A Terrible Beauty (For Chamber Ensemble): The premiere of the chamber version of A Terrible Beauty will be given in the Harty Room on Sat 23rd May 2020. This work unites 3 separate pieces in the series that draw on Yeats' poetry. These works have all been heard performed separately, but this will be the first performance of the complete trilogy, which includes percussion in addition to the regular Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble. 

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Premiere of vibraphone version of Deluge, Fugue & Allegro: Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble's concert on 30th Nov 2019 at SARC will be occasion of the premiere performance of the vibes version of Deluge, Fugue & Allegro, originally written for solo guitar. The concert also features a performance of Steve Reich's Double Sextet and HRSE will be joined by local contemporary dance company Maiden Voyage Dance for a wonderful new collaboration. Regular HRSE percussionist Alex Petcu will be the performer and the work will be especially choreographed for the evening.

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Ómós Premiered in New York State: Ómós for 2vlns, vla, vcl, cb & pno will be premiered on 7th Nov 2019 by the Stony Brook Contemporary Chamber Players, Staller Centre for the Arts, Stony Brook NY 11720. The composer will be in attendance and will be working with students of the university during his time there. This performance will be followed by another the following evening at Brooklyn's Roulette.

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Accolade in Uuno Klami International Composition Competition: A Terrible Beauty for Sinfonia Orchestra has been designated a "Recommended Work" in the 4th Uuno Klami Composition Competition by a illustrious jury comprised of Magnus Lindberg, Erkki- Sven Tüür, Kalevi Aho and the Estonian conductor Olari Elts. The work was chosen from a massive 283 entries representing no fewer than 38 nationalities.

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The Chronic Identity Crisis of Pamplemousse: This NI Opera production of the children's opera, featuring and expanded Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble, will be premiered in Belfast on Sun 16th June at the Brian Friel Theatre followed by performances at Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, Newry (17th), Ardowen Theatre Enniskillen (18th), Strule Arts Centre, Omaha (19th), Marketplace Theatre, Armagh (21st), and the Playhouse Theatre, Derry (22nd).

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Premiere - Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold: This work, completing a trilogy based on poetry of WB Yeats, joins These are the clouds about the fallen sun and for peace comes dropping slow as the central movement of the larger work. Things fall apart will be premiered by Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble at the Harty Room QUB, Belfast on Wed 27th March at 7.30pm and will receive repeat performances at Birmingham Conservatoire, Bradshaw Hall on Fri 29th March at 7.30 and in Dublin's St Finian's Church, Adelaide Road on Sat 30th March at 3.30pm.

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And again... String Quartet No 4: This quartet appears again for another Contempo performance, this time in Galway University's beautiful Aula Maxima on Sat 9th March. The quartet will feature as part of an introduction to contemporary music for Leaving Cert students alongside Gerald Barry's Piano Quintet and excepts from quartets by Jane O'Leary and Frank Corcoran.

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Borne back ceaselessly at New Music Dublin: String Quartet No4, Borne back ceaselessly into the past is to feature as part of New Music Dublin's ConTempo Quartet appearance alongside quartets by Jane O'Leary, Frank Corcoran and Ian Wilson. Sun 3rd March at 4pm in National Concert Hall, Kevin Barry Room.

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String Quartet No 4 Premiere:  RTE ConTempo Quartet will give the world premiere of "...borne back ceaselessly into the past" String Quartet No4 as part of The Galway Music Residency's Music & Musings series at the Mick Lally Theatre, Druid Lane, Galway on Friday 23rd Nov 2018. The new work was commissioned by GMR and Galway City Council Arts Office. http://www.druid.ie/

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New song cycle to be premiered:  Pianist Sean Morgan-Rooney and Baritone Cormac Lawlor will premiere a new song cycle, commissioned by New Horizon's Music and setting poems by Ciaran Carson, at the Rosemary Street Church Concert Series on Wed 15th Aug 2018.

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..for peace comes dropping slow - Premiere:  Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble's 12th May concert at the Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast will offer the premiere of ..for peace comes dropping slow, a new work for fl, cl, vln, vcl & pno, inspired by the poetry of WB Yeats.

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Environments I BBC Broadcast: Environments I for piano and orchestra will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3's Hear and Now programme on Sat 31st March at 22.30. The concert, recorded of 16th Jan 2018, features the Ulster Orchestra with soloist Finghan Collins.

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The Man with the Chocolate Beard Premieres: The children's opera The Man with the Chocolate Beard will premiere (albeit in excerpt form as a work in progress) in a site specific performance at Belfast's City Hall Banqueting Hall on Sun 11th March at 5.30pm as part of Young at Art's Children's festival. This production will feature the vocal talents of lynsey Curtin - Sop and Cormac Lawlor - baritone. alongside a trio of musicians drawn from Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble. The production is directed by Caolan Keaveney.

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Concert Performance of Opera Work: The children's opera The Chronic Identity Crisis of Pamplemousse will be performed in a concert version in the Ulster Museum, Belfast on Sun 27th May at 3pm. The project is part of an ongoing co-production between Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble and Northern Ireland Opera that will see a fully staged version of the piece in Spring 2019.

