Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

in Cork, Ireland

 

Finola Merivale was born on May 22, 1988, in Dublin, Ireland. She grew up in a family of musicians, with her mother being a pianist and her father a composer. From a young age, Merivale was exposed to classical music and began playing the piano at the age of four. She showed a natural talent for music and began composing her own pieces at the age of eight. Merivale attended the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin, where she studied composition with Kevin O'Connell and piano with John O'Conor. She received her Bachelor of Music degree in 2010 and went on to pursue a Master of Music degree at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where she studied with Michael Gandolfi and John Heiss. Merivale's compositions are characterized by their intricate textures, use of extended techniques, and incorporation of electronic elements. Her works often explore themes of memory, identity, and the natural world. She has been commissioned by numerous ensembles and organizations, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Irish Chamber Orchestra. One of Merivale's most notable works is her 2016 composition "The Wild Swans at Coole," which was commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The piece is inspired by the poem of the same name by W.B. Yeats and features a solo violin representing the swans. The work received critical acclaim and was praised for its evocative use of orchestration and its ability to capture the essence of Yeats' poem. Another notable work by Merivale is her 2018 composition "The Body is an Ear," which was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic. The piece features a large ensemble and incorporates electronic elements, including field recordings of natural sounds. The work explores the relationship between the body and sound and was praised for its innovative use of technology and its ability to create a unique sonic landscape. In addition to her work as a composer, Merivale is also an accomplished pianist and has performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe and the United States. She has collaborated with numerous composers and performers, including John Zorn, Steve Reich, and the Bang on a Can All-Stars. Merivale's work has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award, the Fromm Music Foundation Commission, and the Tanglewood Music Center Composition Fellowship. She has also been a resident artist at numerous institutions, including the MacDowell Colony and the Yaddo Artist Colony. Overall, Finola Merivale is a talented and innovative composer whose work has been praised for its unique blend of acoustic and electronic elements and its ability to capture the essence of the natural world. Her compositions have been performed by some of the world's leading ensembles and have earned her numerous accolades and awards. As she continues to push the boundaries of contemporary classical music, it is clear that Merivale is a composer to watch in the years to come.

More....