Esker Festival Orchestra 2024 - ‘The Planets’

Call for Composition Proposals 

The Esker Festival Orchestra was delighted to announce that as part of our 2024 festival and tour we had launched a new call for composition proposals. The aim of the call was to choose a composer who will then be commissioned to compose a short piece for large orchestra which will be performed in August as part of our programme alongside the legendary suite “The Planets” by Gustav Holst, including performances in Galway Cathedral and the National Concert Hall, Dublin. 

After a lot of careful examination, assessment and deliberation over the many anonymous proposals we received, we are absolutely delighted to announce that Tom Lane has been chosen to receive the commission to compose the new Earth movement to be featured in our performances of Holst’s The Planets this summer! We are absolutely delighted that Tom will compose for us and we are looking forward to bringing his new composition to life this August!

Tom Lane is a Dublin-based composer. He studied composition at Balliol College Oxford, the Royal Academy of Music, and the Berlin University of the Arts. He recently received his PhD in composition from University College Cork. In 2023 his new piece Nocturne was performed by the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland conducted by Gavin Maloney. Tom has previously been commissioned to write new scores for the Picorlino Ensemble, the Banbha Quartet, Cantairí Óga Átha Cliath, Cork Opera House, John Scott Irish Modern Dance Theatre, Northern Ireland Opera, Cantairí Avondale, The Abbey Theatre, The Gate Theatre, Kirkos Ensemble, Pipeworks Organ Festival, The Globe Theatre, The Almeida Theatre, and The Ark Theatre.

Thank you so much to the The Contemporary Music Centre for all of your support in organising this call for proposals!

In 2022 we were delighted to perform the world premiere of ‘MACHA’ Tone Poem for Orchestra, by young Irish Composer Kellie O’Neill

Kellie is a Dublin born composer, multi-instrumentalist and teacher who began her musical journey at aged 9, studying viola under the tutelage of Nicole Hudson. Kellie has recently graduated from the Royal Irish Academy of Music with a BMus in Composition, having Studied with Dr Kevin O'Connell and Jonathan Nangle, and is currently studying conducting under the tutelage of Gavin Maloney.

As a young child, Kellie was an active orchestral musician, and has been a member of the Dublin Youth Orchestras, Ulster Youth Orchestra and National Youth Orchestra of Ireland for many years. Kellie is currently an active chamber musician and also plays regularly with the City of Dublin Chamber orchestra, as well as other pop/rock bands, folk bands and smaller ensembles. In February 2019, Kellie made her solo debut performing Telemann’s Viola Concerto in the National Concert Hall.