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Ulster Orchestra with Finghan Collins: Environments I for orch and piano will receive its premiere in the Ulster Hall, Belfast on Tues 16th Jan 2018 as part of a concert of contemporary orchestral music given by the Ulster Orchestra. The piano soloist will be Finghin Collins and the performance will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3's Hear and Now programme at a later date.

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Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble Commission: Greg is delighted at receiving his first commission from the HRSE after 4 years of artistic direction with the group. The new work, for peace comes dropping slow, commissioned with funds from ACNI, will be premiered by the ensemble at Maynooth University on Thurs 12th April.

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Three Movements in a Jazz Style for Prepared Piano: Izumi Kimura, who commissioned this work to sit alongside the John Cage Sonatas and Interludes, will give the premiere alongside Cage's iconic pieces in Smock Alley, Dublin on Wed 29th Nov 2017.

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Filigree Premiere & More in the U.S: Duo Montagnard's Matthew Slotkin and Joe Murphy will give the premiere performance of their commissioned work, Filigree for sop sax and guitar, in Mansfield University, Pennsylvania on 22nd March 2017 as part of a lecture recital given jointly by the composer and the ensemble. The composer will also attend a second performance of the new commission at Bloomsburg University, Pennsylvania the following day and performances of his works Pluck, Blow (sax & gtr version) and Takemitsu's Dream (solo guitar) will also feature as part of the recitals. During his trip Greg will additionally work at Bloomsburg providing one to one teaching to composition students and work with one of the university's student ensembles. 

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The Chronic Identity Crisis of Pamplemousse: Excerpts of this children's opera will be previewed as part of Young at Art's Scratchworks event at the Crescent Arts Centre on Sun 12th March 2017. The performance will feature Sinead O'Kelly - Mezzo, Peter O'Reilly - Ten, David Howes - Bass and will be conducted by Sinead Hayes.

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Ulster Museum Premiere: 3 Movements on the work of William Scott for fl/alto fl, cl/bs cl, vln, vcl, pno and vibes will be given its first performance at the Ulster Museum on 21st Feb 2017 at 7.30pm. It will be performed by the Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble and the concert will also feature works by Morton Feldman, Piers Hellawell, Ian Wilson, Chris McCann and Anselm McDonnell.

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Premiere featuring Garth Knox: Pulled Down out of the young Breath-giving Air for string trio will be premiered on Sat 21st Jan 2017 at the Crescent Arts Centre by members of the Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble, Joanne Quigley McParland - violin, Garth Knox - viola, Dave McCann - Cello.

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Salzburg Premiere - Molly Bloom: Salzburg's prestigious Mozarteum is the venue for the premiere performance of The Private Consciousness of Molly Bloom for featuring Alexandra Lampert-Raschké - Sop and Yvonne Zehner - Guitar, as part of a concert of Joyce inspired works given by the Gunnar Berg Ensemble. The concert is on Sunday 4th Dec 2016.

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These are the Clouds: Another performance of These are the Clouds about the Fallen Sun, given by Belfast based contemporary ensemble, Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble, will take place the the groups opening concert of the 2016/17 Season at the Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast on Thurs 3rd Nov at 8pm. The concert also features newly commissioned works by Andrew Hamilton and Ryan Molloy and works by other Irish composers, Ian Wilson, Kevin O'Connell, Karen Power and Piers Hellawell.

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Till Night is Overgone at Kaleidoscope: Kaleidoscope Night, Dublin will host a performance of the work for sax quartet and vocal soprano, Till night is Overgone  in Bello Bar, Dublin on Wed 2nd Nov at 8pm. This work was commissioned by Moving on Music for The Chatham Sax Quartet and Elizabeth Hilliard who will perform here.

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Takemitsu's Dream in Dublin: Guitarist John Feeley will perform Takemitsu's Dream at the Kevin Barry Room of the National Concert Hall, Ireland as part of the "Five Decades of Irish Music" celebration on Sat 24th Sept. Works also by some of Ireland's most established composers: Seóirse Bodley, John Kinsella, Brian Boydell, Frank Corcoran, Jane O'Leary, John Buckley, Jerome de Bromhead and Mary Kelly.

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Two Performances At Lucca International Festival: Tre Correnti will be performed as part of the 2016 Festival on Sat 23rd July and the premiere performance of his new work Wanderlust will feature at the save festival on Thurs 28th July.

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Rarescale at London's Forge: Greg's work Nocturne written especially for the contemporary music ensemble Rarescale and featuring Carla Rees (bass flute) and Sarah Watts (bass clarinet) will have its premiere at The Forge, London on Wed 11th May 2016.

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Clouds at the Crescent: The Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast will again be the venue for another Hard Rain concert on Sat 26th March. This concert, celebrating Easter, will see the ensemble perform a number of beautifully serene works from the modern and contemporary repertoire, which will feature These are the Clouds about the Fallen Sun alongside pieces by Messiaen, Part, Feldman and Sciarrino.

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Premiere for new cello work: Hard Rain's Solo Series 3, featuring Dave McCann (cello) will see a number of contemporary works for the instrument performed in Belfast for the first time on Wed 16th March 2016 in the Crescent Arts Centre. This concert will feature Ménage à Trois (#3), a new work by Greg that functions as a stand alone piece, while also being a single instrumental part of a final piece for string trio.

