Conductor Sinead Hayes is no stranger to the world of contemporary music. Now in her sixth season as conductor of the Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble, she has already this season premiered Raymond Deane’s new opera Vagabones for Opera Collective Ireland, working with the Crash Ensemble, and was musical supervisor for Irish National Opera’s production of the installation opera This Hostel Life.

 

Highlights of the 2018/19 season included returns to Northern Ireland Opera to conduct Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd and Caffrey: The Chronic Identity Crisis of Pamplemousse, as well as being assistant conductor and chorus master for all of Irish National Opera’s mainstage productions including Verdi’s Aida and Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle. 

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Sinead graduated with a BMus in violin and composition from City University London, and completed her MMus in orchestral conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. She has participated in numerous masterclasses across Europe with mentors including Johannes Schlaefli, Peter Eotvos and Martyn Brabbins.

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Highlights of the 2019/20 season include working for the first time with the Ulster Orchestra and conducting a new opera by Elaine Agnew for Galway European Capital of Culture 2020, alongside premiering works by Irish composers with HRSE.