Music, Music, Music! (September-2010)
The girls are enjoying new musical experiences this year, with our composer-in-residence, George Higgs.
George Higgs (b. 1968) is a composer, writer and director for theatre and cinema. His work has been performed across Ireland, in Russia and the United States and he has received numerous awards and honours including a grant from the Wellcome Trust, the Director's Prize from the Chamber Orchestra Kremlin, numerous Arts Council awards and he has recently been named a MacDowell Fellow.
George's work includes opera, symphony, compositions for small ensemble, music for experimental theatre, work for installation and a number of HIGGSTRUMENTS which he has designed for the installation of certain compositions. He holds a Masters degree in music technology from Trinity College Dublin and is represented by the Contemporary Music Centre of Ireland.
George has recently finished working with the Dublin Deaf Choir, thanks to a CREATE Artist in the Community Award and is continuing his investigations into the deaf experience of music this year as composer-in-residence at St. Mary's School for Deaf Girls.
The Analog Sound Perception Room is a so-operative venture using St.Mary's specialist knowledge of the needs of deaf students, built up in over 160 years experience in deaf education, with the expertise of Analog Devices, world leaders in technology, known for developing the Wii. The Analog Sound Perception Room was officially opened by Bill Hunt, Analog, on November 27th, 2008. It is a specially designed room, with an Integrated Audio System, Mixing Board, Interactive Whiteboard, Computer, 6 Electronic Keyboards and a Webcam. Musical instruments include African Drums, Boomwhackers, bodhrán, and djembe drum.
