SINEAD HAYES
Irish Conductor
CREATIVE & EDUCATION PROJECTS
Below is a selection of projects Sinead has devised, developed and been involved with.
THE SANDBOX CONDUCTING SESSIONS
The Sandbox Conducting Sessions are a chance for any musician aged 14 - 101 to try out and develop their conducting skills with professional musicians, guided by conductor Sinead Hayes. All participants and observers take part in a 90 minute group conducting lesson. 8 - 10 participants then have a chance for a guided 10 minute individual session with professional string quartet.
The Sessions launched in January 2023 in Athenry and Limerick. 20 conductors, all of whom play an instrument to at least Grade V standard have participated so far, and more sessions are planned around the country to find, train and give opportunities to the next generations of conductors based on ability, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity or socioeconomic background.
Sinead is grateful for the support of Galway County Arts Office, Athenry Music School and the Arts Council of Ireland for their support of the project, which meant that the cost to participants was just €20. Thanks too to conductor Alice Farnham, whose mentorship in developing Sinead's skills as a teacher has been invaluable.
If you are interested in hosting/including a Sandbox Conducting Session in your concert series or festival, get in touch. Sinead can also work with your orchestra to facilitate a Sandbox Conducting Session alongside her work as guest conductor.
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EDUCATION PROJECTS
Using Music & Performance as a Catalyst for Creativity
Since September 2020, Sinead has collaborated with local secondary schools St. Jarlath's College and The Mercy in Tuam, as well as Athenry Music School & Coole Music & Arts to devise and deliver a number of innovative music education projects. So far, over 200 young people from County Galway have participated in these projects.
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DISCOVER CONDUCTING
Funded by the Arts Council of Ireland
With the support of an Artist Bursary from the Arts Council of Ireland, Sinead devised and tested a fun and engaging 45minute interactive workshop designed to introduce 1st and 2nd year secondary school students to the amazing world of conducting.
PRESENTING, TEACHING & WRITING
Sharing the Knowledge
In past seasons Sinead was delighted to have been invited as a guest lecturer in Conducting at the University of Salford, UK & University College Dublin. She delivered presentations for the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras and the NYMAZ Connect: Resound Remote Music Learning Festival 2021. She has also been working with a number of composers who have been learning to conduct.
LECTURE: CONDUCTING CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
A fast paced, engaging introduction to the particular skills needed to successfully conduct and realise performances of contemporary music, drawing on the music of Schoenberg, Stravinsky and Reich. The lecture can be tailored to the level of the students and the lecture time available, and can be delivered via Zoom or in-person.
WALKING IN ULYSSES - LOCATION AUDIO COMPOSITION
Supported by Galway County Council Arts Office
Growing up in Ireland, Sinead has been immersed in the country's rich culture of literature, poetry and theatre. During the lockdown she had time to reengage with composition. This has proved a joyous creative outlet, fusing music with the written/spoken word, which she now fits around her conducting work!
Influenced by John Cage's Roaratorio, the 45 minute audio piece Walking in Ulysses was created by Sinead as a response to the 100th Anniversary of the publication of James Joyce's masterpiece Ulysses. The work features an original soundtrack and score composed and performed by Sinead. The script, abridged by Sinead is performed local Tuam actors Midie Corcoran, Ronan Lardner & Padraig Stevens. Also featured are voices of local Tuam residents and students from St. Jarlath's College.
Along the way you will meet the characters of the book - Leopold Bloom, Stephen Dedalus, The Citizen (and his dog!), and of course Molly Bloom. Experience the carriage ride to Dignam's funeral in surround sound, and discover the imaginary love story between Bloom and Gertie MacDowell!!
The self guided walk can be experienced virtually online (below) or in-person as a self guided, geo located walk in Tuam at any time. The audio triggers automatically using the GPS in your phone. All you need is a pair of headphones and a smartphone. Walking in Ulysses can be geolocated in an location, provided there is mobile data coverage.
Sinead would love to bring the voices of her home town with her on her guest conducting adventures, and can partner with orchestras and promoters to bring this immersive Ulysses experience to wherever she is working!