Events

We are pleased to announce our annual Christmas by Candlelight concert on 13th December at St. George's Church, London. Featuring performances from: Laura Aherne - Soprano Anna-Helena Maclachlan - Mezzo-Soprano Stephen Walker - Tenor Fionn Ó hAlmhain - Bass Jeremiah Stephenson - Organ Plus special guests to be announced! Doors will open at 7pm and the concert will commence at 7.30pm . We will have a wine reception with mince-pies along with a programme for every ticket holder. Book your tickets now - adults £20 and students £5.

You can now opt for a ticket that covers all of the 2024 concerts as well as a £20 donation to Irish Heritage. We are very grateful for your kind donation.

Irish Heritage is delighted to announce its annual Summer Concert taking place at the beautiful Leighton House in Kensington. Featuring performances from previous and current Irish Heritage bursary winners: Georgina Cassidy, Fiachra de hOra, Sacha Bistany and Jayden Lamcellari. Songs by Harry O'Connor, this year's winner of the composition bursary, will also be performed. Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7 pm start . Tickets are priced at £20, which includes a wine reception and programme for the evening. Students and those aged 35 and under can opt for a discounted ticket of £5. Be sure to purchase your tickets soon as this concert has sold out in previous years.

We are pleased to announce our 50th Anniversary Concert on 17th April at the prestigious Royal Over-Seas League in London. This will be both our first concert of the year and a special time as we celebrate 50 years of Irish Heritage! Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start . Tickets are priced at £20, which includes a wine reception and programme for the evening. Students and under 35s can opt for a discounted ticket of £5. Performances include some familiar Irish Heritage faces and some new performers - following the announcement of our recent bursaries: Sacha Bistany (guitar) - joint winner of the IH Homan Potterton Bursary for Strings 2024. Phoebe White (violin) - joint winner of the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival Bursary 2023, accompanied by Peter Regan. Owen Lucas (tenor) - winner of the IH Brackaville Bursary for Vocal Studies 2024, accompanied by Frasier Hickland - Joint winner of the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival Bursary 2024. Gabriel Francis-Dehqani - winner of the IH Music Bursary for Performance 2024, accompanied by Luke Lally Maguire - winner of the IH Music Bursary for Performance 2023. And special guest, Sioned Williams , reminiscing on her participation in Irish Heritage’s performances with Ethna and Charles Kennedy, Sioned will perform a selection of contrasting pieces on the concert pedal harp . With more to be announced soon! Don’t miss out and book your tickets soon.

Anyone is welcome to come and view the event and it would be appreciated if an e-mail be sent to tara.viscardi@irishheritage.org.uk to advise of attendance. There is no charge nor ticket needed.

We will welcome the return of the Irish Baroque Orchestra Apprentices who will combine a programme with Irish Heritage Bursary Winners to imbue the Christmas spirit. The Irish Baroque Orchestra Apprentices appear with support from Culture Ireland - promoting Irish arts worldwide. Petroc Trelawny from BBC Radio 3’s ever popular morning show, will once again present the performance on our behalf. Doors will open at 7pm and the concert will commence at 7.30pm . We will have a wine reception with mince-pies along with a programme for every  ticket holder. Book your tickets now - adults £20 and students £5.

This event will take place at the St Marylebone Church in the heart of London, close to Baker Street Station. The concert will feature some of the wonderful work of Co Wicklow born Ina Boyle, a student of Ralph Vaughn William. The evening will also see the launch of the Songbook of Ina's compositions. The book has been collated and edited by Dr Orla Shannon and David Scott. Orla will give a brief introduction to the work and life of Co. Wicklow born Ina and then Irish Heritage students will play her work for an evening that promises to be a musical delight! Performers include Laura Aherne (soprano) accompanied by Frasier Hickland and Connor Campbell (baritone) accompanied by Georgina Cassidy. Doors open at 7pm and the production will start at 7.30 . We will have our usual wine reception which is included in the ticket price of £20. Students can avail of a ticket for £5. It promises to be a sell-out, so do get your tickets now.

