Portraits in Sound

Researcher: Sinead Walsh

Its inspiration derives from the collection of 45 portraits of female composers housed at the National Portrait Gallery, including Elizabeth Lutyens, Elizabeth Maconchy, Ethel Smyth, Clara Schumann and Thea Musgrave.

The programme will feature unrecorded works and new commissions, weaving together flute chamber music with electronics, poetry, and visual art. The pieces will be linked by spoken word, with extracts from letters written by the women depicted in the portraits, with the aim of creating a seamless blend of past and present. This immersive, hour-long experience will challenge traditional concert formats by incorporating improvisation and offering a fresh perspective on the flute’s versatility.

In doing so, my project aims to inspire the audience to view modern music through a different lens, while showcasing the richness of women’s contributions to the field. It will provide a platform for emerging composers and offers a space for reflection on the evolving role of women in music. As a performer, curator and presenter, I hope to engage audiences on a deeper level, encouraging both intellectual and emotional connections with the music and its context.

Image: designed by Freepik