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CoMA in Belfast: CoMA's Festival of Contemporary Music for All will have representation in Belfast this year as Greg will direct a CoMA group in a workshop performance at the Crescent Arts Centre. All instrumentalists are welcome to drop in and perform alongside members of Hard Rain. Workshop Sat 5th March 2016, 1 - 4pm.

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Scaw in Nottigham: Contemporary music duo SCAW will give a performance of Greg's Blunt Instrument on Sat 13th Nov 2016 in Nottingham (venue details to follow).

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Performance Lecture at theatreSPACE: On Feb 12th 2016 Greg will vist SERC's theatreSPACE in Bangor along with Hard Rain cellist, Dave McCann, to introduce students to the music of American minimalist composer Steve Reich. This performance lecture, suported by CMC Ireland, is designed to prime students studying at SERC for Hard Rain's concert on Fri 11th March 2016. The lecture will include a performace of Cello Counterpoint.

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2 Clarinet Works at the Crescent: Sarah Watts will present 2 of Greg's pieces for solo clarinet in a concert of works for solo clarinet at the Crescent Arts Centre on Feb 10th 2016. The pieces presented will be Carter Fragment (originally premiered in Paris 2011 by Merve Kazokoglu) and Multiphonic Study, written especially for Sarah Watts. The pieces will be performed alongside works by Franco Donatoni and Valentino Buchi.

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Premiere of Garden of Earthly Delights: Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble will premiere this new work for fl, cl, vln, vcl, pno & perc in the Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast on Sat 6th Feb at 7.30pm. The concert will also feature a performance of Greg's duo Blunt Instrument for bs cl & pno alongside works by Elliott Carter.

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Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris: Greg has been invited to the CCI, Paris as Artist in Residence for the month of Jan 2016. The residency is offered jointly by CCI and the Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland. Greg will use this period to write a new work for the Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble, based on the painting Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch, to be premiered on 6th Feb 2016 at the Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast.

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Launch and opening season performance by HRSE: Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble blasted onto the Belfast concert scene again this year, launching their new season on Wed 18th Nov with glasses of wine and music by Amy Rooney, Iain McCurdy and Greg Caffrey. Hot on the heals of this event was a performance of music by Boulez, Reich, Simon Mawhinney and Bill Campbell on the 21st Nov at the Crescent Arts Centre.

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New Commission - Chatham Quartet & Elizabeth Hiliard: Moving on music, with funds from ACNI, have commission a new work from Greg for a collaborative project between Dublin's Chatham Sax Quartet and the soprano Elizabeth Hilliard. The new work will be premiered at a concert on 2nd March 2016 at Belfast's Duncairn Arts Centre as part of MOM and Belfast Music Society's Night Music Series. 

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Artist in Residence - Cité Internationale des Arts (Paris): Greg is working on a number of projects at the Cité des Arts between July and Sept 2015. Projects include the completion of a children’s opera, “The chronic Identity Crisis of Pamplemousse”, with finding from ACNI, and a new commission from American duo, Duo Montagnard. 

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New Commission from American Duo: Duo Montagnard: Matthew Slotkin (gtr) and Joe Murphy (sax) have commissioned a new piece to be performed in the autumn in USA. Premiere details to follow.

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Premiere in Dundee: Chris Baxter and long time Caffrey collaborator, Aisling Agnew will give the premiere performance of a new piece especially written for the duo, Bipolar. The piece will be performed on Sat 25th April in St Paul’s Cathedral, Dundee. The piece features constant changes of flute (concert, alto and piccolo), in the course of its 7 min duration.

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Pierrot Lunaire on Tour: Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble will be performing Arnold Schoenberg’s atonal masterpiece, Pierrot Lunaire in 4 locations in Ireland. Friday 10th April - Walled City Music Festival, Derry, 7.30pm. Sat 11th, Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast, 7.30pm. Sun 12th Hugh Lane Municiple Gallery, Dublin, 3pm. Mon 13th Maynooth University, 1pm.

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Takemitsu’s Dream in Germany: The Irish guitarist John Feeley will perform Takemitsu’s Dreamfor solo guitar at the Internationales Gitarrenfestival, Passau, Germany on Fri 13th March. The concert will feature works by other Irish composers; Philip Martin, Rhona Clarke, Jane O’Leary, Brian Boydell, Turlough O’Carolan, Jerome de Bromhead, Dave Flynn and John Buckley as well as the Scottish composer Edward McGuire.

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Tre Correnti in Belfast: Greg’s work for solo alto flute will receive its UK/Ireland premiere in Sat Feb 28th at The Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast. The work will feature as part of a Donatoni portrait concert given by Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble and will be played by the ensembles flautist, Aisling Agnew.

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Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble at the Mac: In partnership with Moving on Music, Belfast Music Society and The Contemporary Music Centre, HRSE will give a performance on 4th Feb at Belfast’s Mac featuring the music of Bartok, Ligeti, Dinescu and Molloy.