Many of you will remember our last concert at the lovely Leighton House in Holland Park in the Borough of Kensington. We are so pleased to be able to return there on the 6th July for our summer concert. Leighton House has gone under some renovation since our last visit and the performing hall is really splendid. More details to be announced soon but you can purchase your tickets now. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Tickets include a programme and wine reception. Student tickets will need to provide a form of ID at the door. Irish Heritage is a registered charity, more information about our work is available via our website: Home | Irish Heritage

Irish Heritage is delighted to announce our next concert on 26th April 2023 at the Royal Overseas League featuring the recent bursary winners. Line up includes: Johan Löfving (guitar) and Rory Carver (tenor) who will premiere the Michael Hughes composition Maria O'Dea (bassoon) accompanied by Georgina Cassidy Laura Aherne accompanied by Frasier Hickland Jamie Howe accompanied by Luke Lally Maguire Luke Lally Maguire (piano) Book your ticket now to secure your place. Tickets include a programme and wine reception. Student tickets will need to provide a form of ID at the door. Irish Heritage is a registered charity, more information about our work is available via our website: Home | Irish Heritage

The Irish Heritage annual bursary auditions are taking place at Wigmore Hall on 16th February between 9.00 am and 2.00 pm. We are inviting friends and supporters of Irish Heritage to attend for free. If you would like to attend please see further details via Wigmore Hall's website: https://wigmore-hall.org.uk/whats-on/irish-heritage-auditions-202302160900 No need to use the RSVP function on this site, please use the Wigmore Hall website

Irish Heritage will begin the season for 2022/23 with a wonderful concert at the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith, London on the 20 th October. Starting the evening will be Ronan MacManus, along with his band, who will play some traditional Irish melodies and perform songs with some of Ronan’s own compositions based on his Irish family history. Ronan is the younger brother of Declan MacManus, better known to most of us as Elvis Costello. Following Ronan will be our guest performance of Celtic Calling . Celtic Calling is a group of Irish, classically trained singers and musicians who have brought together their passion for Irish and Celtic music. As well as playing as a group they are all also very successful solo players. They perform right across their native Ireland and have also performed internationally, producing an engaging and diverse repertoire that includes original Celtic inspired compositions with new arrangements of existing Celtic music. The line-up comprises of singers, Victoria Johnston, Rachel Nic Thomás, Laura O’Keeffe and classical guitarist, Chris Comhaill. The evening promises to be a great night of musical entertainment. Celtic Calling Ronan MacManus

Irish Heritage proudly presents its ‘Christmas by Candlelight’ Concert on the 9 th Dec at St. George’s Church, Hanover Square, London W1S 1FX at 7.30pm. The concert will be compered by renowned BBC presenter Petroc Trelawny, who is a favourite for this event, and so well known to Irish Heritage audiences from past years. Headlining the programme will be the ‘Irish Baroque Orchestra Young Artistes’ who will be joined by bursary winners, John Porter, Ellen Mawhinney and Frasier Hickland combined with Jacob Collins playing the very famous organ to accompany the Carol singing for everybody. The newly installed Irish Ambassador, Martin Fraser, will read from his choice of a Christmas reading, which will no doubt have an Irish bearing. As always there will be a wine reception with festive mince pies and opportunities to meet friends and supporters of Irish Heritage. It will be a marvellous way to get into the feeling of festive cheer and should not be missed.

Join us for our Summer Concert at the beautiful and recently refurbished concert hall within Rudolf Steiner House on the 30 th June. A delightful evening is planned with a mixture song and instrument. Tenor John Porter, Bass-Baritone Rory Dunne and Soprano Ellen Mawhinney, who have all won bursaries through the Blackwater Valley Festival, will be joined by fourteen-year-old Peter Ryan on violin with Frasier Hickland accompanying him, along with a totally enjoyable set from Tara Viscardi on harp and Rob Finegan on saxophone. Tara Viscardi and Rob Finegan will be performing new work entitled 'The Jolly Figs' by Anne-Marie O'Farrell, which they have commissioned (funded by the Royal College of Music Accelerate Scheme) for their upcoming EP. As always, the concert will commence at 7.30pm and a wine reception will be provided. Tickets can also be purchased on the night at the door.

