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A Dubliner by birth, Eric Sweeney has lived in Waterford since 1981 where he is Head of Music at Waterford Institute of Technology. Previously he lectured in music at the Dublin College of Music (now Dublin Institute of Technology) and at Trinity College. He was Choral Director at RTE from 1978-1981.
A frequent visitor to North America he has been composer-in-residence at the Newport Festival Rhode Island, Memorial University, Newfoundland, the University of Illinois, Indiana State University and the University of Portland, Oregon among others.
His many works include Dance Music commissioned by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the cantata Deirdre commissioned by RTE (the Irish national radio and television network) Figurations for guitar commissioned by the Spanish Cultural Institute and Music for a Festival commissioned by Festival International de Musique Universitaire, Belfort, France.
Recent projects include a Guitar Concerto for John Feeley, a work for the percussion ensemble of Manchester Conservatoire of Music and Autumn Music for Swedish organist Mikael Wahlin.
Organist and choirmaster of Christ Church Cathedral Waterford, he began organ lessons while still a choirboy at St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin studying with the cathedral organist W.S. Greig. He later studied with Flor Peeters in Belgium and, with the aid of an Italian Government scholarship, with Fernando Germani in Rome. He has given recitals throughout Ireland both North and South as well as in England, Sweden, Italy, France and America and his programmes reflect a special interest in contemporary music.
He is a member of Aosdána, Ireland's state-sponsored academy of creative artists.
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