Donnchadh Mac Aodha

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Donnchadh Mac Aodha (b. 2002) is a  composer and multi-instrumentalist from Dundalk Co.Louth. He is a Quercus Creative & Performing Arts Scholar at UCC where he is undertaking a BA in Irish and Music. As both a traditional Irish and classical musician, Donnchadh finds himself most at home at the interface of these contrasting genres and allows his bi-musical upbringing to influence his compositional output. Through arranging and composing, he seeks to push and remould apparent boundary lines between musics to create a unique blend of old and new. In his budding career as a composer, Donnchadh’s portfolio includes an array of works including pieces for string quartet, SATB choir, piano trio, harp ensemble, bass clarinet and other solo instrumentalists and larger traditional ensembles. In 2020, Donnchadh won 1st prize in the composition competition at the New Ross Piano Festival for his piano work “Music in the Tuileries” which was premiered by Finghin Collins at the 2021 festival. He has participated in composition projects with Irish National Opera and The RedNote Ensemble, while also competing in Feis Ceoil and the West Cork Chamber Music Festival composition competitions. Donnchadh is currently studying composition under the direction of John Godfrey in UCC where he hopes to thoroughly explore composition over the next 3 years.