Sunday 28 August at Kilmore Cathedral as part of Heritage Week an organ recital with the renowned organist, Simon Harden will take place. Simon has compiled a programme that will include popular works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi and Louis Vierne. Niamh Mc Cormack, soprano will perform with Simon as part of the recital. In a contemporary vein the organist has selected three pieces by Cavan based composer Paul Flynn, a selection from his work Suibhne Faoi Bhodhrán Gealaí, a collaboration with poet Noel Monahan. Vera Pollock organist at Kilmore Cathedral says "we are looking forward to this event, our organ is a Charles Brinsley Organ, 3 Manual and we have had it extensively renovated in recent years, so this event with Mr Harden will be a treat for us all and we will welcome Niamh Mc Cormack back to Kilmore, she performed here back in 2012". The audience are invited for refreshments after the event at Kilmore Hall, event organised by Cavan County Council arts office.
Start time 7pm
Biography
Simon Harden was born in Dublin and has lived in Berlin, Hamburg and Paris. At present, he holds a Lecturer position in Organ at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama in Dublin. Before returning to Dublin in 2015, he worked as Organist and ‘Kantor’ in several parts of Germany, most recently in the Anglican church in Frankfurt and the Christuskirche in Bad Vilbel. He pursues a busy career as a performer with regular concert engagements taking him throughout Europe and Japan.
He began his studies at Trinity College Dublin reading Music and History of Art. At that time he began to learn the organ with Gerard Gillen and later with Peter Sweeney. Further studies at the Music Academies in Berlin (Leo van Doeselaar) and Hamburg (Wolfgang Zerer) led to a first-class Postgraduate degree in performance in 2004. Two years studying french music in Paris (Eric Lebrun) gained him a ‘Premier Prix’ in 2006. On receiving a scholarship from the City of Hamburg, Simon returned to complete the ‘Konzertexamen’ – the highest award for performance in Germany – with Wolfgang Zerer and Pieter van Dijk.
During his studies, Simon won 1st prize and audience prize at the ‘International Schnitger Organ Competition’ in Alkmaar, Holland 2007 and in October 2006 2nd prize at the Swiss International Organ Competition ‘Grand Prix Bach de Lausanne’. In December 2006 he was selected from all the instrumental students at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hamburg to receive the DAAD prize for ‘outstanding performance and intercultural involvement’.
Niamh Mc Cormack, Soprano
Niamh McCormack is a native of Shercock, Co. Cavan and began her vocal tuition with Geraldine Mc Gee in Dundalk, Co. Louth. She completed her Degree in music performance at the D.I.T Conservatory of Music and Drama under the tutelage of Deirdre Grier Delaney and Mary Scarlett. During her time at the Conservatory she was a regular recitalist and also undertook roles such as Musetta from ‘La Boheme’ for the conservatories series of ‘Rush-hour opera’ concerts. She performed the role of Papagena from ‘The Magic Flute’ for ‘A Night at the Opera’ which was held in the National Concert hall and also recorded a lunchtime recital for Lyric fm. Following her degree, she toured extensively throughout the United States of America, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt as well as Ireland as the vocal soloist with Riverdance. She has recently performed with the Cavan Singers as part of their presentation of Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria at the Cathedral of SS. Patrick and Felim, Cavan. Niamh is a regular recitalist throughout Ireland and has a keen interest in the music of the Renaissance and Baroque period performing regularly with Early Music consorts such as ‘The Dublin Viols’.