DOWN Arts Centre invites classical music lovers of all ages to join them for an afternoon of Classical Light Music for Spring on Sunday 16 February at 3.00pm, with outstanding young musicians, Nadene Fiorentini (piano) and Marcella Walsh (soprano).
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Nadine Fiorentini (pian0) will be performing at the Down Arts Centre.[/caption]
Soprano Marcella Walsh made her professional operatic debut at the Opera Fringe Festival, Downpatrick, in 2009, after which she went on to sing during two seasons at Wexford Festival Opera. This recital will be her first visit back to Downpatrick since then.
In recent years, Marcella has also performed internationally and extensively throughout Ireland, and garnered a wide collection of awards, including the Young Voice of Northern Ireland (Flax Trust), the Excellence in Eighteenth Century Music Award (QUB) and the Gaiety Bursary (RIAM).
Marcella was invited to become an Opera Theatre Company Young Associate Artist in 2010-2011 and an inaugural NI Opera Young Artist in 2011-2012; she was then awarded the BBC and Arts Council of Northern Ireland Young Musician’s Platform Award 2011-2013.
In December 2011, Marcella made her debut performance with The Ulster Orchestra, in March 2012 she performed with The Priests at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, and in Autumn/Winter 2012 she starred in Scottish Opera’s new production of The Magic Flute. This year Marcella was appointed Artistic Director of the Flax Trust, and has been invited to sing with both Scottish Opera and the Ulster Orchestra.
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Marcella Walsh (soprano). [/caption]
Nadene Fiorentini has recently been announced as the Irish ‘Rising Star’ 2014 and will give her debut solo recital on the main stage of the National Concert Hall on 20th March.
As the highest placed Irish competitor at the Dublin International Piano Competition in 2012, Nadene is in increasing demand as both a soloist and accompanist. Currently studying a Doctorate of Performance in Music at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Nadene was recently appointed as an examiner for the RIAM, where she also teaches piano and works as an accompanist.
Ahead of her NCH recital, Nadene will give recitals in Donegal, Derry, Dublin, Meath, Cork, Sligo and Offaly. She will also perform with the National Symphony Orchestra in July.
Down Arts Centre are pleased to be hosting The Pop Up Arts Clinic, a new initiative by Voluntary Arts Ireland on Tuesday 18 February and Tuesday 18 March.
Do you take part in arts activities, help run a local festival or belong to an arts or craft group? Perhaps you want to start something new? During a one-to-one session over coffee, Emma Whitehead, Voluntary Arts Ireland’s Support Officer will take you through the nuts and bolts of running an activity, event or group.
Emma will give advice on training, volunteering, funding, social media and marketing opportunities.  Tell her what you’re involved in and she’ll let you know how Voluntary Arts Ireland can help. This free Clinic will be running in one-hour slots all day on Tuesday 18 February and Tuesday 18 March. Contact Down Arts Centre to book your place.
To purchase tickets (£12 / £10) and for further information on any Down Arts Centre events, please contact the box office on 028 4461 0747. The complete Down Arts Centre Season Programme is available to download at HYPERLINK “http://www.downartscentre.com” www.downartscentre.com
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