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“Drawing on Feldman” at Belfast College of Art: As part of Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble’s continuing season, the ensemble will perform at Belfast College of Art on Sat 6th Dec at 8pm. The performance will be a collaboration between the ensemble and the art students and promises to be a visual as well as an aural treat. As well as a performance of Caffrey’s In Search of a Human Dialogue, Hard Rain will perform two brand new pieces by Berlin-based, Belfast composer, Iain McCurdy. Of course, there will also be performances of 3 of Morton Feldman’s wonderful spacious pieces. Buy Tickets Here

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CMC Salon Series Dublin Feature: Two pieces by Greg Caffrey will be featured in The Contemporary Music Centre’s (CMC) Salon Series, Dublin on Wed 26th Nov at 6pm in the Kevin Barry Room of the National Concert hall (These are the clouds and the world premier of In Search of a Human Dialogue). The event also features music by Piers Hellawell and the informal setting allows an opportunity for open discussion of the music by composers, performers and audience. Music is performed by the wonderful Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble.

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Interspheres - Duo Montagnard: USA Duo Montagnard, comprised of guitarist Matthew Slotkin and sax player Joe Murphy, have released their wonderful new album, Interspheres. The album features the third commercial recording of Caffrey’s Pluck Blow and can be purchased here: Interspheres

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Tre Correnti in the Giacometti Gardens - Antibes: The Foundation Maeght Festival in Antibe in the south of France was the venue for a performance of Greg’s solo alto flute piece “Tre Correnti” on 7th Aug 2014. The performance was given by New York based flautist Linda DiMartino for whom the piece was written.

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New Work for Harpsichord Duo: A new work is on the drawing board for DuoChord, a harpsichord duo featuring the Irish born, Paris resident player Emer Buckley and Israel’s Jochewed Schwarz. Watch this space for premiere details.

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USA Premiere for La Belle et La Bête: A newly commissioned work for the American duo Dez Cordas featuring Matthew Slotkin (gtr) and Craig Butterfield (double bass) will have its premiere performance in Columbia, South Carolina on April 5th. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dez-cordas-in-concert-tickets-10703202567

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Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble Lunchtime Recital: Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble will be performing again as part of Queen’s University, Belfast’s lunchtime recital series on Thurs March 20th at 1.10pm in the Music Department’s Harty Room. The performance will feature works by Takemitsu, Hellawell, Caffrey and Wilson.

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Pluck Blow Florida Tour: Guitarist Matthew Slotkin and saxophonist Joe Murphy will be performing Pluck Blow (Sop Sax Version) on their tour of Florida. The dates and venues are as follows: Oct 18th University of Central Florida, Orlando, 19th University of Florida, Gainesville, 20th Florida State University, Tallahassee, 21st University of North Florida, Jacksonville, 22nd Eastern Florida State College, Cocca, 27th Messiah College Grantham, Pennsylvania, 28th University of Delaware Newark, Delaware.

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Two Belfast Premieres - One Brand New Ensemble: The newly formed Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble will have it’s debut performance at Belfast’s MAC theatre on Sat 21st Sept at 8.00pm. The concert will feature two new pieces by Greg Caffrey, “These are the Clouds” and “Idée Fixe II” alongside music by fellow Belfast born composer Ian Wilson and four pieces by the Japanese master Toru Takemitsu.

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New York Premiere for Tre Correnti: Linda DiMartino Wetherill will give the premiere of Tre Correnti, written specially for her, at East Hampton Presbyterian Church at 7pm on Sat 28th Sept (the composer’s 50th birthday). The performance will also include works by JS Bach and Correli,

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Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble Founded: The Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble was founded this year (2013) to give a voice to local composers alongside the music of important compositional figures on the European or Global scene. The Ensemble will be directed by Greg and he has curated a programme of music which will feature works by Belfast composer Ian Wilson and well as his own alongside important and beautiful pieces by the Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu.The ensemble will give their inaugural performance at Belfast’s new MAC (Metropolitan Arts Centre) on Sat 21st Sept 2013.

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Pluck Blow Tours Argentina and Uruguay: Guitarist Matthew Slotkin and saxophonistJoe Murphy will be performing Pluck Blow (Sop Sax Version) on their tour of Argentina and Uruguay. The dates and venues are as follows: August 2nd, Jazz a la Calle Mercedes, Uruguay, Aug 5th Salon Auditorio Raul Scalabrini Ortiz del Pasaje Deardo Rocha La Plata, Argentina, Aug 12th Necochia, Argentina, Aug13th Bahia Blanca, Argentina.

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Premiere - Passau Festival, Germany: A new work entitled Tabula Rasa, for 3 guitars will be premiered at the Passau Festival in Bavaria on Thurs 11th July 2013 by Trio Collage. Trio Collage are a group who formed during their guitar studies with Elliot Fisk at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. The group is comprised of Yvonne Zehner, Ulrike Reithmeier and Shiri Coneh.

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Composition Masterclass in Tuscany: Greg has been invited to give a masterclass at an international festival of New Music in San Andrea, Compito, Tuscany in July 2013. His week long residency at the festival will also see performances of his works, Takemitsu’s Dream as well as the premiere of a new work for solo flute for the performer Linda Dimartino Wetherill. Prof. Wetherill has been principal flutist with the orchestras of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony and the Ensemble Intercontemporain of the world-famous IRCAM at the Pompidou Centre in Paris. Pierre Boulez dubbed her "an instrumentalist without peer."

