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a. They premiered Dave Flynn's hour long 'Clare Concerto' entirely from memory. The only person on stage with sheet music was the conductor Bjorn Bantock. (The few sheets viewable on the floor are one page set-­lists with no dots!) The orchestra featured some of the best Irish traditional, classical and jazz musicians around. Including multiple award winners and international soloists. Ranging from renowned Fiddlers like Martin Hayes, Brid Harper and Aoife Ní Bhriain to piper Mick O'Brien and four members of Ensemble Eriu (Jack Talty, Neil O'Loghlen, Matthew Berrill & Paddy Groenland) At the end of the 2nd Movement 'North Clare' when Clare concertina legend Chris Droney came on stage as special guest with his children Francis and Aine the age range on stage was from 11-­88. Thus the orchestra featured some of the finest talent in Irish music from several generations.The music and the orchestra itself represent the past, present and future of Irish music. The instrumentation was unlike any orchestra ever assembled, mixing usual classical orchestra instruments with Irish folk instruments like Uilleann Pipes and Low Whistles and modern instruments like electric guitars. The orchestra also included ancient bronze age Celtic horns like the Loughnashade Trumpet and Carynx. The Clare Concerto was premiered in glor, Ennis, Ireland and commissioned by the Arts Office of Clare County Council under the Per Cent Per Art Scheme. Musician List Composer/Guitar/Percussion ­ Dave Flynn Conductor ­ Sir Bjorn Bantock Special Guests - The Bell Harbour Droneys Chris Droney, Francis Droney & Anne-Kiranne Droney CMO Section Leaders Fiddle Martin Hayes & Liz Coleman (Co-­Leaders) Tara Connaghan (Deputy Leader) Violin Aoife Ní Bhriain (CMO Orchestra Leader) Adrian Hart (Deputy Leader) Eilis Lennon (2nd Deputy Leader) Viola Niamh Varian­-Barry Ciara Ní Bhriain (Deputy Leader) Cello Cormac Ó Briain Double Bass Neil O'Loghlen Uilleann Pipes Mick O'Brien Flutes/Whistles Aisling Agnew & Eimear McGeown (Co-­Leaders) Oboe/Clarinet/Whistle Section Etain McCooey Concertina Jack Talty Harps Anne-­Marie O'Farrell Bronze Age Horns Billy Mag Fhloinn Trumpet/Sax Section Neil Yates Trombone/Carnyx John Kenny Electric Guitar Dave Flynn & Dennis Cahill (Co­-Leaders) Percussion Aidan Dunphy Apprentices List Fiddles Brid Harper Aine McGrath Erin McGeown Bridge Barker Isobel Elger Rosina Joyce Violins Katharine Mannion Natalie Flynn Yuki Nishioka Aileen Maloney Fintan Farrell Viola Clara Grimes Andrew Jackson Cello Carmel Comiskey Alannah O'Connor-­Dunford Emma Harte Double Bass Genevieve Leyden Conal Duffy Uilleann Pipes Fergal Breen Fionn Ó hAlmhain Flutes/Whistles Jana McCarthy­-Kent Mikhaila Fitzpatrick Clarinet Celia Donoghue Oboe Caitlin Bloomer Tin Whistle Evelyn Linnane Concertina Róisín Broderick Aoife Corbett Sinéad Mulqueen Harp Siobhán Buckley Eimear Coughlan Rachel Duffy Guitar Patrick Groenland Trombone/Bronze Age Horns Alex Borwick Sax/Bronze Age Horns Matthew Berrill Percussion Pádraig Enright Daniel Landers Youth Strings (Under 16) Fionnuala Fahey Niamh Canavan Róisín Clancy Fionnuala McKey Clodagh Murphy Daire Shannon Ross O'Donovan Clodagh O'Farrell