In what has become somewhat an annual tradition, the Cork Fleischmann Symphony Orchestra once again joined St. Mary's Choir to perform a variety of traditional Chritmas songs and orchestral pieces on Sunday 10th December 2023 at St. Mary's Church Pope's Quay.

The CFSO were honoured to be invited to perform at the Cork City Hall on November 16th 2023 as part of Cork City Gala Concert commemorating a decade of centenary celebrations. 

The orchestra opened with Mise Éire symphony by Sean O'Riada and concluded the concert with 2 movements from Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 in E minor, "The New World." 

In what was undoubtedly a highlight of the orchestral calendar in Cork, the CFSO performed live at the Cork City Hall on November 11th 2023.

The orchestra under the direction of Keith Pascoe opened with George Butterworth’s The Banks of Green Willow. This was an enchanting, short pastoral idyll inspired by Butterworth's love for English melodies. 

We followed with Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor, known for its echoes of Norwegian folk music. The concerto was performed by the internationally acclaimed Portugese soloist Artur Pizzaro. A “poet amongst pianists” according to one reviewer. 

The evening then concluded with Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 in E minor, "The New World" which many regard as his signature work and which pays homage to the folk music of America.

Tonight we welcome Louise Sullivan, a talented young musician studying in CIT Cork School of Music, in a performance of Mozart's Horn Concerto No 2. We also perform the world premiere of the Sullivan/German overture to the Emerald Isle in an arrangement for orchestra by our conductor Keith Pascoe. The concert also includes F S Kelly's Elegy for Strings and Harp and Beethoven's Eroica symphony.

Louise has been playing the horn for several years under the guidance of Sean Clinch at the CIT Cork School of Music. She has just returned from Florence, Italy where she was studying on Erasmus with Maestro Luca Benucci. Louise, a keen orchestra player, has been a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, the Irish Youth Wind Ensemble and SinfoNua, to name but a few.

Cork Fleischmann Symphony Orchestra, under conductor Keith Pascoe and leader Nuala NiChanainn, will give its opening performance of the season at the City Hall on November 11th. The programme will feature Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, Sam Perkin's Timpano and young soloist Kevin Jansson in a performance of Beethovans 3rd piano concerto.

Kevin, at the age of just 17 years, is emerging as one of the finest musicians of his generation in Ireland. A student of Mary Beattie at CIT Cork School of Music, he has won numerous awards both at home and abroad including first prizes in 2017 at the Val Tidone competition in Italy, the Euregio piano competition in Germany and Feis Ceoil in Dublin. Kevin will make his Carnegie Hall debut with the New York Concerti Sinfonietta in October.

The ancient folk tales of Scheherazade have inspired artists and composers for centuries. Rimsky-Korsakov's symphonic suite Scheherazade with its mesmerising violin solos and dazzling orchestration, transports the listener on exhilarating journey through many tales of love, intrigue and adventure. Sam Perkins 2017 composition for Orchestra and Timpani will be no less exciting for the audience at what promises to be a wonderful night of music.

Tickets are available on line from corkorchestralsociety.ie and ProMusica.