Name: ForestARIA @ Galway - Town Hall Theatre
Start: 2025-11-23T15:00:00+00:00
Location: Town Hall Theatre Galway

#ForestAria – an international tour giving voice to women composers, in dialogue with nature and visual art.
The Romanian Association of Music Performers (UCIMR) announces the launch of ForestAria, a series of multimedia concerts that bring together contemporary music, visual art, and the expressive power of natural and cultural landscapes.
Taking place between November 7 and 24, 2025, the international tour includes five concerts in the United Kingdom, Romania, and Ireland, performed by the renowned ConTempo Quartet, a Romanian – Irish ensemble with an international career spanning more than three decades.
Four composers — Rucsandra Popescu (Romania–Germany), Oana Vardianu (Romania), Sarah Marze (USA/England), and Crea Sullivan (Ireland) — were selected through an international call and bring together four distinct perspectives on today’s musical world, from poetic introspection to vibrant and visionary soundscapes.
Each composer is also portrayed by visual artist Mihai Benea, in a visual dialogue with nature where light and texture become part of her artistic identity, evoking a natural fusion between human presence and landscape.
ForestAria Tour – November 2025
The four works will have their world premiere during an international tour with five stops: London (November 7), Brașov (November 20), Bucharest (November 21), Galway (November 23), and Dublin (November 24). Information about the full program and concert access conditions is available on www.ucimr.ro and on UCIMR’s social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, X).
“ForestAria explores the balance between nature and creation, between feminine energy and the regenerative power of the forest, through an interdisciplinary dialogue between contemporary music and visual art.” — Dr. Diana Gheorghiu, curator
Organization and Partners
Curated by Dr. Diana Gheorghiu
Organized by UCIMR – The Romanian Association of Music Performers
Co-funded by The Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN)
Partners:
Institutul Cultural Român / Romanian Cultural Institute in London, The Romanian Embassy in Ireland, The Contemporary Music Centre Ireland, ICon Arts Partnership (Ireland), Asociația Mioritics (Romania), Brașov County Museum of History - The Museum of Sports and Mountain Tourism, Olimpia, National Museum of Maps and Old Books (Romania).
Disclaimer: The project does not necessarily represent the views of AFCN. The institution is not responsible for the content of the project or the way its results may be used.
About the Artists
ConTempo Quartet
Formed in 1995 in Bucharest, ConTempo Quartet (Bogdan Sofei and Ingrid Nicola – violins, Andreea Banciu – viola, Adrian Mantu – cello) is one of Europe’s most respected chamber ensembles. Winners of 14 international prizes and numerous distinctions – including the Order of the Knights of Performing Arts (2022) – the members of the quartet have performed more than 2,900 concerts worldwide, in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall (New York), Wigmore Hall (London), and Philharmonie Berlin.
The quartet will feature guest artist Ladislau Csendes, celebrated Romanian violinist and violist.
Mihai Benea – Photographer
A documentary and cultural photographer with over 25 years of experience, known for his refined portraiture and collaborations with major national and international publications.
Diana Gheorghiu – Curator
Composer and cultural manager, PhD in Music and graduate of the National University of Music Bucharest, with a master’s degree in Communication and Public Relations. Her artistic activity blends research, composition, and interdisciplinary cultural management.
About the Works and Composers
Rucsandra Popescu (Germany) – Natural Distorsion
A Romanian-German composer with a strong European presence, recognized for her expressive and refined musical language. Her works have been featured at major festivals such as ISCM World New Music Days (South Africa, 2023) and Donaueschinger Musiktage, and awarded in numerous European competitions.
Oana Vardianu (Romania) – Where the Meadows Fall Silent
One of Romania’s most promising young composers, with an impressive portfolio of chamber, choral, and orchestral works. A graduate of the National University of Music Bucharest, and laureate of the Ștefan Niculescu Prize and the George Enescu Scholarship. Also an active double bassist, she explores the intersection between Romanian tradition and contemporary expression.
Sarah Marze (USA/UK) – Strange Terrain
Composer and soprano based in London, Marshall Scholar and student at the Royal Academy of Music. Her music, noted for emotional intensity and bold colour, has been performed by ensembles including The Riot Ensemble and CHROMA Ensemble. She explores the interaction between text, voice, and musical dramaturgy in a poetic and theatrical manner.
Crea Sullivan (Ireland) – Awakenings
Composer and orchestrator specializing in film music, graduate of Berklee College of Music (Summa Cum Laude) and Trinity College Dublin. Her works have been recorded by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Budapest Art Orchestra, standing out through a refined orchestral language and cinematic sensibility.
About UCIMR
Founded in 1995 by Ștefan Gheorghiu, principal violist of the Bucharest Philharmonic, UCIMR – the Romanian Association of Music Performers is a non-profit organization of public interest with extensive experience in producing large-scale cultural events. Over the past 30 years, UCIMR has implemented more than 400 projects, including international festivals, concert seasons, artistic residencies, and educational programs. Its initiatives are defined by innovation, interdisciplinarity, and a strong commitment to artistic excellence.