FUAIM community arts projects continue | Cathal Nally
A series of concerts, lectures and community initiatives launched under the ‘FUAIM’ bracket by the UCC School of Music continue. Performing arts projects such as ‘Lifesounds’ are aimed at facilitating the making of music across all spectrums in Cork City is central to the ethos and actions of the project. ‘Lifesounds’ featured “an extravaganza of song, storytelling, expressive movement and multimedia installations”; it brought several generations together and included professional artists as well as UCC staff and students.Going strong for over twenty years, FUAIM has consistently supplied the UCC campus with musical excellence, artistic innovation, and the celebration of tradition; all nuanced by the spirit of collaboration and communal values. Multi-disciplinary in format and culturally eclectic in terms of its Musicians, Performing Artists and Events, FUAIM affects an ethos of inclusivity, diversity and artistry that UCC can be very proud of.Mel Mercier, Head of UCC School of Music and Theatre, tells us exactly what FUAIM is about: “Through its cross-cultural and inter-disciplinary curriculum, Music at UCC celebrates the diversity of contemporary musical experience and offers students the richest music education in Ireland”.A quick look at some of the artists that have performed in recent weeks gives an idea of just how diverse and talent-rich the events on offer are. The Aula Maxima was host to the Congolese Rhumba, Courtesy of The Lace, Baroque music provided by the exceptionally accomplished Violinist Rachel Podger and The Contempo Quartet, who performed both newly composed works by Dave Flynn as well as works long established in the Canon. The Contempo Quartet also collaborated with acclaimed traditional musician Eoghan O’Sullivan bringing Classical and Irish Traditional music together. FUAIM also returned to ‘The Granary’ recently which lent its intimate surroundings to a stellar performance by the Jazz Sextet ‘POD’ which featured UCC Lecturer and active FUAIM Team Member Paul O’Donnell.‘Common Tongue’ who combine Sean-Nós, live electronics and improvising saxophone are also due to perform in November, as are ‘The Pearls’, a trio of acclaimed Irish Singer Songwriters. The ‘RTE VanBrugh Quartet and Julia Pusca’, are followed by progressive folk alchemists ‘The Loudest Whisper’ before the series ends appropriately with a nod to traditional song writing and UCC’s Own ‘The Ger Wolfe Trio’.These events which reflect the multi-disciplinary and aesthetically promiscuous nature of UCC’s Music programmes offer students a chance to capitalise on their UCC experience. In the words of Professor Jonathan Stock, Head of UCC Music Department: “There’s also a real opportunity for students, which is that when you’re developing your own practice as a musician, you need to hear the widest possible range of good work from existing professionals…the series allows us to bring into UCC a whole range of performers, styles and approaches that students just couldn’t otherwise access. Despite technological advances, live listening is still far better for really catching what is going on.”Professor Stock states that “Being advertised and open to the public, the FUAIM series is obviously a vital part of Music’s contribution to the community in and around UCC, and it is great that we can do that through performances”There are also lectures from visiting authors and academics on subjects ranging from folk music, a symposium on the phenomenon of live opera in the cinema, the repatriation of traditional songs as well as medieval, contemporary and world vocal music. FUAIM also highlights a series of lectures celebrating the Year of Shakespeare.FUAIM also gathers to celebrate Peggy McTeggart, the First Lady of Irish Traditional Dance on ‘Peggy’s Day’ December 1st. Fuaim will celebrate Peggy with her family, friends, students, colleagues and musicians. This will take place in the Sean Ó Riada Hall, The Music Building, Sundays Well, where Peggy tutored and left an indelible impression on a myriad of appreciative students.There are still several events left on the calendar, so keep an eye out on this series.
