Matthew Dowie will write a new work for a trio of flute, clarinet and cello inspired by his performance practice as an electric guitarist, reflecting a specific harmonic and melodic language that emerges from the physicality of playing.  

Matthew Dowie (b.1992) is active as a performer on electric and acoustic guitars covering a range of styles from Jazz Manouche to Fusion to Free Improv. Aside from original music and jazz, Matthew has 7 years of experience of playing in Musical Theatre shows and played tenor banjo and guitars in the NI Opera Production of Kurt Weill’s Threepenny Opera in 2018. Matthew received his BMus from QUB in 2017 and since then has been a lecturer in music at SERC. Matthew is current undertaking the MRes at QUB in the field of Music Composition, focusing on writing new works for the Electric Guitar (solo, ensemble, large ensemble).

Aidan Maclean will compose for flute and cello. Taking his inspiration from plant growth, the new work will use the instruments to create a dialogue analogous to the plant in the ground’s relationship to the sun and reflecting the metabolic reactions that occur. 

Aidan Maclean’s compositional experience includes writing a reflection of a Lassus piece with film composer, Harry Escott for the award-winning ORA Singers. Other commissions have included two choral postcards for Chamber Choir Ireland, one piece for the National Youth Choir of Northern Ireland and one piece for the Belfast Philharmonic Chamber Choir. He has also received Jazzlife Alliance's Young Composer Award. During the last year, he haswritten short-form jazz compositions with drummer, David Lyttle. Over lockdown, he worked with conductor Paul Campbell to refine his orchestration skills. Additionally, he hashis own rock band, Neon Apathy which has self-produced two albums. These can be found on all streaming services. This year Aidan was offered a place at Magdalen College, University of Oxford with a choral scholarship

Sam Kane has chosen to write a work for a trio of flute, violin and cello that will reflect his experience of Irish traditional music while exploiting some of the extended techniques more common to contemporary music. 

Sam Kane is a 4th year violinist studying with Cecily Ward at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. Some orchestral highlights include performing with NYOGB, leading the Ulster Youth Orchestra and performing with the Ulster Orchestra as part of their Professional Experience Scheme. Sam won the NI Young Musician of the year competition, and more recently was awarded the RNCM Norman George violin prize, where he performed works including one of his own compositions. Sam performed Bruch’s Violin Concerto no.1 with the Manchester Beethoven Orchestra, as well as playing with Ruth McGinley on BBC Radio Ulster’s ‘Classical connections’. He was mentored by composer Neil Martin on the NI 21 young artists scheme, and recently composed a work for Carme ensemble, which is inspired by Irish folk tunes and features a soprano with Gaelic text. Sam has had Masterclasses with violinists including Yair Kless, Yossi Zivoni, and James Enhes.