Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble

The Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble is the only professional musical ensemble in Northern Ireland to specialise in the performance of modern and contemporary repertoire. Its remit is to give a voice to Irish composers and to perform their music in the context of music by leading exponents of contemporary music from elsewhere in Europe and the rest of the world. It aims to programme music that otherwise cannot be heard live locally, while serving as an outlet for the talent of highly specialist performers and acting as a meeting point for their innovation, ideas and enthusiasm.

The ensemble was founded by the composer Dr. Greg Caffrey, who remains their Artistic Director. The core ensemble features Sinead Hayes – conductor, Aisling Agnew – flutes, Sarah Watts – clarinets, Joanne Quigley McParland – violin, David McCann – cello and Daniel Browell – piano. The ensemble is frequently joined by many other leading performers from Ireland’s new music scene.

Hard Rain is a dynamic newcomer to the Irish music scene having performed music by over 100 composers in the short 9 years they’ve been in existence. The repertoire has included important titans of modern and contemporary music such as Schoenberg, Takemitsu, Carter, Boulez, Reich, Bartok, Sciarrino, Berg, Donatoni, Ligeti, Xenakis, Henze, Gubaidulina, Feldman and Webern to name a few, as well as featuring a wide range of Irish composers. Their concerts have also frequently given a platform to young and developing composers and they supplement their concert season with a programme of educational workshops (much of which is facilitated through QUB’s Industry Professional programme) as well as the creation of opportunities through their biannual Peter Rosser Composition Award. Each year HRSE mentors and promotes a Featured Young Artist selected by audition from the Ulster Youth Orchestra.

Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble’s incredible line-up of players make the performance of contemporary music a central aspect of their creative lives.