UCC music graduate wins prestigious Seán Ó Riada composition competition

A UCC music graduate has been named as the winner of this year’s Seán Ó Riada Composition Competition, which is organised in collaboration by the Cork International Choral Festival and Chamber Choir Ireland.

Donnchadh Mac Aodha’s work, ‘Babel’, won the competition named after the composer of Mise Éire and former UCC music lecturer, Seán Ó Riada, with the composition described by a panel of judges as “a rich contribution to Irish choral literature”.

In its commendation of ‘Babel’, the panel, which included composer and Chamber Choir Ireland member Eoghan Desmond; conductor Orla Flanagan, and guest conductor of Chamber Choir Ireland, Gabriel Crouch; said the piece, which is a musical setting of an Irish language work by UCC Modern Irish lecturer Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh, reflected the ‘unsettling sense of lofty ideals soured by arrogance and pride’ in the poem, which they said had a striking contemporary relevance.

The inaugural performance of ‘Babel’ will be part of the Cork International Choral Festival’s annual collaborative concert with choir-in-residence, Chamber Choir Ireland, led by their guest director Gabriel Crouch.

The Seán Ó Riada competition, which has been running for more than 50 years, provides a platform for Irish composers to have their work judged and rewarded solely on its own merits. 

Submissions are made under pseudonyms, ensuring anonymity until after the judges’ decision has been made.

Over the last 10 years the competition has attracted in excess of 250 entries, illustrating the number of composers now working and living in Ireland, and further demonstrating the Cork International Choral Festival’s continuing commitment to contemporary music.

Dundalk native Donnchadh Mac Aodha graduated with first class honours in Music and Irish, and during his time in UCC he was a Quercus Creative & Performing Arts Scholar.

Donnchadh has performed extensively in Ireland, Europe, and beyond. 

A four-time All-Ireland Champion at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, he has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Donal ‘Doc’ Gleeson Award, UCC Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann bursary, and the Mícheál Ó hÉidhin medal.