NAVIGATOR Artist in Residence Eimear Reidy announced for Source Arts Centre this July, 2024

Improvised Music Company (IMC) and Source Arts Centre (Thurles, Tipperary) are delighted to announce cellist and composer Eimear Reidy as the second musician in residence for the 2024 NAVIGATOR residency programme.

IMC’s Navigator Jazz Residency programme was established in 2021. Since then 17 musicians have enjoyed bespoke residencies through venue partners Ballina Arts Centre, The Source Arts Centre Thurles, An Grianán Theatre in Letterkenny, Riverbank Arts Centre Newbridge and Courthouse Arts Tinahely and Garter Lane, Waterford.

NAVIGATOR offers jazz and improvising musicians professionally remunerated time and space to develop and perform work, while building creative and professional relationships in new locations.

Eimear Reidy is a cellist whose sensitivity and versatility with the instrument spans baroque traditions and historical performance to the extended techniques of improvised and experimental music. Having completed a master’s degree at Utrecht Conservatorium, she went on to perform in concert halls throughout Europe including The Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Vredenburg, Utrecht, Krakow Filharmonia, Symphony Hall, Birmingham and The NCH, Dublin. She has been commissioned to write and perform for theatre, visual art and dance. Reidy regularly performs new work as a soloist and with a variety of ensembles at contemporary art centres and festivals including The Dock, The Sirius Arts Centre, The Guest House, Body and Soul, Feile Na Greine, Idir Dha Thra, Spike Cello Festival and Tradition Now. In 2023 Reidy performed solo work as part of Yann Tiersen’s “Ninnog” tour of Ireland. Eimear has released albums on RTE LYRIC FM, Nyahh records and Pan Classics and her music has been played on stations worldwide including RTE, BBC, NTS and DDR.

Ahead of her Navigator residency, Eimear said:

“I am very excited about my upcoming IMC Navigator Residency in The Source arts centre Thurles. I will be focusing on creating live mixes of found sounds, objects and field recordings from the River Suir and incorporating them in to live cello performances. I look forward to meeting with local musicians and artists and weather permitting there might be some impromptu outdoor sessions! I would like to thank the IMC and The Source Arts Centre for this wonderful opportunity.”

Eimear Reidy - Things That Happened at Sea: A Short Story in Several Parts [2021]

Brendan Maher, Source Art Centre’s director said: "We’re delighted to link again with The Improvised Music Company’s Navigator Programme in 2024 and we look forward to welcoming Eimear Reidy to Thurles this summer. The programme is a great opportunity for The Source to be involved with a practising musician like Eimear and support the development of their work whilst also enabling connections between her and local musicians and the wider community in Tipperary."

The NAVIGATOR residency programme is part of IMC's commitment to further develop the national scene for jazz and improvised music, improve artist touring mobility, develop audiences nationwide, and develop creative opportunities and fruitful new relationships for musicians.

The 2024 Navigator jazz residency programme has been expanded to 7 partners across the island of Ireland, with Garter Lane, Waterford, Riverbank Theatre, Newbridge and Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast joining the initial 4 other partners.

Further NAVIGATOR artist residencies for 2024 will be announced in due course.

IMC: improvisedmusic.ie
Ballina Arts Centre: ballinaartscentre.com
Eimear Reidy: eimearreidy.bandcamp.com