Ailbhe McDonagh
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Ailbhe McDonagh

Cellist & Composer
Autumn 2023: Bach Cello Suites series
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​During Autumn 2023, Ailbhe will perform all the Bach Cello Suites over three evening recitals at the United Arts Club, Dublin 2. Each concert will include a programme of two suites and an introductory talk to these famous works by the masterful Johann Sebastian Bach. Here are the details of each concert and links for tickets:
​​Bach Solo Cello Suites 2 & 5
Solo cello recital and introductory talk
📅  October 25th at 7:30pm
📍  United Arts Club, Fitzwilliam St., Dublin 2
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🎟  
Tickets on Eventbrite here
​​Bach Solo Cello Suites 1 & 6
Solo cello recital and introductory talk
📅  November 22nd at 7:30pm
📍  United Arts Club, Fitzwilliam St., Dublin 2
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🎟  
Tickets on Eventbrite here
The United Arts Club is an intimate yet vibrant social venue for the arts in the heart of Georgian Dublin with a full bar on the premises.

The first recital in this series, where Ailbhe performed Suites 3 & 4, took place on September 20th to a packed house.


​"McDonagh plays with flawless technique, faultless intonation, and a strong yet meltingly sweet tone."
Fanfare Magazine
Irish cellist Ailbhe McDonagh is an international soloist, chamber musician and recording artist who performs worldwide.

As a composer published with Boosey&Hawkes, Ailbhe has a large collection of chamber, orchestral and pedagogical works to her name.

Upcoming concerts
Culture Night 2023
With Lynda O'Connor (violin) & Máire Carroll (piano)

📅 September 22nd
📍 Whale Theatre, Greystones, Co. Wicklow

🎟 Get tickets

Bach Solo Cello Suites 2 & 5
Solo cello recital

📅 October 25th
📍 United Arts Club, Fitzwilliam St., Dublin 2

🎟 Get tickets

Bach Solo Cello Suites 1 & 6
Solo cello recital

📅 November 22nd
📍 United Arts Club, Fitzwilliam St., Dublin 2

🎟 Get tickets

Shostakovich, Brahms, McDonagh & Golijov
With Ficino Ensemble

📅 December 6-10th
📍 5 concert n
ationwide tour
🎟 Get tickets: Listowel / West Cork / Kilkenny / Cork / Dublin

Mozart, McKay & Penderecki
With Ficino Ensemble & Finghin Collins

📅 January 24th to February 4th, 2024
📍 8 concert n
ationwide tour
🎟 Get tickets: TBC

New release: Irish Isles Suite

​In 2023, Ailbhe wrote and published her second orchestral work the ‘Irish Isles Suite’ with the support of the Arts Council of Ireland. This is a 13 minute work in three movements.

Each movement of the Irish Isles Suite is based on one specific island off the coast of Ireland, namely Achill Island, the Blasket Islands and Tory Island. This piece was recorded by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra with conductor David Brophy.
Purchase score & parts

Cello teaching and masterclasses
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​Ailbhe is a lecturer at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. For private one-on-one cello lessons and masterclasses please get in touch. Ailbhe is available to teach internationally with in-person or online classes. Here is a recent masterclass for the National Concert Hall of Ireland.


Popper Études project

During 2021, Ailbhe was joined by American cellist Katie Tertell where they learned one Popper study each week, recorded a live discussion of practice tips and performed it live to each other. Each of these videos gives two professional cellists’ practice approaches to each of the 40 études. This is an excellent resource for cellists learning and practicing these études. Click here to learn more about the project.
Popper Études Project

​Watch and listen

​You can watch videos of Ailbhe's performances and compositions on her YouTube channel and listen to her albums on her Spotify page. Links below.

Here is an example of one of Ailbhe's compositions which appears on the 2020 album 'Skellig'.
Ailbhe's Spotify
Ailbhe's YouTube

How to pronounce Ailbhe

Ailbhe is pronounced AL-vah. In Irish, the letters bh are pronounced like a v.
​😀

Irish cellist Ailbhe McDonagh is an international soloist, chamber musician and recording artist who performs throughout Europe and the USA.

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Copyright © 2023 Ailbhe McDonagh.
Photography by Frances Marshall Photography.
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