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Musica Domani Prize - Blunt Instrument Finalist: For the second time the work “Blunt Instrument” for Bass Clarinet and Piano has been shortlisted in the chamber music category of a major international composition prize. On this occasion an illustrious jury has selected the work for the final 6 scores in the category.

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Environments Selected for ISCM Poland 2014: Environments I for orchestra and piano has been selected by a subcommittee of AIC (Association of Irish Composers) to go forward as part of the National Submission for the International Society of Contemporary Music, World Music Days Festival in Poland in 2014.

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TEM International Composition Prize Finalist: The work “Blunt Instrument” for Bass Clarinet and Piano, originally written for the contemporary music group SCAW, has achieved a place in the finals of the prestigious Taukay Edizioni Musicali International Composition Prize. In all, 402 scores were considered from 49 countries with Blunt Instrument subsequently being selected for the last 16 of the competition.

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The “Uses of Not” in Italy: The first Italian performance of The Uses of Not for alto flute and guitar will take place on Friday 22nd June in Bovisio near Milan. It will be performed by flautist Linda Wetherill and guitarist Diego Campagne.

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First Prize - Concorso Counterpoint Italy: “Takemitsu’s Dream” for solo guitar has been awarded first prize at the above international competition. The winning piece will receive it’s New York premiere on 27th Jan 2013 at the prestigious “Composer’s Voice” series at Jan Hus Church in Manhattan. Performances in Italy will also follow. Amazingly “The Uses of Not” has also been chosen for performance in the same competition. More information to follow soon.

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Chinese Premiere for “Like Ships”: On 12th April The Gunnar Berg Ensemble will give the Chinese premiere of Like Ships that Passed in Chengdu, China. The piece was written especially for the ensemble as part of a composer exchange in 2009.

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“Contemporary music at its very best”: Classical Guitar Magazine, Jan 2012 Edition, recently reviewed “Ogden/Caffrey - First Construction in Nylon”. Chris Dumigan described “Takimitsu’s Dream” as “a substantial piece that has many layers of sound”. He urged that the “Allegro”, “really should be played by more guitarists, as they would really enjoy it”. On the title track, “First Construction”, he remarked, “its virtuosity is considerable and concentrated over long stretches of the piece”. The review closes with the emphatic phrase, “Contemporary music at its very best”.

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Sabrina Hu & Matthew Slotkin at Walled City Music Festival: The American duo comprising flautist Sabrina Hu and guitarist Matthew Slotkin will perform “The Uses of Not” for alto flute and guitar at Derry’s Walled City Music Festival on Sunday Jan 15th in The Great Hall, University of Ulster at Magee at 7.00pm. Tickets are available on the door.

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Publishing Deal for Solo Music: All the solo guitar music featured on the album First Construction in Nylon is to be published by Australian music publishers Reed Music. Reed music are already the publishers of “Honk” for sop sax and piano and will, in addition to the guitar music, also be releasing the solo violin work “Vigour, Rigour, Jigger”. More details will follow on release of the music.

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Music Featured in Soundboard Magazine: Guitarists, watch out for “Allegro” from “Deluge, Fugue and Allegro” which will be featured in Soundboard Magazine’s next edition - Nov 2011. Soundboard is the most important American regular publication on all matters concerning the classical guitar. It is published by the Guitar Foundation of America.

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Performance at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland: The Uses of Not will be performed at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on Friday 4th Nov 2011 by the Agnew/McAllister Duo in a concert celebrating the tenth year of the duo’s existence.

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Paris Premiere for Carter Fragment: Frankfurt based clarinetist Merve Kazokoglu will give the premiere of “Carter Fragment” at the Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris on Tue Sept 6th at 8.00 pm. The piece was written especially for her during Greg’s residence in Paris this summer and was inspired by the Eliott Carter solo clarinet piece “Gra”. Carter Fragment will be sandwiched between two mighty solo clarinet pieces by Karlheinz Stockhausen, “In Freundschaft” and “Der Kleine Harlekin”

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National Submission to ISCM Belgium: The work Aingeal for Bb Clarinet and String Quartet has been shortlisted by the Irish jury and will go forward along with 5 other Irish works for consideration at ISCM World Music Days 2012, Belgium.

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The Classical Review: The latest Greg Caffrey album, “Ogden/Caffrey First Construction in Nylon”, which features Australian guitar virtuoso Craig Ogden is being met with tremendous critical acclaim. Follow the link to the featured review at The Classical Review . http://theclassicalreview.com/cds-dvds/2011/06/caffrey-first-construction-in-nylon/ The album is available on Cactus Records as a download or hard copy here.

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Paris Calling: Greg will be off to Paris to work at the Cité Internationale des Arts for the months of June and July. This is his second visit there (the last being 5 years ago) and he will use this time, appropriately, to write a new work for Matthew McAlister for 10 string guitar based on music by François Couperin. This work will feature alongside Couperin’s music on a new album by the Scottish guitarist.

