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A Dubliner by birth, Eric Sweeney has lived in Waterford since 1981 where he was Head of Music at Waterford Institute of Technology until 2010 . 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 the *Mass of St Patrick*, commissioned by St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, *Slow Air*, commissioned by the European Union Chamber Orchestra, and the cantata *Hymn to Gaia*, a setting of texts from Muslim, Buddhist and Native American sources, together with a range of eco-poetry reflecting on our relationship with the environment.
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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