About

Music for

Galway

Proudly heading into its 42nd International Concert Season, MfG is still a leader in classical music development in Ireland. We partner with organisations on local, national and international levels to programme an annual series of concerts, artistically unique festivals and provide unparalleled experiences for artists and audiences. We collaborate with major orchestras, choirs, ensembles and soloists and we reach out to new audiences. With the University of Galway we provide bespoke professional developments for music students in Galway.


VISION

GALWAY IS TRULY A PLACE OF THE ARTS, WITH CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC AS A DISTINCTIVE STRENGTH

MISSION

  • To present world-class performers of classical music to inspire the people and communities of Galway and beyond and to enable more engagement with classical music
  • To support creativity through development and performance opportunities for artists, commissioning new works and collaborating across art forms
  • To lay a foundation for the future through programmes that give young people the opportunity to connect with classical music

VALUES

  • EXCELLENCE: We present a programme of activities which meets the highest standards of artistic excellence, and we endeavour to match these standards in every aspect of our operations, through resourcefulness, resilience and innovation
  • RESPECT: We respect all the people that we encounter, the spaces we work in and the environment in which we all live
  • BOLDNESS: We are independent, innovative and courageous in our choice of themes, programmes, projects, performers and venues. We are strong in advocating for the arts and vital arts infrastructure in Galway
  • COMMUNITY: Our programme of music enriches the broad community in which we live. To deliver that programme, we are inclusive, drawing on a music community that is global and diverse. Accessibility for and engagement with the entire community is at the forefront of our minds

Having increased MfG’s capacity for Galway 2020 and launched a new, acclaimed triennial festival CELLISSIMO, our challenge is to sustain an expanded programme underpinned by robust organisational structures.

MfG has presented internationally renowned artists such as Yehudi Menuhin, Nigel Kennedy, the Halle Orchestra, Barry Douglas, Evelyn Glennie, Emma Johnson, Nicola Benedetti, Wolfgang Holzmair and Peter Donohue. It collaborates regularly with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra, Irish Baroque Orchestra, and Irish National Opera. It was instrumental in setting up ConTempo, the Galway Ensemble in Residence, at the heart of the Galway Music Residency.

Conceived in 1981 to provide access to international and national classical musical experiences for local audiences, which were largely unavailable outside of Dublin city at the time, we have become a valued music resource organisation. Founding members were Tony Broderick, Deirdre Comerford, Jimmy Higgins, Angela O'Keefe, Jane O'Leary, Erika Casey, Gerry Lee, Joyce Killeen, Joe O'Halloran and Breandan Ó Madagáin.

Besides promoting concerts, MfG has developed music as an art form through many activities: the organisation supports musicians by providing a platform to perform, it commissions composers, it is increasingly active in programming for children, and advocates for proper infrastructure for music in the West.


The MfG team:

CEO: Anna Lardi

Artistic Director: Finghin Collins

Programme Administrator: Suzanne Black

SOT Project Coordinator: Valerie Parker

Social Media: Camille Twomey