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Archives: About IMO

Twitter comments

Written by David on .

Twitter comments
A great night at Cadogan Hall with Dave Flynn’s Irish Memory Orchestra’s brilliant performance, 20 young musicians who play entirely from memory. Amazing energy, innovative sounds from fiddle, flute, concertina, guitar. – The Irish World
The Irish Memory Orchestra in Tinahely last night. Absolutely sublime and uplifting. Don’t miss them if you can. – Albert Llussa
Great concert by the Irish Memory Orchestra here tonight at Christ Church in Dublin – David Quinn
Can’t wait to sing with Dave Flynn’s Irish Memory Orchestra on Saturday. Such an exciting orchestra to make music with – Eileen Coyle
Last night @glorennis with #Clare Memory Orchestra was stunning. A River Dance moment for Trad inspired Music. Brilliant – Colm Humphries
The most amazing performance by the Clare Memory Orchestra last night. Plz support this fantastic group – Carol Byrne
The Clare Memory Orchestra premiered The Clare Concerto in Ennis tonight. An absolute triumph! Next stop Carnegie Hall!! – Mary Lou Harvey
The Clare Memory Orchestra performance at @glorennis tomorrow night is completely sold out! A packed house for a very special evening – glórennis

Youtube comments

Written by David on .

Youtube comments
I have no words for how good this is! – Kristian Stipe
A premier penny whistle player and a chamber orchestra, consisting of both chromatic and diatonic instruments, a guitar and a drum set, playing from memory not sheet music…a uniquely Irish phenomenon. – Michael Suraci
I was there and will never forget it. – splortz
Heard the London debut t’other night. Very interesting music. – kelamuni
Fíor concerto, níl a leithéid aon áit eile ar domhan, b’fhéidir ar neamh! – Eileen Healy
Sublime – Eileen Healy
Gorgeous! – Mike Caul

Facebook Comments

Written by David on .

Facebook Comments
I was at the Ballyvaughan concert in August- what a fantastic treat for the senses. Please please can we have another performance anywhere -Anytime – Mary Mullane
Another unbelievable performance. Would walk on hot coals to hear them again! – Bernie Healy
Great concert in Turlough Hill last night. – Simon Carroll
Thank you for such a beautiful concert at the Catholic Church in Moscow! Wish you success all the time! Andrew Balykov
Their performance at The Glor this month was so astounding! Wish you all the best of luck in spreading the joy! – Judith Merrill
Congrats to all concerned for that fantastic, amazing concert last night. Have been to many concerts in many places but that beat all! –
Margaret Lynch
Just wanted to say thanks for a truly unique musical experience seeing your performance in Glor last night. So glad I got those last minute
tickets! – Jason Noone
I couldnt stop smiling the whole way through,I now notice I wasnt the only one! Privilaged to have been part of the scheme,( along with my daughter Síofra Barker last year ) and made some new friends in the process too….State Agencies that are not recognising the work that
Dave Flynn and the Orchestra do…shame on you. – Bridge Barker
I was very lucky to be in the audience in Feakle last Friday night, absolutely blown away by the whole concept of IMO and music on the
night in Feakle. Brilliant and wonderful to hear and see such talented Irish musicians collaborating together on stage. Congrats – Anne Smart
Splendid lunchtime recital at Glor on a fine soft day by soloists from the Irish Memory Orchestra. Mighty stuff! – Chris Smith
Thank you very much for a fantastic show in Glor, Ennis tonight. – Dee Mulcahy
Culture Night, glór theatre, Ennis

THE IMO

Written by David on .

​”Composer Dave Flynn has assembled a formidable collective of musicians, composing critically acclaimed music especially for them…..they are steadily garnering a reputation for melding traditional and classical music with a twist” The Irish Times

“I’ve never seen musicians work so brilliantly together and with such intensity. If you ever get a chance to see them together pay any price you can afford!” Fergus Finlay, Irish Examiner

AT THE 2018 CORK FOLK FEST WITH CONDUCTOR BJORN BANTOCK Photo: John O'Neill
AT THE 2018 CORK FOLK FEST WITH CONDUCTOR BJORN BANTOCK Photo: John O’Neill

The only ensemble of its kind in the world, the IMO has wowed audiences from London to Moscow, Clare to Korea with its ground-breaking and inclusive approach to orchestral music. Since founding in 2012 the IMO has broken down barriers by removing sheet music from the stage, thus opening access to musicians and instruments not usually found in orchestral music. The IMO’s 100% commitment to memorised performances sets them apart from every orchestra in the Western world. The IMO has a core of 20 world-class musicians, led by founder/composer Dave Flynn, conductor Bjorn Bantock and violinist Niamh Varian-Barry.

