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About The People

Artistic Directors

NEST is led by composer, Brian Irvine and writer/filmmaker/stage director John McIlduff.

As Artistic Directors of production and performance company Dumbworld they have created a number of stage works including the Irish Theatre Award nominated junk opera, 'Postcards from Dumbworld' and the award winning 'Rain Falling Up', an oratorio for children and gravity defying adults as well as producing documentaries, short films and a feature film.

Brian Irvine

Brian was born in Belfast. His body of work includes operas, large-scale orchestral works, film scores as well as ensemble, solo, chamber and dance music.

His music has been performed all over the world and he has been commissioned by many international organisations and performers including Welsh National Opera, BBC Radio 3, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, Joanna Macgregor, Boston Contemporary Music Ensemble, 4 mality percussion quartet, RTE National Symphony Orchestra, Opera Theatre Company Ireland, Wexford Festival Opera, National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Scottish Ballet, Bath International Music Festival.

Together with his own 12 -piece ensemble he has toured extensively throughout USA, Russia, France, Portugal, Germany, Scotland, Malta, Cyprus, Poland, Scotland, Ireland, England, Belgium, and the Netherlands to widespread critical acclaim. He has been the Associate Composer with the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast and is currently Visiting Professor of Creative Arts at the University of Ulster. He has won a number of awards for his work including: British Composers Award for Opera, BBC Radio 3 Music Award, Major Individual Artist Award (ACNI), Bass Ireland Award, MCPS Joyce Dixey Prize for composition, Allianz Irish Arts Award for composition and a PRS Foundation Award.

John McIlduff

Originally from Belfast, John trained as an actor with Jacques Lecoq in Paris and for the last 15 years has worked extensively in theatre throughout Europe as a stage director and as a video artist. His productions range from a multi-lingual version of 'Crime and Punishment' to the visuals for a Bunraku puppet opera. He was also founding member of Belfast based theatre company, Shibboleth.

John's short films have been screened in festivals around the world from Tehran to Clermont-Ferrand and he has received the Prix de Qualité from the CNC, France. He recently wrote and directed his debut feature film, 'Behold the Lamb', which was screened at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival and won Best Screenplay at the Thessalonaki International Film Festival and Best Director at the Arras International Film Festival.

As a writer, John has worked across film, television, opera and theatre. Most recently he has written for the upcoming series for French Television, 'Strictement Platonique' and the community opera, 'Shelter me from the Rain' performed in Carlow and winner of Allianz Business to Arts Award.

NEST Team and Crew

Cathie McKimm, Project Manager

Cathie has been working at a senior level in the Northern Irish Arts scene for 15 years. She was Director of An Crann (1998-2000) and Arts Development Manager for Down District Council (2001-2007). In May 2007 she established her own company http://www.culturalmanagementservices.com through which she works as an arts management consultant providing research, evaluation, marketing, planning and project management support to both pubic sector and independent arts organisations throughout Northern Ireland and beyond.

She has collaborated with Artists Brian Irvine and John McIlduff since 2006. As Arts Development Manager for Down District Council she commissioned and raised funds for Irvine and McIlduff's opera Postcards from Dumbworld (Premiered Grand Opera House 2010) going on to work with both artists in a freelance capacity from 2007 onwards. She was Project Manager for the Northern Ireland Premiere of Irvine's award winning Youth Opera The Tailors Daughter (Belfast Festival and Welsh National Opera, 2007) and has assisted the artists in the establishment of two new companies, Dumbworld Ltd., a notfor-profit arts production company, and Dumbworld Productions, an independent commercial production company. She was Production Manager for The Gullion Tales (Dumbworld Ltd. and SELB, Ulster Hall, 2009), and Rain Falling Up (Dumbworld Ltd. and the Ulster Orchestra, Waterfront Hall 2009), and has acted as director and chairperson for Dumbworld Ltd. at various stages of the company's development. With Dumbworld Productions, she has worked as Creative Producer and was Production Manager on the short film To Do List (2010), Executive Producer for John McIduff's first feature film Behold the Lamb (NI Screen and Film 4, 2011) and Producer for The Bookseller of Belfast (Dumbworld Productions and Zeugma Productions 2012). She joined NEST as Project Manager in March 2012.

Ian Conroy, Artistic Designer

Ian has been making things for himself and others for over 20 years. He graduated from Dun Laoghaire College of Art having studied Fine Art and Design. In Dublin he worked as Exhibitions Office for the RHA Gallery, and as a prop maker on the Abbey, Peacock and Gate Theatres. He worked with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in coordinating and constructing large scale installations for their Concourse Gallery Space. Since moving to Armagh, Ian has exhibited his painting and sculpture in numerous solo and group exhibitions, as well as sitting on advisory panels and selection committees for public art projects. Ian has worked with Dumbworld Production on a number of projects, constructing the set for the recent Opera "Postcard from Dumbworld", and "Shelter Me from the Rain".

Kirsty Atkinson, Marketing Coordinator

Full-time Mum of two, Kirsty currently works in a part-‐time capacity as a freelance PR & Marketing consultant. She worked in marketing and events with both North Down and Castlereagh Borough Councils before moving to the Arts sector- joining the Old Museum Arts Centre team as Audience Development Officer. In a freelance capacity she has worked with Tinderbox Theatre, Kabosh, Replay Productions, Grenville NI, Citybeat and Ards International Guitar Festival. She joined the NEST team as Marketing Coordinator in March 2012.

Ulster Youth Orchestra

Now celebrated as one of the leading youth orchestras in the UK, the award winning Ulster Youth Orchestra was initiated by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland in October 1993. Working in close association with the five Education and Library Boards, the organisation brings together the most talented young instrumentalists aged 14-23 from throughout Northern Ireland for residential courses and concerts, CD recordings, special projects, workshops and events. The Ulster Youth Orchestra provides the highest level of musical training from leading professional musicians and distinguished conductors.

The Ulster Youth Orchestra is a cross community organisation. Annual auditions are held throughout Northern Ireland and the young players are selected purely on the basis of musical ability regardless of religion or social background.

The orchestra brings the remarkable chance for our best young musicians to take on an ambassadorial role for Northern Ireland in the national and international concert world.

Since the first course in August 1994, the orchestra has involved approximately 1000 young musicians from all sections of the community, and played to total audiences of over 15,000 in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, England, Scotland and Germany. Performances have been broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. In 2000 it won the prestigious international arts award; the Premiale Imperial from the Japan Arts Association.

T13

T13 is the new home of Counter-Culture in Northern Ireland. It's a new space in an old place. It's a Titanic size warehouse with the most insane alternative playground inside. Located in Europe's leading waterfront development Titanic Quarter Belfast, it sits proudly underneath the iconic Samson & Goliath cranes.

Choir Performers

We're recruiting a gigantic choir to be part of the NEST performances. We'll be profiling these people here later in the year.

NEST is an opportunity for the people of Northern Ireland to create art on a massive scale through the simple act of donating an object. The objects will be assembled into a gigantic installation in Belfast and become the focal point for a large-scale music and choral event inspired and performed by people of Northern Ireland.

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