Kieran Welch is a Queensland violist, event curator and producer, DJ, teacher and writer. He received investment from Arts Queensland’s Individuals Fund to support his place as a fellow in the 2016 Bang on a Can Summer Festival.
The three-week intensive is one of the most respected contemporary classical music mentoring programs in the world. Kieran performed alongside leading contemporary musicians such as pianist Vicky Chow and cellist Nick Photinos, and worked with Grammy and Pulitzer prize-winning composers John Luther Adams, David Lang and Julia Wolfe.
During the festival, Kieran performed in the American premiere of Brisbane composer Connor D'Netto's String Quartet No. 2 in the galleries at The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.
This professional development opportunity also provided Kieran with business development mentoring to support his performance career and further develop Dots+Loops, the Brisbane-based concert series he manages.
July – August 2016
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art,
North Adams, Massachusetts.
$2,000 – Individuals Fund
Keiran described what it was like being in an intensive program:
"There were a number of moments where I started to feel a bit overwhelmed with my work load, and questioned whether I would be able to perform the difficult music required of me to a level that the audience, festival organisers, composers or myself would be happy with. I was driven to work extremely hard to present at a level of professionalism that hasn't been required of me before.
The program gave me the opportunity to work and perform alongside world-leading performers, composers and event curators.
I have been greatly inspired by meeting so many people with similar artistic goals and passions, and have learnt a lot by talking with those with different artistic goals. In a number of instances I learnt a lot and changed my thoughts along the way.
I feel encouraged to push much harder for my artistic goals and feel empowered to be successful in doing so."
Email: kieranwelch@gmail.com
Website: http://www.kieranwelch.com
Watch Kieran’s performances at the 2016 Bang on a Can Summer Festival:
Tell Me Everything Julia Wolfe
Music for People Who Like Art Andrew Hamilton
Dots+Loops concert series:
www.facebook.com/dotsandloopsbrisbane