Photo of THE STRING SECTION OF THE IRISH MEMORY ORCHESTRA. Photo: John O'Neill
THE STRING SECTION OF THE IRISH MEMORY ORCHESTRA. Photo: John O’Neill
Photo of THE WIND & REED SECTION OF THE IRISH MEMORY ORCHESTRA. Photo: John O'Neill
THE WIND & REED SECTION OF THE IRISH MEMORY ORCHESTRA. Photo: John O’Neill
Photo of THE HORN & PERCUSSION SECTION OF THE IRISH MEMORY ORCHESTRA. Photo: John O'Neill
THE HORN & PERCUSSION SECTIONS OF THE IRISH MEMORY ORCHESTRA. Photo: John O’Neill
AT THE 2015 SORI INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL, SOUTH KOREA WITH CONDUCTOR SINEAD HAYES AND SOLOIST CIARA NI BHRIAIN

Achievements to Date

Written by Eamon on .

2004

Dave Flynn is the first Irish composer to receive a Masters in Composition from The Guildhall School of Music, London

2004

Dave Flynn is the first Irish composer to win The Composers Award at The Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival

2010

Dave Flynn is awarded the first ever Composition PhD from Dublin Institute of Technology

2010

Dave Flynn’s Fiddle Concerto ‘Aontacht’ premieres in The National Concert Hall with RTE Concert Orchestra

2012

Dave Flynn founds The Irish Memory Orchestra – 1st orchestra in the Western world to always perform without sheet-music

2013

‘Clare Concerto ‘Premiered with 70 piece Irish Memeory Orchestra In Glor

2014

Irish Memory Orchestra & RTÉ Concert Orchestra sell out National Concert Hall performing Flynn’s music ​

2014

Irish Memory Orchestra plays in Moscow Catholic Cathedral to 1100 strong crowd ​at Christmas Festival

2015

Irish Memory Orchestra headline South Korean Sori International Festival, Asia’s largest folk festival

2015

IMO wins Allianz Business to Arts Award with ESB

2016

Dave Flynn’wins Eamon Ceannt Memorial Commission Competition to compose a work for 1916 centenary

2016

Irish Memory Orchestra headlines Fleadh TV in front of a large worldwide audience

2017

World Premiere of Dave Flynn’s ‘Memory Symphony’ in Christchurch Cathedral

2018

​Headline appearances at London’s Cadogan Hall and Cork Folk Festival,

2019

​World Premiere of Dave Flynn’s ‘Vision Symphony’ with blind/vision-impaired musicians in glór

What Our Audiences Say

Written by Eamon on .

Another unbelievable performance. Would walk on hot coals to hear them again! BERNIE

Thank you for such a beautiful concert at the Catholic Church in Moscow! Wish you success all the time! ANDREW

their performance was so astounding! Wish you all the best of luck in spreading the joy! JUDITH

​Congrats to all concerned for that fantastic, amazing concert last night. Have been to many concerts in many places but that beat all! MARGARET 


Just wanted to say thanks for a truly unique musical experience …. So glad I got those last minute tickets! JASON

what a fantastic treat for the senses. Please please can we have another performance anywhere – MARY

I couldn’t stop smiling the whole way through, I now notice I wasn’t the only one! Privileged to have been part of the scheme, (along with my daughter Síofra last year) and made some new friends in the process too… BRIDGE

absolutely blown away by the whole concept of the IMO .. Brilliant and wonderful to hear and see such talented Irish musicians collaborating together on stage. Congrats ANNE

An absolute triumph! Next stop Carnegie Hall! MARY

Absolutely sublime and uplifting. Don’t miss them if you can. ALBERT

I have no words for how good this is! KRISTIAN

A River Dance moment for trad inspired Music. Brilliant! COLM

I was there and will never forget it. SPLORTZ

heard the London debut t’other night. very interesting music. KELAMUNI

Fíor concerto, níla leithéid aon áit eile ar domhan, b’fhêidir ar neamh! EILEEN