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Ogden/Caffrey Release: Digital downloads of the new release “First Construction in Nylon” are now available, with digipack CDs available. The album features guitar works composed over the last 12 years with stunning performances by Australian virtuoso Craig Ogden. The album is available on Cactus Records as a download or hard copy here. Read reviews here

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New Recording - Gunnar Berg Ensemble: Greg is to travel to Bavaria in December to supervise a recording of his work “Like Ships that Passed”. It will be recorded in the beautiful town of Passau in Southern Germany by the group Gunnar Berg Ensemble. The work was specially written for the ensemble who have now performed it in N. Ireland, Scotland, Germany and Austria.

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Per Cent for Arts Commission for Emo National School: Following their recent new build programme, Emo N.S. Portlaoise, Co.Laois has engaged Greg to create a new work to be performed by their 50 strong string group through the Per Cent for Arts Scheme in the Irish Republic.  The work is also to include a new school anthem. All the participants are around grade 1 standard on their instruments, but what the children may lack in virtuosity they will certainly make up for in terms of sheer enthusiasm!

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Publishing Deal for Honk: Australian publishing firm Reedmusic will be releasing a new saxophone series by Gerard McChrystal which will feature the composition Honk. Reed Music publishes original compositions, educational books and CD recordings for a wide range of instruments and is Australia's largest publisher of music for saxophone.

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Le Petit Nicolas Release on Diatribe Records: Friday 16th April will see the release of Izumi Kimura’s brilliant new album of contemporary music from Ireland and Japan at the National Concert Hall, Dublin. The album also features music by Barry, Yoshimatsu, Guilfoyle, Sato, Miyoshi and Fujieda.

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Premiere for Congruence Incongruence in Salzburg: The Deutschvilla at Strobl in Salzburg will host this installation work on 21st May 2010. The project is a collaboration between Greg and crossover artist Astrid Rieder. The soundscape uses a mobile form and lasts for two and a half hours and accompanied drawings, paintings and video.

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UK & Irish Premiere on Home Soil: The Agnew/McAllister duo will perform “The Uses of Not”for alto flute and guitar on 22nd April at The Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast at 7.30pm.

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Irish Premiere and Tour for Blunt Instrument: English contemporary music duo, SCAW(Sarah Watts, Bass Clarinet & Antony Clare, Piano) will premiere Blunt Instrument, a piece written especially for them, at O’Riada Hall, University College Cork on Monday 1st March at 8.00pm. This will be followed by two more Irish performances of the work at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick on Tuesday 2nd March at 1.00pm and at The Harty Room, Queen’s University Belfast on Thurs 4th March at 1.10pm.

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Belgian Performance for Pluck, Blow: The duo île sagit will play the Sop Sax/Guitar version on Pluck Blow in Edegem, Belgium.

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Two Little Miniatures at the Goethe Institute Dublin: Kevin Hanafin (Sax) will give the Irish premiere of “Two Little Minitiatures”, a short composition designed to be performed on either Sop sax, Bb Clarinet or Flute. This informal concert forms part of the CMC Salon Series and will also include Greg’s work “Skipping” with Redmond O’Toole on Brahms Guitar. The concert starts at 6.00pm on Thurs 12th Nov and the composer will be in attendence to discuss the works with the audience. The concert also features music by Eibhlis Farrell and Ian Wilson.

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Dutch Premiere for “The Uses of Not”. The Gitaarsalon in Enkuizen, Holland will be the venue for the Dutch premiere of “The Uses of Not” on Sat 17th Oct. This piece, for alto flute and guitar, was written specifically for Aisling Agnew and Matthew McAllister who gave the world premiere last month in Salzburg. 

See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cmv55uWVfLg&feature=email

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Blunt Instrument to Premiere on SCAW Irish Tour: Nottingham based contemporary music duo SCAW will perform a new work, “Blunt Instrument” for bass clarinet and piano on an Irish tour in March 2010. The tour will take in Belfast, Limerick and Cork - exact details to follow. The tour will be preceded by a London Premiere.

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Brazilan Performance of Le Petit Nicolas: Dublin based Japanese pianist Izumi Kimura will peform Greg’s work, Six Illustrations Musicale du Petit Nicolas, at Music Bienalle, Riberao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil on 16th Oct.

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New Work to Feature in Salzburg: The Agnew McAllister Duo will premiere a brand new work by Greg at the Barockmuseum Salzburg (Orangerie des Mirabellgartens), Mirabellplatz 3, 5020 Salzburg at 18.30. The concert will also feature a new piece by Austrian composer Siegfried Steinkogler.

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Gunnar Berg Ensemble in N. Ireland & Scotland: The Austrian group will premiere a new work (Like Ships that Passed) by Greg at Bangor Town hall on the Thurs 19th Nov at 8.00pm. This concert forms part of an exchange involving Agnew McAllister Duo and Austrian composer Klaus Ager. The concert will also feature music by Gunnar Berg. The work will also be heard on the Scotish leg of their tour at Crail Parish Church, East Neuk of Fife - 22nd Nov, Napier University, Edinburgh - 24th Nov and St Andrew’s University -25th Nov.

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Another New Jersey USA Performance: Duo Fresco (Brett Deubner - Viola and Christopher Kenniff - Guitar) will again perform “Pluck Bow” (Viola/Guitar), an arrangement of Pluck Blow (Flute/Guitar), at Summit, Springfield Avenue, New Jersey on April 19th at 4pm. The performance will also feature works by Jose Mora, Oliver, and Schubert. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmlu6zkQX6E

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Romanian performance in March: A new arrangement of “Pluck Bow” for violin and guitar will be premiered at the Gheorghe Dima Academy in Romania by violinist Ioana Petcu-Colan and guitarist Dave Flynn on 17th March.

