Chamber Music Ensembles
A keen chamber musician, Macdara Ó Seireadáin has collaborated with a number of musicians and groups including John O'Conor, Ailish Tynan, Finghin Collins, the Vanburgh, and the Apollon Musagete Quartet. Alongside these partnerships, he is a member of two chamber music ensembles.
Gintaras Januševičius Piano
Macdara Ó Seireadáin Clarinet
The Irish / Lithuanian duo of Macdara Ó Seireadáin and Gintaras Januševičius are a unique and dynamic duo that pair the rich traditions of classical music with innovative and specially curated programmes. Since meeting in 2008 whilst both students at the then Hochschule für Music und Theater in Hannover, Germany they have performed together since 2010, undertaking numerous critically acclaimed tours around Europe including performing live on Lithuanian National Television (LRT) and headlining important international festivals, including the Pažaislis Festival and the Klaipėda Summer Festival.
Most recently in 2024, they toured Germany, Ireland, and Lithuania with their newest programme. Entitled Rhapsodie in Noir, it features music from their respective homelands and champions female composers, exploring the liminal space between eras and soundworlds, and invites audiences to reflect on overlooked voices in history and their importance.
As well as seeking out neglected works and new repertoire, the duo have arranged numerous works including fantasias of Irish folk melodies, English court dances, and Lithuanian folk songs which have proven to be firm audience favourites. In 2019 they were particularly honoured to be invited by the Irish Embassy in Lithuania to perform at the official celebrations of St Patricks Day in Vilnius.
FICINO ENSEMBLE
Founded in 2012 by Nathan Sherman, the Ficino Ensemble is a flexible chamber music group that performs all the great music for small ensembles, ranging from string trios to works written for larger ensembles.
Ficino Ensemble's aim is to perform works that appeal to a discerning audience whilst championing lesser known works that deserve to be appreciated. To date, they been invited to play for President Michael D. Higgins, Howth Chamber Music Series, Music in Kilkenny Series, Hugh Lane Sundays@Noon Series, Cork Orchestral Society and the Irish Georgian Society. In August 2016 they performed a highly successful chamber music series at the National Concert Hall and have since performanced at Music for Galway, Kaleidoscope Dublin, the Hugh Lane Gallery, Musictown Festival and Festiv'ards Portaferry.
Their concerts have been described as exciting and intimate with a high calibre of ensemble playing. The members of the group are recognized in Ireland and abroad as soloists and chamber musicians and following on from their debut CD "Winter" have recently released their second CD "Folk Songs" on the Ergodos Label.
"As well as the excellent string-playing of Elaine Clark and Lynda O’Connor (violins), Nathan Sherman (viola) and Ailbhe McDonagh (cello), the Ficinos have an ace up their sleeves with the clarinet playing of Macdara Ó Seireadáin. Ó Seireadáin brings a cool, smooth gleam to this work, in a compelling reading that is always clear and attractive, with dashes of slick virtuosity."
Michael Lee, Golden Plec