Beth is founder and Artistic Director of Musici Ireland, a female led chamber collective consisting of a core of players that welcomes collaborations with nationally and internationally celebrated musicians.
Over the last decade they have created lasting relationships with venues and guest artists, performing regularly at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, making their debut at the Kilkenny Arts Festival in 2019, and enjoying a successful partnership with RTE Lyric FM through regular broadcast of their performances. Beth and Musici Ireland are currently involved in a number of exciting projects that explore important social themes and cross genre collaborations, particularly with musicians' role on stage as part of theatre and dance.
As a soloist, Beth has performed the Telemann Viola Concerto many times at St Martin in the Fields, London, with Musici Ireland, as part of the 2019 Ardee Baroque Festival and as a live concert broadcast for RTE Lyric FM in 2021, with repeat broadcast on BBC Radio 3. In 2015, she was soloist for the Mozart Sinfonia Concertante with violinist Ioana Petcu-Colan in the National Opera House of Ireland with Wexford Sinfonia, conducted by Fergus Sheil. She was finalist of the Royal Overseas League Bernard Shore Viola Competition and has also appeared as soloist on two occasions for Vaughan Williams’ “Flos Campi” for choir, orchestra, and solo viola. Beth regularly performs around Ireland with her duo partner, pianist Lance Coburn.
Since moving to Ireland in 2007, Beth founded Internationally renowned chamber ensemble Musici Ireland, with whom she has a longstanding relationship with Irish based composer Liam Bates. “Earthrise”, their latest collaboration, for solo viola and chamber ensemble has recently been recorded with Grammy award winning producer Jonathan Allen. Due for release in April 2024, the album also includes 5 previously unrecorded chamber works by Deirdre McKay, Ian Wilson, Amanda Feery, Deirdre Gribbin and Linda Buckley.
With Musici Ireland, Beth was conceptor and creative director of “A Mother’s Voice”, a multi-disciplinary work including recorded voices of 3 survivors of Mother & Baby Homes in Ireland. Premiered in January 2023 in Triskel Arts Centre, the performance Includes Art Installation, Animation, and original music by Irene & Linda Buckley for string quartet & electronics. International performances include Rainy Days Festival, Luxembourg 2023 and Frankfurt and America in 2024 as well as performances around Ireland.
As a soloist, Beth has commissioned many works for her instrument. Recent collaborations include composers: Deborah Pritchard, Peter Moran, Deirdre McKay, Ailbhe McDonagh and Libby Croad.
Beth was the inaugural recipient of the Southeast Venues Artist Bursary in 2021, allowing her time to explore works by women composers for solo viola. Also in 2021/22, Beth was awarded a place on the Performance Corporation “Creation Artist” residency, exploring site specific performance with multidisciplinary improvised works created in Ireland and Catalonia.
In April 2023 Beth was music advisor and performer for a piece of Dance Theatre by choreographer Vivian Brodie-Hayes at the National Opera House, creating a soundscape for a work examining the 5th amendment. In June 2203, Beth travelled to Iceland to perform as part of the Improv Cohort “Icelandic Sessions” 5 part improvised performance at Við Djúpið Music Festival, Ísafjörður June 2023.
Beth is currently developing a solo performance “Elemental”, for pre-recorded viola d’amore, improvised viola, dancer and aerial artist, exploring our relationship to mother nature and the meaning of “roots”, both environmentally and as humans- finding the place that feels like home.
Beth has also appeared on many Recordings and Film Scores and presents Arts Podcast “Musici Chats”. She has recorded at Abbey Road Studios, Air Studios, Windmill Lane performing with artists including: Katie Melua, Michael Bublé, Shirley Bassey, Westlife, Sharon Corr, Celtic Woman, Katherine Jenkins, Buena Vista Social Club, Belle and Sebastian and Andrea Bocelli.
Beth was co-founder of the Blackwater Bows strings project with Music Generation Wexford, providing string tuition to over 40 youngsters in rural areas of the County and conducted the Wexford County Youth Orchestra from 2019-2022.
Beth plays on a cut down Viol by Barack Norman, dating back to the 1650s. The instrument was made into a viola by Matthew Hardie in 1818 and appears in the book “Violin making in Scotland 1750-1950” by David Rattray. Her bow is a custom-made Noel Burke piece, from 2019.
A short educational video Beth recorded during lockdown for the National Opera House, Ireland.
