THE chamber orchestra of the University of St Andrews will make its debut appearances in Northern Ireland next week. On Wednesday at 8pm the orchestra will appear in a joint concert with the choir of the University of Ulster at Christ Church, Infirmary Road in Derry.
This free event will include Gabriel Faure's Requiem conducted by Shaun Ryan, senior lecturer in music at the University of Ulster. The first half will include Edvard Grieg's virtuosic piano concert, performed by Belfast-born University of St Andrews student Maebh Martin, pictured, daughter of acclaimed composer Neil Martin.
On Thursday the chamber orchestra moves to Belfast for two events. At 1pm, the New Music Ensemble, drawn from St Andrews' best instrumental students and conducted by Bede Williams, will perform a free concert at the Sonic Arts Research Centre of Queen's University.
At 8pm, the orchestra will take to the stage at Fisherwick Presbyterian Church in Chlorine Gardens.
The evening concert, conducted by St Andrews' director of music Michael Downes and by Bede Williams, will feature performances by two Northern Ireland soloists with connections to the University of St Andrews, rising opera star and St Andrews alumnus Ben MacAteer and Maebh Martin, who once again joins the orchestra in Grieg's piano concerto. Tickets, priced £8 and £6 (concessions, students), will be available on the door.