Deirdre McKay (born 1972) is a composer from Northern Ireland.
Deirdre McKay | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1972 (age 51–52) |
| Occupation | Composer |
Biography
editDeirdre McKay was born in County Down. She started violin lessons at an early age and later began to compose with the encouragement of her teacher, Bob Leonard.[1] Following music studies at Queen’s University, Belfast and at the University of Manchester, she studied privately with Kevin Volans in Dublin. Returning to Queen’s on a Department of Education of Northern Ireland scholarship in 2003, she received a doctorate under the tutelage of Piers Hellawell.[2]
Performances and commissions
editShe has collaborated on work with the Belfast artist Jean Duncan including "A pale yellow sky" and "The Fly".[3] Her piece "Comendo spiritum meum", which incorporates the last words of St Oliver Plunkett, was premiered by the Latvian State Choir in 2007.[4] "Dieppe" a setting of the poem by Samuel Beckett, was selected for the 12th International Review of Composers in Belgrade and also by James MacMillan for a BBC Singers workshop.[5]
Her opera, Driven, with a libretto by Richard Dormer, was commissioned by Northern Ireland Opera and was premiered during the 2012 Cultural Olympiad.[6]
Awards
edit- British Academy Award to study at the University of Manchester.
- Director’s Choice Award in Boston Metro Opera’s 2013 International Composers’ Competition
- Major Individual Artist Award from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland in 2016[2]
References
edit- ^ Dervan, Michael (27 February 2018). "'My first musical memory is standing in a cot listening to an old Telefunken reel-to-reel tape recorder'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Deirdre McKay". Contemporary Music Centre. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- ^ Baird, Elizabeth (4 July 2008). "Art: Duncan 'fly-ing' with old museum show". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
- ^ Smyth, Gerry (4 August 2007). "Brennan misses a dramatic chance". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ "Reviews". The Irish Times. 30 September 2006. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ Dervan, Michael (18 November 2015). "What my undercover stint as a woman taught me about sexism". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 September 2018.