Irish Born Chinese

vox merus

Simon Menin & Andrea Vonk, trumpets  Cormac O hAodain, horn  

Steve Mathieson, trombone  Alex Kidston, tuba 

 

Joseph Groocock (1913 – 1997)

Quintet for Brass (1984)

 

Daniel Barkley

Five Run Away Together (2011)

 

Brian Boydell (1917 – 2000)

Five Blows for Brass Quintet (1984)

 

Malcolm Arnold (1921 – 2006)

Quintet for Brass (1961)

  

Presented with funding from the Music Network Performance and Touring Award

Simon Menin (trumpet)... grew up in Switzerland and studied at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. He lived in Chicago for three years, playing Co-Principal Trumpet with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and Illinois Chamber Orchestra, and working as an extra with orchestras in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Simon is now playing as a freelance musician with the Irish Chamber Orchestra and is performing with the Italian based orchestra Spira Mirabilis. He has worked with Irish Film Orchestras, and as an extra with the Ulster Orchestra, the RTE Concert Orchestra & Big Band, and the RTE National Symphony Orchestra. Simon plays in the band of Irish singer and songwriter Julie Feeney and has been performing with other great artists such as Johnny Dankworth & Cleo Laine, Jacqui Dankworth, Lance Ellington, Rachel Weston, Bryn Terfel, Hayley Westenra, The Priests, Andrea Bocelli, Josh Ritter, and Sinead O'Connor. Simon received the 2003 Cultural Award of the Rentsch-Foundation in Switzerland in support of his work as a professional musician and music educator. He is a big advocate of the importance of a comprehensive musical education and has been involved in numerous educational projects in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, and Ireland.

 

Stephen Mathieson (trombone)... started playing the trombone at the age of 13 while living in his native Fife in Scotland. At 18 he went to study at the Royal College of Music in London before embarking on a freelance career, working with many esteemed UK Orchestras such as the London Philharmonic and The Philharmonia, as well as some lesser valued ensembles such as the band for 'Bobby Roberts Super Circus' and a German 'Oom Pah' band! In 2000 Stephen became the Principal trombone of the RTE Concert Orchestra,with whom he regularly performs with throughout Ireland in both concert venues and TV and radio. Stephen has played with the RTECO as a soloist on several occasions, and with the RTECO he has worked with many famous names. Stephen continues to work as a guest performer with various Orchestras in the UK, has given several recitals and masterclasses for the British Trombone Society and he also teaches Trombone at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

 

Andrea Vonk (trumpet)... was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and studied at University of Missouri-Kansas City and Northwestern University, Chicago, where she studied with Professors Barbara Butler and Charles Geyer. From 2003 - 2004 she was co-principal trumpet with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the training orchestra for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She is a founding member of the International Chamber Artists of Chicago, Illinois and held the position of 2nd trumpet with the West Shore Symphony Orchestra in Michigan from 2005 - 2007. As a freelance musician and private trumpet instructor in and around Chicago, Andrea worked with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the New Millennium Orchestra, Opera Illinois, and a number of other orchestras and ensembles in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan. In 2007 Andrea moved to Ireland, freelancing The Irish Chamber Orchestra, the RTE National Symphony Orchestra, RTE Concert Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, and the Orchestra of St Cecilia. Since 2010 Andrea has worked with Spira Mirabilis (Italy) as principal and second trumpet. Since 2007 Andrea and her husband Simon are also running a small music service called "Menin Vonk Music", promoting the importance of a solid musical education and providing instrumental tuition to the students of various schools in Dublin.

 

Alex Kidston (tuba)... is a Canadian music graduate of the University of Toronto and the Royal Academy of Music. His teachers have included Jane Noyes, Mark Tetreault, Toby Hanks, Arnold Jacobs, Roger Bobo and Patrick Harrild. Alex has performed extensively with orchestras across the UK & Ireland, as well as working with nu-folk band Bellowhead, jazz trio Farmyard Trio, the show Chicago, the legendary Grimethorpe Colliery Band and with his own unique chamber music group Trillium. Extra-musical activity has included working as the Music Co-ordinator at the National Portrait Gallery in London (running the Friday Night Music series), writing electronica / dance music under the name Conseil d'Ecosse as well as web- design and arranging. Since early 2010, Alex has called Dublin home and is actively pursuing all aspects of a performing career in Ireland.

 

Cormac O hAodain (horn)... is currently Principal Horn with the RTE Concert Orchestra, Dublin. He began playing piano at the age of four, and trumpet from the age of seven. At 14 his teacher asked him to make a choice between the horn and the trumpet and he chose horn. He went on to study at the Royal Northern College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where his teachers included Jeff Bryant, Hugh Seenan and Anthony Halstead.

For further information contact 

Gavin O’Sullivan

ph: +353-87-2456971

address: DUBLIN CITY GALLERY HUGH LANE, PARNELL SQ., DUBLIN 1, IRELAND

email: [email protected]

website: www.hughlane.ie 

The Sundays @ Noon Concert Series is funded by Dublin City Council and grant aided by The Arts Council/ An Chomhairle Ealaíon.