CONWAY Zoe
The Horse's Tail

TACD 4018


Tara
Irlanda

 

Zoë Conway is one of Ireland's most gifted young musicians. Born in Dundalk, Co. Louth, in 1981, she began playing the fiddle at the age of eight. By that time, she was already learning to play tin-whistle, banjo and piano, but quickly came to realise that the fiddle was 'the one'.

Having started classical violin at nine, she was already far behind others of the same age, as most start from the tender age of three. With the help of local teacher, Sheila Thompson, she quickly caught up and by the age of thirteen was studying such challenging pieces as the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto.

Alongside her classical life however, Zoë was leading another! She was also deeply involved in the Irish Traditional music scene. This interest was fostered by her parents, who were keen that their children should acquire their love of Irish music, and encouraged them to play in seisiun (sessions) and to take part in Fleadhanna (Irish music festivals) the length and breadth of the country. In Ireland, the classical and traditional music worlds rarely mix, but by her mid-teens, Zoë was competing in both the classical Feis Ceoil and Feis Maitiu, and the traditional All Ireland competitions. Having successfully overcome the barriers separating the classical and traditional worlds, Zoë sought to diversify even further, and thus to develop the outstanding feature of her playing - her ability to straddle different disciplines.

She was greatly influenced by the recordings of Stephane Grappelli, the virtuoso jazz violinist, and delved into jazz, playing concerts alongside Jimmy Faulkner, Paddy Cole and Professor Peter O Brien. Having toured in Scotland and the Shetland Islands, she grew fond of the Scottish and Appalachian style of fiddling, exemplified by Aly Bain, and incorporated it into her repertoire. Seeking to broaden her musical horizons further, the obvious route was that of Mark O Connor and Graham Townsend, and Zoë began playing American Blue-Grass style music.

More recently, she has been introduced to the intricacies of Mexican music by guitarists extraordinaire, Rodrigo y Gabriela, whose album entitled 'Re Foc' features Zoë playing a mixture of latin jazz and trad. However, through all this experimentation, traditional Irish music has remained closest to her heart, and she spent the last two years recording a trad album which subtly incorporates some of the international influences to which she has been exposed over the years. Zoe attended the Dun Lughaidh school in Dundalk, a school associated with music, (Pat Tracey and the Corrs being past pupils) and was leader of the school orchestra - The Cross Border Orchestra (CBO) - under the baton of Gearoid Grant. The CBO toured in Britain, Finland and the Czech Republic, has performed with John O Conor, and has recorded two CD's. She played in the Junior and Senior Youth Orchestras of Ireland, and the Dublin Conservatory of Music and Drama Senior Orchestra. She studied violin in the DIT with Odhran Cassidy, and received a Diploma in Theory of Music. She also acquired the highest mark in Grade 8 violin with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music in 2001.

Zoë is currently studying under the renowned violin teacher, Maeve Broderick. Zoe has gone from playing in orchestras to soloing with them. In May 2000 Zoë was guest soloist with the Irish Chamber Orchestra at the world premier of 'Inishlacken', composed by Bill Whelan, in the Kennedy Center, Washington. The concerto for two violins and chamber orchestra was written with Zoë in mind, and it combines both the classical and traditional styles.

She went on to tour with the Irish Chamber Orchestra in their Winter Tour 2000, and still performs with them. Zoë has performed as guest soloist with the RTE Concert Orchestra on numerous occasions. She was invited to perform in their Music For Fun concert, conducted by Gareth Hudson, and also for their New Year's Eve concert, conducted by Proinnsias O Duinn, both held in the National Concert Hall. Zoë was invited to perform in the New York Stock Exchange for the 'Ringing of the Bell' marking the start of the trading year in both 2000 and 2001. The ceremony was broadcast live all over the world. She has performed for President Mary Robinson, President Mary MacAleese, Queen Sonja of Norway, and was invited to perform for H.E. Chinese Premier, Zhu Rongji, at a concert hosted by Sile De Valera TD in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, and again at a state banquet in Dublin Castle, given in his honour by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern.

Zoë has performed with Riverdance on Broadway, and has toured with Riverdance both in Europe and the United States. She won the prestigious All-Ireland Senior Fiddle Champion title in Listowel in August 2001. The title is much coveted, with previous winners including Martin Hayes and Eileen Ivers. She has worked closely with Bill Whelan, the composer of Riverdance, over the past three years. She recorded on the Riverdance CD for the Broadway show, and also recorded Inishlacken with the Irish Chamber Orchestra.

In July 2000 Zoë appeared on RTE television's The Gay Byrne Music Show. Gay Byrne had seen Zoë playing at a jazz concert in the National Concert Hall. "She did a swinging version of Chicago which was incredible. She brought the bloody house down. I said that's one girl I want for the TV series." said Ireland's leading TV Presenter. In October 2002 Zoë performed as a featured soloist, in front of Ireland's President Mary MacAleese, at the Gala opening of Dublin's newest concert venue The Helix at DCU. The concert was recorded by RTE television for later transmission.

Zoë recently received another accolade from no less than the 'Associated Boards of the Royal Schools of Music' who recently awarded her a 'Distinction in Performance' Diploma, receiving 57 out of a possible 60 points for her live recital. Her examiners went so far as to describe her work as "Stunning" - "A sure sense of virtuosity" - "A Superb Recital".