Composer in Residence (2004 - 2006)

C.S.L. Parker

Charles Stephen Lawrence Parker was born in 1961 in Leicestershire, England and emigrated to Ireland in 1982. Working from a small cottage in the heart of the Irish countryside, he taught music for nine years in County Tipperary. During this time he gave many solo recitals, most notably at Cahir Castle, Trinity College and the Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin, and at Kilkenny Arts Week.

Most important for him during this period was a reflection on the various kinds of music studied in his formative years: with piano teacher, Frederick Rogan (1969?-1979), and at the Northamptonshire Music Schools (1975-1978) where he studied, was bassoonist in the County Youth Orchestra and performed with various chamber ensembles. During that time he developed a deep interest in composition and studied from 1978-1979 with Oliver Knussen in London. He attended the Royal College of Music from 1979-1982, studying composition and piano.

Stephen now lives in Dublin and in 1990 became a full-time composer, writer and painter. His output includes solo piano, chamber and orchestral works. Recent compositions include Dance the Magic Isle (1999) for orchestra; Violin Concerto No. 1 (1998) which was premiered in the Czech Republic by the Moravian Philharmonic in 1998 and an Organ Concerto (2000).

Several of his orchestral works have been recorded on the Vienna Modern Masters label. He also writes extensively for film. Works in this genre include music for the documentary drama, Hold the Passion and the recently finished recording of his new film score for John Conroy's thirty five millimetre film Poker Nights. John Conroy's first film Selfish Minds, for which Stephen also wrote and recorded the film score, was awarded the Grand Jury prize in New York in April 2003.

C. S. L. Parker is also active as a pianist and has performed throughout Ireland as well as in Cuba, Israel, Egypt, China and India. He has become a friend, colleague and advocate of Opera Works. His music and musical experience continues to enrich and enlighten our artistic vision.

Works Commissioned

Ships and Waltzes

Children's Chorus, Piano

First Performance Due: 12.11.05 Cork Children's Chorus, C.S.L. Parker

First Recording Due: 10 / 11.11.05 Cork Children's Chorus, C.S.L. Parker

Ships and Waltzes is a set of six waltzes which have been composed as part of the Cork City Council Criteria? programme.

     Woodside Waltz

     Ice Ship Waltz

     Maiden Voyage Waltz

The Ships and Waltzes CD and book (which includes the music and ship stories by Cork Children's Chorus) can be bought in our online shop.

Trans-magic-locomotion

Jazz Big Band, Children's Chorus

First Performance Due: 06.06 Little Cherries Tamae (Kagoshima, Japan), Cork Children's Chorus

Trans-magic-locomotion has been comissioned as part of the Cork Children's Chorus Cultural Exchange Project 2005 / 2006.

Twelve Songs for Sonya

Mezzo Soprano, Female Chamber Choir (SSAA), String Orchestra, Piano, Harp, Electric Bass.

First Performance: 24.02.05 Sonya Keogh, Cork Opera Works Orchestra
First Recording: 24.02.05 Sonya Keogh, Cork Opera Works Orchestra

When You Sing Beneath a Star

Children's Chorus, String Orchestra, Piano, Harp, Electric Bass

First Performance: 04.12.04, Cork Pops Orchestra, Cork Children's Chorus

Songs for Seraphim

Female Chamber Choir (SSAA)

First Performance: 30.04.04 Seraphim Cork International Choral Festival
First Recording: 30.04.04 Seraphim Cork International Choral Festival

The Big Blue

Mezzo Soprano, Children's Chorus, String Orchestra, Piano, Harp, Electric Bass

For future performance