Partnering with the Irish Cultural Centre, Irish Heritage is pleased to announce the first recital of 2022 at the ICC in Hammersmith, as part of our joint Outreach and Community Programme. Join us for another magical afternoon of music from two extraordinary artists, Tara Viscardi, playing the harp and Rob Finegan on saxophone. Tickets are available on the door for £5.00 and include post-recital teas and biscuits. More information here: https://irishculturalcentre.co.uk/event/irish-heritage-afternoon-recital/

Irish Heritage is delighted to announce our next concert! Showcase Ireland 2022 takes place on 21 st April at the Princess Alexandra Hall, Royal Over-Seas League, Park Place, St James’s St, London SW1A 1LR. The evening will feature performances from the Irish Heritage bursary winners and the highlight will be the premiere of the composition bursary winner, Eire Lavery. Tickets include a wine reception and progra mme. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Performing: Dominica Williams (Mezzo Soprano) Frasier Hickland (Piano) Susie Griffin (Violinist) Eire Lavery (Composition) David Corr (Baritone) Clara Siegle (Piano) Tickets can also be bought at the door on the night, with student tickets available for £5. Book now to secure your seat for what is set to be a fantastic evening of entertainment! Irish Heritage is a registered charity, established in London in 1974, whose objective is to advance public education and appreciation of the arts, particularly those of Irish and Anglo-Irish music, arts, literature and drama of all genres and traditions to the benefit of the community Irish Heritage encourages young performers and composers of Irish background, not only with performance opportunities, but also with financial support as they transition from college to professional life Thanks to the success of the charity’s fund-raising and to the support of generous donors, Irish Heritage is currently able to offer four valuable bursaries and a special award Each year we showcase our bursary winners presenting the best of Irish music and literature to audiences in London

Join the annual Christmas by Candlelight Concert

Book your tickets here for Irish Heritage's Bursary Concert. We are delighted to be back with live events and cannot wait to see you all in person once again. The concert will feature the 2020/21 Irish Heritage bursary recipients and include the premiere of 2020 composition and 2021 Blackwater Valley Opera Bursary recipients. A wine reception will follow the performances. Tickets can also be purchased on the door, but we recommend booking online upfront to avoid disappointment. Concert Programme Mollie Wrafter - Violin Justine Gormley - Piano Tiffany Qiu - Piano Aran O Grady - Composition Bursary Recipient - performed by: Amy Gillen - Flute Clíona Ní Choileain - Cello Jess Martin - Double Bass Irish Heritage is a registered charity, established in London in 1974, with the objective of advancing public education and appreciation of the arts, particularly those of Irish and Anglo-Irish music, literature and drama of all genres and traditions to the benefit of the community. More information can be found via Home | Irish Heritage

Experience the latest from Irish Heritage

The Showcase Ireland series is an initiative by Irish Heritage in which the organisation is providing outstanding young Irish performers with a London debut. For the second year  the concert will also feature the world premiere of the successful composition in Irish Heritage's Music Bursary for composition. The concert is being curated and produced by Audrey McKenna, Irish Heritage’s Artistic Advisor-Ireland. An exceptional evening’s entertainment is assured in the elegant surroundings of Over-Seas League House in the heart of the West End. Full details of artists and the programme will be announced in March. Tickets are £20 each for adults (including wine reception and programme) and £5 for students on production of ID. Adult tickets are now available online via the Irish Heritage website (www.irishheritage.co.uk), there are no booking fees. Adult and student tickets will be available on the door on the evening (card payment facility available) and are subject to availability.

