Premiere of new Byrne composition at NCH

American based Navan-born conductor, composer, arranger and pianist Brian Byrne is conducting an RTÉ Concert Orchestra and Big Band concert on 29th May next at the National Concert Hall, Dublin called 'Swingin" through the Sixties", which will feature both the world premiere of Brian"s new piece 'The Martin Luther King Suite" and the winner of a singer-songwriter competition on RTÉ Radio 1"s Tubridy Show. Swingin" through the Sixties features vocalists Fred Johanson and Hazel Fernandes along with the orchestra and big band in new arrangements of numbers by Dylan, Presley, Hendrix, and the Beatles. Another draw is the chance to hear the winner of the singer-songwriter competition on Tubridy. Brian will write an orchestral arrangement for the song that wins, and the winner will perform it live on stage on the night. Brian will be working at the remarkable speed of which he"s capable - closing date for entries is Friday 22nd May, he and RTÉ Concert Orchestra will judge the entries over the following few days, then he"ll have an arrangement ready to go for the middle of the next week. Brian is also currently composing the score for 'Zonad", the new film from Once director John Carney. The Martin Luther King Suite is an orchestral suite focusing on the most important events in MLK"s history, starting with Rosa Parks and the bus boycotts, music inspired by the 'I Have a Dream" speech and the Nobel Peace Prize speech. There is a movement dedicated to Coretta Scott King, an elegy and to end, a Barack Obama movement. Booking is on (01) 417 0000 or www.nch.ie.