NAVIGATOR Artist in Residence Sorcha McCague announced for Courthouse Arts Tinahely

IMC’s Navigator Jazz Residency programme was established in 2021. Since then 22 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.

Sorcha McCague, originally from Monaghan, comes from an intense classical music background having been educated at both the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama and the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin (Celtic and pedal harp). She is a multi-first prize winner of the annual Feis Ceoil competition for classical music and recipient of numerous prestigious scholarships including most recently the "Nuoro Jazz Festival performance scholarship" in 2022.

Following participation in the International Jazz Harp Foundation workshop in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2018), she turned her focus on studying jazz and promoting the role of the harp in jazz music in Ireland and abroad, an atypical instrument in this genre. She is currently one of the most influential and exciting harpists of the improvised music scene in Ireland. Recent collaborations include harpist in the Siena Medium Jazz Orchestra under Maestro, Roberto Spadoni (Siena International Jazz Festival), as well as her own jazz project - the HarpBop Jazz Quartet with Yuzuha O' Halloran (alto sax/ flute) , Eoin O' Halloran (bass) and Hugh Denmann (drums). She is also an active performer in the popular "Kasia Eliasz 9 Piece Band" which is a Brazilian and Latin music group. This December she will feature as one of the emerging jazz artists in the upcoming "Kind of New Series" under the artistic direction of Peruvian guitarist, Rodrigo Almonte.

Ahead of her Navigator residency, Sorcha said:

"I plan to explore the use of electronic sounds and visual arts with harp in the setting of improvised music. I will also collaborate with previous IMC Navigator artist in residence, Riona Sally Hartmann during the residency with a focus on improvised music in early childhood education and incorporation of the Irish language. "

Kieran O’Toole, Courthouse Director said:

“Working with Improvised Music Company allows the Courthouse Arts Centre to offer a unique space in a picturesque environment, and in welcoming Sorcha McCague to the Courthouse and Tinahely, we hope her residency will afford her time to reflect on and further develop her music practice. Our previous experience of IMC residencies has been one which allows the artists to immerse themselves in this rural community while refocusing their musical imaginations. We are delighted that Sorcha will join us here in Tinahely for what we hope will be an enjoyable and rewarding experience for her, the Courthouse Arts Centre and the local community.”

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 will be announced in due course.