Celebrating anniversary of Craigavon in musical event

Acclaimed composer Conor Mitchell has created a new flute concerto, Ã¢Â¬ÃœThe Craigavon Variations 1965Ã¢Â¬", to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the City of Craigavon. The work will be unveiled on 20th February, in Portadown, by members of the Ulster Orchestra and South Ulster Community Band featuring flautist Eimear McGeown. This collaboration has been supported by Small Grants funding through the Arts Council and is an example of the OrchestraÃ¢Â¬"s continuing outreach and engagement work which aims to take musical excellence right into the heart of communities across the region. Pictured with Conor, who was recently awarded the Arts CouncilÃ¢Â¬"s prestigious MIA Award, is award-winning flautist, Eimear McGeown. Visit www.artscouncil-ni.org for information on all funding opportunities. Picture by Brian Morrison.

Conor, who has recently been announced as one of three recipients of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s MIA (Major Individual Artist) Award 2016, the highest honour bestowed by the arts development agency, has created a flute concerto to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the City of Craigavon in 1965.

Entitled, ‘The Craigavon Variations 1965’, the piece will be performed in Portadown Town Hall on Saturday, February 20, at the band’s annual concert.

The collaboration between the South Ulster Community Band and the Ulster Orchestra has been supported by National Lottery Funding through the Arts Council’s Small Grants Programme.

Ciaran Scullion, Head of Music, Arts Council, commented, “The Arts Council is delighted to support this performance and development of new work. The collaboration between South Ulster Community Band with Ulster Orchestra has worked incredibly well. It is an outstanding example of what can be achieved through the Orchestra’s continuing outreach and engagement work which aims to take musical excellence right into the heart of communities across the region. I would encourage everyone to go along and enjoy an evening of wonderful music.”

Tickets for the performance which takes place at Portadown Town Hall cost £10 (adult) and £5 (Under 12s), available at www.sucb.org

Conor Mitchell is an Irish composer and writer. His play, The Dummy Tree, was commissioned by the Royal National Theatre for their 2009 New Connections series. Conor has been a great supporter of Youth Music Theatre UK and has received several commissions from them including Missing Mel, Goblin Market and Eight.

He split first place in the Stephen Sondheim Society’s Student Performer of the Year Competition for a song he wrote entitled What Kind of Life Is This, Masha?. He split the new song competition prize with Gwyneth Herbert’s Lovely London Town.

In 2012, he was commissioned by the London Gay Men’s Chorus for a piece to mark the choir’s 21st anniversary.