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Review of Firefly Catching - Izumi Kimura - NCH: “Firefly Catching suggests an impressionist mode of expression, but via a jaggedness of design that is definitely of our time”. – Irish Times

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Premiere for new arrangement of Honk: Bass clarinet and Piano duo, SCAW, will perform a new version of Greg’s work for this instrumentation at SERC on Thurs 11th Dec @ 7.00pm. The concert will also feature works by Kevin O Connell, Karen Power, Dave Bennett Thomas, Theo Loevendie, Ton Bruynel and Elliot Carter. The duo (Sarah Watts and Antony Clare) will also give a workshop for Greg’s composition students at the college the following day.

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Premiere in Bavaria, Germany: Austrian/German/Israeli group Trio Collage (guitars: Yvonne Zehner, Ulrike Reithmeier and Shiri Coneh) will premiere “Last Django in Paris” in Deggendorf, Germany on 14th Decfollowed by another performance in Eichstätt on the 18th Dec. Greg will be present for the premiere performance.

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Further performances of “Pluck, Blow” in Scotland: Aisling Agnew (flute) and Matthew McAlister (guitar) continue to perform Greg’s work from 2002 at Aberdeen Chamber Music Club, Cowdray Hall on 1st Dec, Strathclyde University Lunchtime Concert Series, Ramshorn Theatre on Tuesday 25th November 1.15pm and at Ilkley Manor House, 21 Stourton Road, Ilkley on Friday 28th November 8pm.

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Performance at the Fenderesky Gallery: Irish guitarist Brian Keenan will perform guitar music by Greg during a reading and performance at the gallery at 103 Royal Avenue, Belfast on Sat 18th Oct, 5 - 5.30pm.

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Finalist in ISME-IVME 2nd International Composition Contest 2008 Brussels: Greg’s work Eclectifunk has been selected for the final of this prestigious international festival. Greg is an invited guest to Brussels for the final on the 2nd Nov where his music will be performed in the J. Brel concert hall.

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New Jersey USA Performance: Duo Fresco will perform “Pluck Bow” (Viola/Guitar), an arrangement of Pluck Blow (Flute/Guitar), at Kean University, Union, New Jersey on October 23rd at 8pm. Although this piece has been performed many times in both its original version and a version for sop sax and guitar, this will be the premiere performance of this new arrangement of the piece. Duo Fresco features Brett Deubner - Viola and Christopher Kenniff - Guitar.

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BBC to broadcast ‘Béal Mouth Beul Mooth: This new 15 minute work featuring modern poetry and string quartet will be broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster’s Sounds Classical programme on Sun 5th Oct 2008.

New commission for Poetry and String Quartet: This new work, entitled ‘Béal Mouth Beul Mooth’ is commissioned with funds from the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry and the AHRC funded Irish-Scottish Poetry Project. The work includes recordings of poetry in four languages; English, Irish, Scots and Scots Gaelic and features poems by Liz Lochhead, Sinead Morrissey, Gearoid MacLochlain, Ciaran Carson, Sorley MacLean, Kerry Hardie, Liam O Muirthile.

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Selection by ISCM (Irish section): The Association of Irish Composers (ISCM Irish Section) has selected the installation work Ett Mobilt Hem as one of the Irish works to go forward to the international jury. The work, if chosen by the Swedish jury, will go forward for performance in Växjö, Sweden in Sept 2009. The work is a collaboration with Swedish abstract artist, videoist and installationist Helena Norell. 

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Vigour, Rigour, Jigger in Brazil: Elizabeth Cooney will be performing Greg’s solo violin piece at the Musica Nova Festival for Contemporary Music, Sao Paulo, Brazil on the 25th and 27th Sept 2008. More info to follow.

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Six Illustrations Musicale du Petit Nicholas: The John field room at the National Concert Hall will again be the venue for the premiere of a new Caffrey work on 31st Oct 2008 @ 1.00pm. Izumi Kimura will premiere 6 little miniatures for solo piano written during Greg’s residency at the Cite Internationalle des Art in Paris. This programme will also feature another of Greg’s compsitions “Firefly Catching”, written especially for Izumi and premiered at Bangor in March, alongside contemporary music by Japanese and other Irish composers.

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Premiere at NCH Dublin: The John field room at the National Concert Hall will provide the venue for a new work for solo violin written especially for Elizabeth Cooney entitled “Vigour, Rigour, Jigger” on Fri 12th Sept at 1.05pm. The concert will also feature works by Messiaen and Dwyer.

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Featured Composer at CMC: Greg is the featured composer on the Contemporary Music Centre’swebsite for the month of April 08. Visit www.cmc.ie to hear his interview with Michael Quinn.

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Four Performances by the Smith Quartet: The Smith Quartet will perform Greg’s work Lapse at four venues on the Northern Ireland leg of their Irish tour. 16th April - Harty Room QUB  Belfast; 17th - Strule Arts Centre, Omagh; 18th - Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick; 19th - Flowerfield arts Centre, Portstewart.