Special concert features the talents of Máire Carroll, Amy Gillen and Kevin Jansson The collaboration between the Royal Dublin Society and Irish Heritage is five years old this year so we’re celebrating with a special concert on Wednesday 4 th March. The concert features present and past recipients of the RDS music bursaries including pianists Máire Carroll and Kevin Jansson and flautist Amy Gillen, three exceptionally talented performers. The concert will take place in the elegant Princess Alexandra Hall at Over-Seas House in St James’s in the heart of the West End. Máire Carroll is an international concert pianist who has performed throughout Europe, Asia, North America and Canada. Shewas the 2018 winner of the RDS Collins Memorial Prize and also received the 2015 Jim McNaughton/Tilestyle Artist Bursary and the 2012 RDS Music Bursary . Máire was the first recipient of the Irish Heritage Music Bursary for Performance in 2015. Amy Gillen is the most recent recipient of the RDS Jago Award and was awarded the Irish Heritage Music Bursary for Performance in 2018. She is currently completing her Masters in Music Performance in flute at the Royal College of Music in London. Amy’s exceptional talent has already been recognised through the award of multiple prizes and orchestra performances both in Ireland and further afield not least by Sir James Galway. Kevin Jansson is a multi-award-winning pianist who ranks among the most gifted musicians of his generation. He was awarded the RDS Music Bursary in 2019 and is currently studying at the Juilliard Conservatoire in New York with Dr Veda Kaplinsky. Kevin already has an impressive list of performances to his name, including with Camerata Ireland, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the Ulster Orchestra and the New York Concerti Sinfonietta in Carnegie Hall. Given the widely acknowledged talent of the three performers, a superb evening’s entertainment is assured. Tickets are £20 each for adults (including wine reception and programme) and £5 for students on production of ID; (there are no booking fees) and on the door; student tickets are only available on the door on the evening.

As the scale and scope of Irish Heritage’s activities grow so does the organisation’s need to increase its sources of funding which is why it is holding its first City Fundraising Dinner on Thursday 13 th February. Irish Heritage is fortunate to have been given access to Baker’s Hall, home of the Worshipful Company of the Bakers Guild, and its Livery Hall. With high ceilings, superb acoustics and the stunning, contemporary John Piper stained glass windows depicting the Great Fire of London, this light and airy Hall with its Minstrels Gallery will provide a very appropriate venue for the Dinner. The evening will start with a reception and be followed by a four course dinner and entertainment. The latter will feature recipients of Irish Heritage’s Bursaries with support artists. There are only eight tables available for this special event so please contact Tom Scanlon at tom@scanlon.london for further information. Table of Ten: £1,440 per table for nine guests with the option of having an Irish Heritage musical performer per table to give you a total of ten per table. Individual places, or combinations, can be purchased at £160 per person

Christmas by Candlelight is one of the most popular events of Irish Heritage’s programme and an established part of the build-up to the Festive season for many people. This year’s concert takes place once again in St George’s Hanover Square in the heart of the West End. Handel’s Church as it is also known, was refurbished in 2010 and provides an appropriate ambiance for Irish Heritage’s seasonal concert. This year’s programme of popular Christmas Carols and seasonal readings with an Irish flavour features The Arb Ensemble under the direction of Jonathan Darbourne, soprano Carolyn Holt who was the recipient of the first Irish Heritage Bursary or Performance in 2015, and accompanist Brian Hughes with guest readers His Excellency Adrian O’Neill, Ambassador of Ireland, Cecilia Gallagher of the Women’s Irish Network and Petroc Trelawny of BBC Radio 3. Tickets are £20 each for adults (including wine reception and programme) and £5 for students on production of ID. Adult tickets are available online via www.irishheritage.co.uk (there are no booking fees) and on the door; student tickets are only available on the door on the evening.

Irish Heritage’s first event of its 45 th season is a special recital that explores the extraordinary history and heritage of the harp in Ireland. The London based performing arts organisation is bringing two leading exponents of the Irish harp to the stunning Wolfson Room of The British Academy in the heart of the Westminster. Siobhán Armstrong and Clare McCague are at the forefront of rediscovering forgotten riches of harp music from earlier times - Siobhán on the brass-wire-strung early Irish harp and Clare on the gut-strung, European pedal harp which replaced the ancient harp in Ireland in the early nineteenth century. In this shared recital from either side of the watershed year 1800, when one harp was dying out and the other gaining ground, Siobhán presents music from the last Irish harpers: evocative laments, marches, love-song airs and sparkling dances while Clare performs 19 th century repertoire for the pedal harp which flourished through the influence of visiting virtuosi. These harpists extemporised on popular Irish airs incorporating the melodies into their compositions. Much of the evening’s programme will include music never performed before in London. Tickets are £20 each for adults (including wine reception and programme) and £5 for students on production of ID. Adult tickets are available online via www.irishheritage.co.uk (there are no booking fees) and on the door; student tickets are only available on the door on the evening.

