BILL WHELAN, the composer of Riverdance, and Brendan Graham, the co-writer of You Raise Me Up, are the first artists to be inducted into the new Imro Academy.
The academy has been set up by the Irish Music Rights Organisation (Imro) to celebrate songwriters and composers who have made a significant cultural impact in Ireland and around the world.
“It’s particularly relevant that it’s Bill and Brendan who are the inaugural inductees into the Imro academy,” said Victor Finn, chief executive of the organisation, which administers performing rights on behalf of Irish songwriters, composers and music publishers.
“They’ve been huge advocates for the creative community for many years, and indeed they are among the founding members of Imro and were on the first board of Imro as far back as 1995.”
"The songs Brendan has written are heard all over the world," said Keith Donald, chairman of Imro. " ' Riverdance', when you think of Ireland and music, you think U2 and ' Riverdance'."
“The whole notion of an Irish academy of writers and composers to me seems a very good idea,” said Whelan.
“To be one of the first inductees is a real honour.”
The induction ceremony was held at the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland annual conference dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel in Dublin last night.
Among the guests were Rolf Løvland, the co-writer of You Raise Me Up, Paul Brady and Eleanor McEvoy.
Whelan and Graham were presented with oak and steel statuettes in the form of a musical clef crossed by a pencil, each individually cast by blacksmith and sculptor John Hogan. The dinner also featured the world premiere of a new composition by Whelan and Graham, The High Line, which was sung by Brian Kennedy.
“Last year I was teaching for a semester at Princeton, and Brendan happened to be in New York at the same time, so we got together and walked part of the old railway line on New York’s west side which has been reclaimed as a beautiful walkway,” said Whelan. “And Brendan said, there’s a song in this.”
“I think the timing in setting up the academy is good, given that we’re so used to looking down tunnels with no light, only more tunnels,” said Graham.
“I think song plays a part in easing, uplifting, opening doors for Ireland Inc. Ireland has produced some of the biggest brands in song and music, and that invites goodwill from everywhere.”