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New solo violin piece for Elizabeth Cooney: Greg is currently working on a new solo work for the fantastic Irish violinist Elizabeth Cooney. Visit Elizabeth at: www.elizabethcooney.eu

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Izumi Kimura Premiere at Bangor: Japanese pianist Izumi kimura will premiere a new work written especially for her by Greg. The piece is entitled Firefly Catching and is based on a traditional Japanese melody. The concert will take place in the council chambers of Bangor Castle on Friday 14th March. The concert will also feature works by Bartok, Ravel, Barber, Miyoshi and Yoshimatsu. Click here for poster.

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Premiere of “Corrog”: Corrog, written for solo classical guitar, will be given its first performance in Belfast’s Crescent Arts Centre on Sat 8th March 2008 by the guitarist Brian Keenan. The piece is the latest of several compositions by Greg that Brian now has in his repertoire.

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Featured Recording on New CMC Disk: The new CMC disk, Contemporary music from Ireland Vol 7, will be officially launched in Dublin on 29th Feb 08. The opening piece on the new recording is Greg Caffrey’s exhilarating work “Honk” recorded exclusively for the release by Mary Dulea - piano and Gerard McChrystal - sop sax. See Recording page for album details.

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Louise Bourgeois Project: Greg will head up a large team of CYP (creative youth partnership) artists and lecturers in the creation of a large student devised interdisciplinary arts project at SERC. The project, based on the artwork of French/American visual artist Louise Bourgeios, will encompase the areas of art & design, costume, set design, music, music technology and dance & drama in a final performance by the students of the college on Fri 18th Jan. The Project is entitled, “My Childhood never lost its magic, never lost its mystery, never lost its drama” - Louise Bourgeois.

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New Recording of “Honk”: The piano and sop sax piece Honk has recently been re-recorded to feature on the latest Contenporary Music Centre sampler disk. The piece was recorded at SARC (Sonic Arts Research Centre) by saxophonist Gerard McChrystal, for whom the piece was written and the pianist Mary Dullea. Details of the CDs release will follow. A preview of the recording can be heard here on the listening page.

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Classical Music Magazine - Featured Composer: Greg’s new work “lapse”,commissioned by Gerard McChrystal and the Smith Quartet, is designated “Premiere of the Fortnight” in Classical Music Magazine’s September edition. For article - see listening page - go to archive - click on Lapse.

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5 Preludes for Solo Guitar Performance: Irish guitarist Brian Keenan is to perform Greg’s 5 Preludes (written in 1997) at the Cresent Arts Centre, Belfast on Tuesday 11th Sept at 1.00pm.

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BBC Commission: BBC Radio 3 have commissioned a new orchestral work from greg to be performed alongside Mozart violin concerti. The piece, Theophilus in Space, has, I think it fair to say, a fairly bizarre Mozart connection! Two performances are scheduled for Fri 3rd  (Whitla Hall Belfast) and 31st Aug (Clonard Monastery, Belfast) . Both concerts will be recorded for broadcast on Afternoon on 3 on 10th & 14th Dec respectively.

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Theophilus in Space Review: “I simply enjoyed the combinations of orchestral colours and texture in Caffrey’s universe. Repeated figures gave way to short melodic bursts, and the whole moved with a kind of organic logic to the end” - Andrea Rea – Belfast News Letter 7th Aug 2007.

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RTE Lyric FM Commission: Pluck, Blow II (the return) has been commissioned by RTE Lyric FM for the Irish flautist and Scottish guitarist Aisling Agnew and Matthew McAllister. The recording is now complete and is posted on the listening page by kind permission of RTE Lyric FM. Broadcast details will follow. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DxH-zXYiAQ

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Pluck, Blow II - the return: This newly commissioned work for guitar and flute will be premiered in St Audoen’s Church, Dublin by Irish flautist and Scottish guitarist Aisling Agnew and Matthew McAllister on Sat 25th Aug at 20.00. This is the first date in their Irish Heritage Week tour which will see the new work performed subsequently in Laois, Kilkenny, Killarney, Tipperary, Roscrea, Galway, Mayo, Leitrim and Donegal.

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Smith Quartet Premiere at Wigmore Hall London: Irish sop sax virtuoso Gerard McChrystal will premiere a newly commissioned work, “Lapse”  written especially for his latest collaboration with the Smith Quartet at the prestigeous Wigmore Hall, London on Sat 15th Sept. This work has been choosen as Premiere of the fortnight by Classical Music Magazine.

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Installation work in Sweden: Greg is currently collaborating with Swedish abstract painter Helena Norell on a new installation work. The recorded acoustic music, entitled “Ett Mobilt Hem”, will be diffused to take advantage of the spacial area and has a duration of two hours and twenty four minutes!

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New Appointment - Composer in Residence: London based orchestra EMFEB has recently appointed greg as composer in residence. 

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Bockschauen: This new short film has a score especially composed by Greg. The work represents a collaboration between himself, Austrian artist Helga Knoble and Swedish artist Helena Norell 

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Premiere Performance at Dartington Summer School: Gerard McChrystal and Stephen de Pledge will perform “Honk”, a new work for soprano sax and piano. 12th Aug 2007.

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