Cork School of Music Symphony Orchestra

Initially under the direction of the School’s former Head of String Studies, Adrian Petcu, the School’s Symphony Orchestra has developed from relatively modest beginnings as a Chamber Orchestra more than twenty-five years ago to become hailed in the national press as ‘the finest orchestra of its kind in Ireland’. The continuous tradition of high-standard playing is indebted both to its founder and to the leadership of Dr. Geoffrey Spratt who conducted the group for nearly twenty years. The orchestra continues to go from strength-to-strength under the guidance of its current conductor, Conor Palliser. The orchestra owes a great deal of gratitude to the high-class training that is issued in all areas at the CIT Cork School of Music.

Its regular performances in Cork are complemented by visits to venues throughout Ireland and abroad. The orchestra has twice taken part in the International Festival of Youth Orchestras held annually in Valencia, Spain, and successfully pioneered the concept of “Proms” concerts in Cork. It has commissioned works from a number of Irish composers – most notably John Kinsella, whose Symphony No. 7 it premièred in 1999.  More recently it gave performances of orchestral works by Séamas de Barra (a member of the School’s staff, in both Dublin and Cork), David Wallace (Hochtief Fellow in Composition at the CIT Cork School of Music, 2006-2008, and Aloys Fleischmann Composer-in-residence at the CSM, 2010) and Sam Perkin. It has also recorded scores by Stephen Parker for award-winning films: Poker Nights (2004) and Forty shillin’ shame (2008).

Many of the orchestra’s past members now hold positions in some of the leading orchestras across the globe.