Finding A Voice 2025

We are delighted to welcome you to the eighth edition of Finding a Voice, our annual celebration of music by women composers, past and present. What began life in 2017 as an idea to shine a light on the absence of women composer’s voices in concert programmes has grown into a vibrant festival that continues to challenge, inspire, and entertain. In the intervening time, many of the composers we have featured and championed are now heard regularly on the airwaves and on stages around the country. We hope that Finding a Voice’s unique programming gathers these voices together as we work with our regional, national and international partners to promote music by women.

The Finding a Voice music festival program from March 6th to 9th, 2025, offers a diverse and exciting lineup of performances celebrating women in music, both past and present. Below are the highlights of key partnerships:

National String Quartet Foundation: Solas Quartet performs the opening concert on March 6th, featuring an original work by violinist Katherine Hunka and Austrian composer Maria Bach’s Piano Quintet, in collaboration with pianist Antonio Oyarzabal. On March 7th, the Ora Quartet presents music by women composers, including works by Elizabeth Maconchy, Caroline Shaw, Ailbhe McDonagh, and Florence Price, as part of their nationwide tour. Evlana Ensemble: On March 8th, Evlana's concert "New Horizons" showcases an eclectic mix of styles and eras, including works by Jennifer Higdon, Amy Beach, and Rosy Wertheim. The evening features two world premieres: a commissioned trio by Ailís Ní Ríain and the winning piece from the Finding a Voice/Contemporary Music Centre competition. This partnership with Evlana brings a contemporary focus to the festival. Chamber Choir Ireland:Closing the festival on March 9th, Chamber Choir Ireland under Guest Director Owain Park performs "Sing Before Night," an enchanting choral program featuring medieval to contemporary works by female composers such as Hildegard of Bingen, Clara Schumann, Caroline Shaw, and Thea Musgrave. Other notable events include Thérèse Fahy’s Irish premiere of Mel Bonis’ Femmes de Légende on March 7th and the Irish Youth Choir's International Women’s Day concert, celebrating women composers on March 8th. These partnerships enhance the festival's focus on elevating women’s contributions to music, offering a blend of classical, contemporary, choral, and chamber music performances.

From intimate chamber recitals to bold contemporary compositions, each piece tells a story of creativity, resilience, and artistic brilliance. As always, we are deeply grateful to our supporters and funders, our artists and partners, our volunteers and audiences, and above all to the composers whose music makes all of this possible. Whether you are joining us for the first time or have been with us since the beginning, we hope you find many things over the course of these four days that resonate and inspire.