Co-Orch has always prided itself on going for exciting and challenging programmes.
Everyone in Co-Orch shares two strongly held convictions about the music we perform; that it should be exceptional (life's too short for mediocre music), and that new music should be central to our musical life as an orchestra. This means that Co-Orch doesn't shy away from real musical challenges, or from challenging our audiences to reconsider their understanding of 'classical music.' The core of our repertoire is the music of the early twentieth century, but we like to pair it with both older and newer music in exciting and thought provoking ways. (Who knew that Schubert and Schoenberg could make such a great pairing?!)
Co-Orch is proud to forge relationships with contemporary composers based in Ireland and abroad, to commission new works more frequently than any other Irish Orchestral ensemble, and to say that giving premieres (either World or Irish) is just part of what we do!
Different? Definitely.
Entertaining? Always.
Click on 'Listen Here' to get a taste for what we play.
John Doyle is one of the most interesting, inventive and challenging conductors of his generation.
After graduating from Trinity College Dublin and the Royal Irish Academy of Music with a first class honours degree, he undertook studies in orchestral conducting under figures such as George Hurst (England), Atso Almila (Finland), Denis Ham (England), Rodolfo Saglimbeni (Venezuela), Robert Houlihan (Ireland) and Benjamin Zander (USA.). He now combines a successful career in music education with a busy schedule as a sought-after freelance conductor and music director. Since 2011 John has held the post of artistic director and principal conductor of Co-Orch Dublin, specialising in 20th century and contemporary repertoire. He was one of the collective's founding members. As artistic director, John has commissioned new orchestral works from composers such Bryan Pepper, Ena Brennan, Elis Czerniak, Luke Duffy and Tom Lane, as well as programming Irish premiers by internationally recognised composers such as Max Richter. He has also given the Irish premieres of rarely performed works by composers such as Ingolbrecht and Schoenberg. John has been the Musical Director of Mount Anville Choral Society since 2016. He has conducted Dublin Concert Band since 2014 and is a member of thecomplex.ie's artistic team. John enjoys a busy schedule as a guest conductor, appearing regularly with groups such as the Dublin Symphony Orchestra, Dublin Baroque Players (City of Dublin Chamber Orchestra) and the Orchestra of St. Luke.
John is immensely proud to have initiated and conducted Concert for Paris at St Patrick's cathedral on November 20th 2015 which was recorded by and broadcast by RTE, and which featured over 200 musicians and singers from Ireland and abroad.
Speaking about John at this event Fergus Finlay, CEO of Barnardos and MC of Concert for Paris said; 'It takes an extraordinary musician to turn an emotion into an idea, and that idea into a reality through music. John Doyle is that extraordinary musician.'
Co-Orch is currently on the look-out for a new assistant director. If you're interested, get in touch!
