Top percussionists Ian David Rosenbaum and Andy Akiho to open festival

Opening the festival, American percussionists Andy Akiho and Ian David Rosenbaum will explore the unique and exciting sounds of steel pan drum, percussion, piano and flute ensembles in a wide-ranging programme of repertoire spanning Baroque to Contemporary styles.

Andy Akiho’s music has been described as a blend of Middle Eastern, reggae, noir jazz, Japanese folk, brooding 80s pop, and bright ringing soca tonalities.

He is a winner of the prestigious Rome Prize, has been a driving force behind 21st century music and brings the song-like quality of steel pans to his performances.

Together with Ian David Rosenbaum, one of the few percussionists ever to be a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Centre, the two will give a brilliantly collaborative opening night performance featuring Co-Artistic Directors Cathal Breslin (Piano) and Sabrina Hu (Flute).

Artistic Director Cathal Breslin is very excited to be welcoming Andy and Ian to Derry for the opening of the festival and said: “These musicians represent some of the most exciting developments in music, blending many different types of music into one, changing perceptions and creating amazing experiences. We’re so lucky to have this coming to Derry in June!”

The Walled City Music Festival will take place between 2 and 5 June and tickets are now available from www.walledcitymusic.com.

Walled City Music is the leading promoter of classical and contemporary music in Derry~Londonderry.

The Walled City Music Festival was founded in 2008 by Artistic Directors Dr. Cathal Breslin and Dr. Sabrina Hu, with the aim of bringing outstanding classical music-making to the heart of cultural life in Derry.

First held in 2009, Walled City Music’s summer chamber-music Festival (WCMF) has since attracted artists of international calibre from around the world, including the Kronos Quartet, Sir James Galway, Katia & Marielle Labeque, Jonathan Lemalu, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Augustin Dumay, Raphael Wallfisch, Jan Vogler, the Fitzwilliam String Quartet, Brodsky Quartet, Emma Johnson, Nicholas Daniel, Colin Currie, Tine Thing Helseth, Anne Akiko Meyers and many others.

Full Festival Programme, 2 – 5 June 2016: Thursday 2 June, The Glassworks, 7.30pm, Andy Akiho & Ian David Rosenbaum (Percussion); Friday 3 June, Foyle Arts Building Composers Workshop with Andy Akiho & Ian David Rosenbaum; Friday 3 June, Culturlann/The Glassworks, Ulster University Music End-of-Year Showcase; Saturday 4 June, Gulliver’s Travels, Babu Press; Saturday 4 June, The Glassworks, 7.30pm, Jeremy Denk (Piano); Sunday 5 June, The Glassworks, 7.30pm, Measha Brueggergosman (Soprano) & Cathal Breslin (Piano).