10 Feb New Music Development Officer
Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board together with Music Generation National Development Office are pleased to announced the appointment of Eric Cunningham as Musical Development Officer to Music Generation Galway County.
As an Event & Show Producer Eric has worked across 6 continents in venues such as The White House, Beijing Opera House, Emirates Palace, the Kennedy Centre & Disney World. Acts he has produced have performed from Ireland to India, Chile to China, Australia to America, Brazil to Britain, Japan to Russia, throughout the United Arab Emirates, Scandinavia and Europe.
As a Musician, Eric has worked as a soloist with numerous international orchestras including the National Symphony Orchestra (Ireland), the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the Irish Chamber Orchestra, the Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the U.A.E. Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also performed with a host of internationally recognised artists including Ronnie Wood (Rolling Stones). He has performed for 3 Irish Presidents, 4 US Presidents, Prince Albert of Monaco and many other dignitaries & royalty. Eric previously managed and performed with Frankie Gavin and Irish traditional supergroup De Dannan. Notable performances include playing support to the Rolling Stones at Slane Castle (Ireland) and live at Beijing Opera House. Eric has performed on various global TV networks from the Late Late Show to Fox News.
As an Event Promoter…Eric has promoted many events and acts including international rock star Bryan Adams in Galway, Ireland to 18,000 people. Cunningham was also the founder and former Festival Director of The World Fleadh which was, during his reign, the biggest Irish traditional & celtic music festival in Ireland. He sold the rights to the event in 2010.
As an Academic…he holds Bachelor’s & Master’s (1st Hons) Degrees in Music from University College Cork (Ireland) and was also awarded the Seán O Riada Memorial Award by the same institution. Having a very keen interest in world music and musical fusion, Eric also studied with the Ewe Tribe in Ghana, West Africa.
As a Composer...Eric’s original work has been performed globally (including at 45 concert venues in China) and on national and international TV and described by the Irish Times as ‘Terrific’, ‘Stunning’ by the Irish Independent and ‘Music to marvel at’ by the Irish Examiner.
As an Artistic Director, Eric Founded the Galway Traditional Orchestra and acts as the Artistic Director for the 70+ member ensemble. The Mayor of Galway City acts as Patron of the Orchestra. Eric also founded the Mayo Traditional Orchestra and acts as its Artistic Director.
As a TV Producer Eric has produced TV Events for RTÉ and devised a documentary for TG4.
Eric was awarded the National Outstanding Young Person of the Year Award by the Chamber of Commerce Ireland and also presented with a Rehab People of the Year Award.
“Cunningham’s professionalism, intelligence and inventiveness dictates that he is capable of creating the most astonishing transformations” (Prof. Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin)