SEASON 25/26

Parallel Lines is an Irish/US programme, celebrating the diversity of music in each country. We explore the juxtaposition of hypnotic tonal works often featuring driving rhythmic elements vs tone-based works that extract elements from electronic music to create a new acoustic framework and sense of timelessness. We feature local composers Frank Lyons and Peter O’Doherty, while marking the 90th birthday of legendary minimalist composer Steve Reich with a return to one of his most treasured works ‘Double Sextet’. We also look at Reich’s influence on younger generations of American composers, and give premieres of works by Scott L. Miller, Sarah Kirkland Snider and Juhi Bansal. Originally from India and Hong Kong, Bansal’s music is always driven by storytelling, with a particular focus on stories of strong women, wilderness, and celebrating cultural and ideological diversity.

Peaceline Perspectives features highly evocative pieces from the North of Ireland. The music is interwoven with voices and soundscapes inspired around Belfast’s Peaceline, which separates the nationalist and loyalist communities. This performance showcases the work of multiple composers whose musical voices are shaped by their shared Northern Irish heritage. Greg Caffrey’s Tout (a slang term meaning informer) reflects on the horror, danger and mistrust prevalent during Northern Ireland’s Troubles. Elaine Agnew’s I Want to tell you consists of instrumental duos accompanying a voice track of victims, survivors and displaced families affected by conflict, while Úna Monaghan uses the sounds of helicopters, drone noises and animal hunting whistles to depict the nature of people being quite literally Hunted. There are moments of tranquility too. Áine Mallon’s Cállan and Ryan Molloy’s Gortnagarn offer meditative reflections on the beauty of our shared landscape, and its meaning in our lives. Eduard Zatriqi’s War Games was composed as a musical commentary on the conflicts evident around the world in early 2016. Reading news articles concerning the rise of populism, nationalism, and violence perpetrated in the name of religion, he was struck by humanity's apparent inability or unwillingness to learn from past errors. Ten years on from that, it seems we are very much in the same situation, if not worse, and so this impassioned work brings the programme to a dramatic conclusion.

Hard Rain collaborate with Ulster Touring Opera, and their ongoing work with Ulster Youth Opera, to present performances of Aesop’s Fables by three emerging composers from Northern Ireland. This project, supported by PRSf Talent Development Network, builds on UTO’s experience of presenting work written for young voices by living composers. PROGRAMME The North Wind and the Sun (2025) - Anita Mawhinney (1974) The Boy Who Cried Wolf (2025) - Anselm McDonnell (1994) The Tortoise and the Hare (2025) - Áine Mallon (1994)

Hard Rain are proud to present this recital in partnership with Ulster Youth Orchestra. Here our 25/26 Featured Young Artist Charlie Shortt will perform both as a soloist and within the ensemble. Charlie, from Portadown, began studying percussion at the age of eight. He is currently studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London as an ABRSM Scholar. Charlie has performed with many ensembles across the UK and has held leadership roles as Section Leader of the Ulster Youth Orchestra and Joint Principal Percussionist of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. In addition to his orchestral work, he was runner-up in the Northern Ireland Young Musician of the Year 2025 and was shortlisted for BBC Young Musician 2024. Charlie is delighted to be performing with Hard Rain Ensemble, collaborating with inspiring musicians to explore exciting new music. Our second half represents our annual celebration of International Women’s Day and features some of our closest collaborators. With composers from the North, South and West of Ireland, and born some 50 years apart, this programme presents multiple premieres while spanning generations and the geography of our island. PROGRAMME Rhythm Song (1991) - Paul Smadbeck (1955) Frogs (1958) - Keiko Abe (1937) Motion (1986) - Lynn Glassock (1946) Now I lay me down (2003) - Joe Locke (1959) Calligraphy (2002) - Elaine Agnew (1967) Silence, and the sound of the waves (2022) World premiere - Jane O’Leary (1946) And Then There Was One* (2025) World premiere - Bianca Gannon (1987) Three Girls in an August Garden (2025) World premiere - Amelia Clarkson (1995) Ghost Memories** (2024) - Deirdre Gribben (1967)

Combining the forces of Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble, jazz drummer Steve Davis and bringing together talented young musicians from Ulster Youth Orchestra and Ulster Youth Jazz Orchestra, this is a genre-defying discovery of new music. This concert will showcase local composers Ed Bennett and Elaine Agnew alongside the prolific experimental composer Anthony Braxton in an exploration of his unique musical language. This workshop is designed to encourage all musicians to reach beyond their comfort zone, try new performance techniques and extend their knowledge of current contemporary music, both local and international. Classically trained players will have the opportunity to explore improvisation and experimental music, whilst jazz-trained musicians will develop score-reading and the preparation and performance of defined musical scores.