Orchester Divertimento Bern featuring Irish Music Legend Martin Hayes

Together with the Irish conductor of the orchestra Divertimento Bern Clíodhna Ní Aodáin, the piece “THE WESTERLY EDGE” was composed on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Ireland. It celebrates Irish culture, combining different styles of Irish music with the sound of an orchestra in a contemporary form.

THE WESTERLY EDGE – Suite for Irish Fiddle & Chamber Orchestra

The internationally acclaimed violinist and composer, Martin Hayes, performs with the orchestra Divertimento Bern. In all the years of his international career, he has developed a very personal musical style – although committed to the Irish musical tradition, elements of contemporary music, jazz and improvisation also flow into his music.

The fact that this outstanding musician is now performing in our city with the Divertimento Bern Orchestra is thanks to the orchestra’s Irish conductor Clíodhna Ní Aodáin, herself a gifted musician. Their meeting is no coincidence, as they are “brother and sister in spirit” and have known each other for a long time. Together they conceived and composed this suite – a touching musical journey to “The Westerly Edge”, to the westernmost region of this fascinating island, just in time for the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Ireland.

It celebrates Irish culture, combining different styles of Irish music with the sound of an orchestra in a contemporary form. Ireland’s turbulent history with famines, forced mass emigration, unwelcome foreignness, homesickness with thousands of human tragedies characterise this people – and yet many Irish people have retained a special humour, a certain angularity, but also independence and above all a sometimes exuberant joie de vivre – emotions that are generally palpable in Irish music, but especially in “The Westerly Edge”.

After graduating from high school, she studied with Eva Zurbrügg at the Bern Conservatory and with Hansheinz Schneeberger at the Basel Music Academy.

From 1984 concertmaster activities in various orchestras such as Sinfonietta Basel, University Orchestra Bern, Neues Zürcher Orchester etc. Since 2002 concertmaster of the orchestra Divertimento Bern. Additional member of the Bern Symphony Orchestra from 1987-2017.

1993 foundation of the “Ensemble 7”. Since 1994 violin and viola teacher at the Bantiger Music School in Bolligen. From 2016 director of the Kammerensemble Bolligen.

Studied cello with Emma Ferrand at the RNCM in Manchester, with Yuli Turovsky at the Université de Montréal and with Susanne Basler at the ZHdK Zurich. Master classes in orchestral conducting with Atso Almila at the Sibelius Academy in Finland. Conductor of the orchestra Divertimento Bern since 2011. Cello teacher at the Konsi Bern and conductor of the Konsi children’s orchestra Die Tigerbande. International concerts and courses in free improvisation. Solo project: “The Celtic Cello”.