Principal Activity and Review of the Business

The principal activity of Music for Galway is the presentation of orchestral concerts, chamber music recitals, solo recitals, masterclasses and workshops, as well as the general promotion and development of music in the city and region, including advocacy for infrastructure.

There have been no significant changes in this activity during 2024.

The company is limited by guarantee, not having share capital.

A year into the 3-year strategic plan “From Galway to the World”, a detailed review was conducted, with external facilitation. Excellent progress was noted with over 90% of actions targeted for the first year completed. It was clear that the plan is firmly embedded in the day-to-day operations of the executive and in the agenda for board meetings.

Our 2023-24 regular season continued in January, with our Midwinter Festival focussed on French composer Gabriel Fauré.  Held entirely in the Hardiman Hotel, investment in improved lighting and staging helped delivered a better experience for our audience.

In February we welcomed prize winning pianists Yukine Kuruki and Jaeden Izik-Dzurko to Galway, with a repeat concert in Loughrea for the students of the Athenry School of Music. We were delighted to see Jaeden go on to win the Leeds International Piano Competition later in the year.

Yet again, our Good Friday programme of sacred music, Salvatore Mundi, was a sell-out. In general, we were greatly heartened by audiences for our concerts, and we continued to survey those audiences to learn more about them and get their feedback.

This regular season programme was presented as we prepared for our first in-person Cellissimo Festival. This was a major undertaking for Music for Galway with nine days of performances and master classes - typically five events per day in multiple venues, which spanned the city and county (all the way to Inishbofin).

Thanks to meticulous planning by the executive team, complemented by a committed and enthusiastic cohort of volunteers, and with funding from the Arts Council, as well as Creative Europe through the Songs of Travel project, and generous financial support from any sponsors and patrons, Cellissimo was a phenomenal success. The people of Galway along with visitors from across Ireland and internationally, turned out in huge numbers to attend the concerts and ancillary events. We were honoured by the presence of former President Mary Robinson at one of the opening concerts, and her address which focussed on climate change drew a very positive reaction from the audience.

It’s difficult to pick a highlight from the festival as there were so many, but a positive vibe permeated the entire week energising musicians, production staff, volunteers and audiences.

From a financial point of view, the festival delivered beyond expectations. Additional sponsorship and greater box office sales (over 5,500 tickets sold) meant that our dedicated Cellissimo reserve was not depleted as expected. This positions us well to plan for Cellissimo 2027.

The success of Cellissimo has vindicated the ambition of our CEO and Artistic Director in developing the concept. The board recognises the enormous contribution they have made in planning and delivering this programme.

After a short break, we returned to normal operations, with the launch of our 2024-25 season, Irish Connections, with the emphasis on Irish composers and performers. A particular highlight was the Cushendall concert, featuring Sharon Carty, John Finucane our own Finghin Collins, with works by Charles Villiers Stanford and those with whom he had a musical connection.

In November, we presented "A Mother’s Voice", a poignant and moving multi-disciplinary performance remembering those who endured the trauma of mother and baby homes across Ireland.

Through 2024, in partnership with Arts in Action, we continued to deliver lunchtime concerts at the University of Galway, with an emphasis on emerging Irish talent. These are now presented a “relaxed performances”, in order to welcome those who are challenged by the traditional format of classical music concerts.

We also continued to offer repeat concerts in the county, a highlight being the Casseopeia Wind Ensemble at the Kilcummin Church Oughterard.

Our advocacy work for arts infrastructure centred on a feasibility study for a dedicated music and dance hub. This was supported by the Arts Council and executed in partnership with Bane & Mullarkey Consultants.  It involved extensive stakeholder consultation across the arts community in Galway. The final report has been presented to potential development partners, including Galway City Council, and work continues on building support and on researching exemplar projects elsewhere.

As we conduct this work, we have had to face the reality that our traditional home, the Emily Anderson Concert Hall, is no longer a viable venue for us, due to accessibility issues. We have engaged with the university to see how these might be addressed. However, we have also developed good relationships with other venues, in particular with St Joseph’s Church who have been enthusiastic hosts for solo and chamber music recitals.

We ended 2024 in good health, both financially and otherwise. The board is confident that the organization remains on track to deliver on the objectives set out in the three-year strategic plan.

Mark Gantly, Chair

June 2025