Irish Heritage’s popular, annual fund-raising event takes place at this fine venue and course on Friday 14 th June. Entries will be welcomed from teams of four golfers at £125 per person including evening dinner.  Non-golfers are welcome to attend for dinner at £50 per person. Holes around the course can be sponsored at £100 each and advertising is available in the bespoke brochure that will accompany the day. Please contact Tom Scanlon at tom@scanlon.london for further details about participation and sponsorship.

“Showcase Ireland” This new Irish Heritage initiative will introduce three supremely talented, young performers from Ireland and give them a London debut. The three are: Fiona Flavin (soprano) whose voice has been described as remarkably “pure” by Robert Craig, formerly of the Juilliard in New York; Kevin Jansson (piano) who won the “Jeune Chopin”, the biggest junior piano competition in the world in Switzerland last October; and Killian White (cello), the recipient of the 2018 RDS Music Bursary, who is regarded as one of the most exceptional young cellists ever to come from Ireland.. The concert is being curated and produced by Audrey McKenna, Irish Heritage’s Artistic Advisor-Ireland. An exceptional evening’s entertainment is assured in the elegant surroundings of Over-Seas League House in the heart of the West End. Tickets, £20 each for adults, are now on sale via www.irishheritage.co.uk

Irish Heritage’s 2018 Music Bursary for Performance recipient, the talented flautist Amy Gillen, will make her official London debut with this recital in the elegant surroundings of Marylebone’s parish church. Amy’s programme for the evening will include works by J S Bach, Georges Bizet, Giulio Briccialdi, ian Clarke, Phil Coulter, Philippe Gaubert, André Jolivet , Vittorio Monti  and Robert Muczynski. Amy will be joined during the evening by harpist Tara Viscardi and accompanist Brian Hughes, both highly commended in the 2018 Bursary auditions. Sir James Galway has said that Amy’s “talent clearly knows bounds” and John Gilhooly OBE, Chairman of the Irish Heritage Music Bursary jury said, “Amy is an immediately engaging artist from the moment she steps on the platform. She is a true musician in every sense.” Twenty-three-year-old Amy, who comes from Bridgetown in County Donegal, was awarded a first class honours BA of Music Performance in Flute from the Royal Irish Academy of Music in summer 2018.  She moved to London in September 2018 to study for a Masters of Music Performance in Flute at the Royal College of Music. Amy’ s exceptional talent has already been recognised through the award of multiple prizes both in Ireland and further afield.  Earlier this year, she gave a recital at the Galway International Flute Festival as part of being awarded the prestigious Sir James Galway Rising Star Award at the same festival in Switzerland in 2017. A memorable evening of great music is assured. Tickets are £20 each for adults (including wine reception and programme) and £5 for students on production of ID.  Adult tickets are now available online by via the Irish Heritage website (www.irishheritage.co.uk), there are no booking fees.  Student tickets are only available on the door on the evening and are subject to availability.

Christmas by Candlelight is now established as one of Irish Heritage’s most popular events and a part of the build-up to the Festive season for many people. This year’s concert takes place once again in St. George’s Hanover Square in the heart of the West End.  Handel’s Church as it is also known, was refurbished in 2010 and provides an appropriate ambiance for Irish Heritage’s seasonal concert. This year’s programme of popular Christmas Carols and seasonal music features the welcome return of The Arb Ensemble under the direction of Jonathan Darbourne, soprano Jessica Costelloe, tenor Jamie Rock and accompanist Tracey Symon with guest readers His Excellency Adrian O’Neill, Ambassador of Ireland, Angela Brady OBE and Petroc Trelawny, BBC Radio 3. Tickets are £20 each for adults (including wine reception and programme) and £5 for students on production of ID.  Adult tickets are only available online via this link, there are no booking fees.  Student tickets are only available on the door on the evening and are subject to availability.