Aisling Agnew (flute)

Aisling was born and raised in Belfast. She regularly performs around the UK and Ireland and has appeared in concerts across Europe and America. Aisling’s performances have been broadcast on BBC Radio, RTE Lyric FM and Resonance FM and include many high profile concerts such as a Wigmore Hall chamber music recital. As concerto soloist Aisling has appeared with various orchestras including the Ulster Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Aisling studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with Richard Blake and David Nicholson where she had masterclasses with players such as Jacques Zoon, Robert Dick, Wissam Boustany and Wilbert Hazelzet. In her third year she won a scholarship to the Lake Placid Institute for Arts in New York and in her final year was selected to perform the Penderecki Concerto with the RSNO at the Henry Wood Hall in Glasgow, the first performance of this work given in Scotland.

Aisling holds a Masters degree from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where her studies were assisted by an award won at the Belfast Classical Music Bursaries. At Guildhall she enjoyed lessons with Sam Coles, Ian Clarke, Sarah Newbold, Philippa Davies and Sharon Williams and took part in rehearsal sessions with the Philharmonia and London Symphony Orchestra. An award from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust enabled Aisling to study privately in London and Paris on completion of her Masters.

Aisling has a keen interest in performing new music and working with composers. She has premièred works written specifically for her by Douglas Whates, Matthew Rogers, Greg Caffrey and David Flynn and has enjoyed working with other composers such as Edward McGuire and David Fennessy. Her wide experience as a chamber musician has led her to perform with various ensembles and she regularly performs in a successful flute and guitar duo with Matthew McAllister.

“it was a pleasure to hear this difficult work delivered with a beautiful sound, clear articulation, secure intonation and minimal vibrato” Pan Flute Magazine (British Flute Society)

“a perfect display of phrasing, tone and control … it was Aisling’s spectacular performance of a host of Bizet melodies that stood out in spectacular style. I had heard this many times played by solo violin, but it is just as impressive for flute, especially with a flautist of this standard.” The Courier

“Agnew’s playing throughout was beautiful with extended techniques on her instrument existing within the musical landscape of the piece, always resisting the temptation of highlighting her own considerable prowess to the detriment of an unknown work.” Belfast Telegraph

http://www.aislingagnew.com

Discography:

Maelasta / Maelasta

Agnew McAllister / Recital

Artist’s Itinerary (click dates for more info):

Matthew McAllister / Merula @ Tokafi.com

It has almost become a general consensus that classical and contemporary repertoire need to be treated fundamentally different. “Merula”, however, works exactly because it defies the dogma. For his debut album, Matthew McAllister has taken the liberty of showing his abilties within the most diverse contexts, of organising a time-travel package through the ages and of recording his own interpretations of “a choice selection of classic guitar repertoire, alongside newer styles of contemporary guitar music.”

Agnew & McAllister / Recital @ Classical Guitar

The Agnew/McAllister duo once again show their talents as arrangers in a superb presentation of the Fantasie from “Carmen” where Aisling Agnew displays her highly polished, fluid technique to its best advantage … Throughout this recording the duo handles all the technical and musical requirements with aplomb and have produced a most alluring disc.

Agnew & McAllister / Recital @ Tokafi.com

If you can’t catch this duo live, then “Recital” is the next best thing … a work which lures you into loving it by its unintrusive nature … it is vivid and full of the pleasure of being alive