she chaired and organized the major 3 days International Composition Conference, 'Composition in the 21st Century' which featured Sir. Harrison Birtwistle and Raymond Deane as the keynote speakers.  Selected recent projects include: the opera 'Old Ghosts', libretto by Marina Carr for the Ulysses 2.2 tribute across Ireland to mark a century of James Joyce's Ulysses, Irish National Opera, ANU Productions, Landmark Productions (2023), the short opera `The Gift', libretto by Marina Carr, as part of Irish National Opera's online project, `20 Shots of Opera' (2020), the installation opera 'This Hostel Life' after the same titled book by Melatu Uche Okorie, Irish National Opera (2019), 'While The World Misbehaves, the Baby Must Hide in the Beehive',libretto by W.N. Herbert, for 6 Dancing Percussionists, written for Richard O Donnell and the 20th Anniversary of RIAM's 'Percussion Ensemble' premiered in New York University (2018), the object music theatre piece 'Monsieur Jean & Monsieur Jean', premiered by Ensemble Lucilin in Luxembourg (2015), the opera-installation 'The Pregnant Box' (2014), libretto by W.N. Herbert & Catherine Conlon, written for one audience member at a time in a specially constructed confession box and a wandering choir, the Arts Council funded opera "AntiMidas, or, Bankers in Hades', libretto by W.N. Herbert (2013).  Evangelia Rigaki's current PhD Students at Trinity are researching:    - Theatrical Elements and Musical Dramaturgy in Contemporary Music', PhD in Composition, Manos Markantonis  - Cross-fertilising Irish and European Styles of Compositional Construction: a new direction of music composition, Daniel Vives Lynch  - Sounds and shapes from Nature, inspiring Music compositions, PhD in Composition, Serena Conese - The Ancient Greek Drama and its Influence on the Operatic History, Anastasia Motiti - Contemporary Opera, PhD in Composition, Boris Golovin    Completed PhD in Composition Portfolios supervised by Evangelia Rigaki include the following:  - Lindsey Vincent, `On the Move: Investigating processes of composition using visual/dramatic/physical elements and extended techniques with a focus on solos, mixed ensembles, and the marching arts', 2021    - Kai Chung Fung, 'Composing the Uncertainty - Exploring different possibilities of indeterminacy in composition and developing notations to encourage improvisation', 2021    - Meg Stoops, `Melting the Boundaries : Integrating Ethnic Instruments into Western Art Music, 2021    - Brian Keegan, 'Evolving Sounds - PhD Portfolio of Compositions', 2018    - Elis Czerniak, PhD Portfolio of Compositions, 2018    - Cobi Van Tonder, 'Sublime Dissonance - PhD Portfolio of Compositions', 2017    - Jenn Kirby, 'Big Scary Numbers - PhD Portfolio of Compositions', 2015    - Hugh O'Neill, 'The Use of Gesture and Found Information in the Generation of Musical Material - PhD Portfolio of Compositions', 2015

Research Projects

 Monsieur Jean & Monsieur Jean
 The Pregnant Box
 AntiMidas, or, Bankers in Hades
 'Little Instruments of Apprehension'
 'Tutare'

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Memberships

Membership of Professional Institutions, Associations, Societies

Details Date From Date To
Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland January 2013
Shortlisted Composer for Society for Promotion of New Music, UK (former named SPNM) 2006 2009
Evangelia Rigaki, Melatu Uche Okorie, 'This Hostel Life, Opera-Installation', Irish National Opera, 2019, -, Musical Score, PUBLISHED
Evangelia Rigaki, W.N.Herbert, 'AntiMidas, or, Bankers in Hades, Opera', Beckett Theatre, Dublin, Arts Council, 2013, -, Notes: [Topical yet timeless, experimental and entertaining - Antimidas, or, Bankers in Hades rolls up all the contradictions and hurls them in the face of austerity. Fierce and funny, cloacal and iconoclastic - AntiMidas offers us a new antihero for our financial times.], Musical Score, PUBLISHED
Evangelia Rigaki Composer, Agnes Limbos Director, 'Monsieur Jean & Monsieur Jean, object music-theatre', Rottundes, Luxembourg, 2015, -, Musical Score, PUBLISHED
Evangelia Rigaki Music, W.N. Herbert, Words, 'While the World Misbehaves, The Baby Must Hide in the Beehive', Composition for 6 Percussionists, New York University, Lehman College New York, CMC, 2018, -, Notes: [This composition was commissioned in celebration of the 20th year anniversary of the 'Percussion Ensemble' in RIAM. ], Musical Score, PUBLISHED
Evangelia Rigaki , 'OTMEN [Breath] for pianist & optional audience participation', Cathy Krier, Festival Debussy, CAPe Ettelbrück (LU) -12th july 2019 -> Rosazzo Vigne Museum (Italy) - 28th September 2020 -> Frauenkirche Dresden, Germany , 2018, -, Musical Score, PUBLISHED
Lubna Gem Arielle Words, Evangelia Rigaki Music, Aljosa Smolic, 'Bridging the Blue', V-Sense, Trinity College Dublin, 2018, -, Musical Score, PUBLISHED
Evangelia Rigaki Music & W.N. Herbert Words, 'Lost Ships List, for Ria Georgiadis & Sven Birch', Alte Schmiede Wien, 19 June, 2018, Contemporary Music Centre, CMC, 2018, -, Notes: [Written for Ria Georgiadis (flute) & Sven Birch (piano) 1) 19-06-2018, Alte Schmiede Wien 2) 27-02-2019, TCD Boydell Room 3) 01-02-2020, NYT ! NYT, Ny Musik Festival i Rudersdal, Denmark 4) 02-02-2020, Moderne Mandag, Metronomen, Copenhagen], Musical Score, PUBLISHED
Evangelia Rigaki Music & W.N. Herbert Words, 'In the Oubliette', V-Sense, Trinity College Dublin , V-Sense, Contemporary Music Centre, 2018, -, Musical Score, PUBLISHED
Evangelia Rigaki, W.N. Herbert (words) , 'If Words Are Water', Christ Church, Taney, Dundrum/New York University, School of Music/ Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College/Lehman College School of Music,, 2020, -, Notes: [Written for Richard O Donnell and the Percussion Ensemble], Musical Score, PUBLISHED
Evangelia Rigaki, Sjaron Minailo, ''Hadith Al Rouh' (Dutch title: Gesprekken Van De Ziel)', Operadagen Rotterdam Festival, May, Operadagen Rotterdam Festival, May, 2009, -, Musical Score, PUBLISHED
  

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Awards and Honours

Award Date
Irish National Opera Studio, Selected Composer for 2018 - 19 2018 -19
Commission by Cultural Ministry of Luxembourg for 'OTMEN' 2018
Opera Project Award (Presentation), Arts Council IE 2012
Opera Project Award (Development), Arts Council IE 2012
Royal Opera House, Composition Residency (VOX 2) 2010
Die Neuköllner Oper, Composition Residency (Open Forum Stipendiat) 2010
Arts Council UK and SPNM Composition Residency for Researching Notation for Tabla (alongside other composers and percussionists) 2009
ENMR (European Network for Musicological Research) Fellowship for post-doctoral research at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin 2008
Britten-Pears Young Artist Composition Residency (New Music-New Media), Aldeburgh 2008
Jerwood Opera Writing Programme, Composition Residency, Aldeburgh 2007
Opera Writing Composition Residency, Aldeburgh 2006