Degani Ensemble
The Degani Ensemble was originally formed around 1984 when a group of friends got together to perform and record a wide range of chamber music. Based around the versatile combination of string trio and oboe, the group has adapted over the years to include other repertoire using wind soloists, piano, string quartet and voice.
In 1985 the ensemble gave the inaugural tour of the newly formed Music Network, and in the same year began an extensive survey of the classical and modern repertoire for oboe quartet for RTE, contributing a number of fine recordings. During the early years, the ensemble was increasingly in demand as a string quartet, and as a specialist contemporary music ensemble giving concerts and masterclasses at many festivals nationwide.
Re-forming in 2005, the core group consists of; Ruby Ashley, oboe, Alan Smale, violin, John Lynch, viola and David James, ‘cello. Ruby, Alan and David are founder members. Ruby is the foremost oboe teacher in Ireland, has held positions in all the major Irish orchestras and ensembles, and is widely known as a soloist. Alan is Leader of the RTE National Symphony Orchestra, John is co-principal viola of the same orchestra, and David is section principal ‘cello of the RTE Concert Orchestra.
A most exciting recent development of the group has been the collaboration with leading Irish soprano Cara O’Sullivan in song cycles by Vaughan Williams, Ravel, Gounod and others. The ensemble has expanded the limited repertoire for the combination of solo voice and instruments by its policy of commissioning special arrangements and original compositions by some of Ireland’s top composers, including Fiachra Trench, Shaun Davey and David Munro.
Working together with The Music Network, The Degani Ensemble with Cara O’Sullivan continues to appear to great acclaim at many of Ireland’s arts festivals, and at arts centres throughout the country. Future plans include using a wider variety of instruments in concerts, performing music from the baroque era, and extending the relationship with Irish composers to see the completion of at least one major composition for soprano and chamber ensemble this year.