Honorary Doctorate for Irish National Opera Artistic Director, Fergus Sheil
Fergus Sheil, founding artistic director of Irish National Opera, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Trinity College Dublin at a ceremony on Friday 1 December.
The prestigious TCD doctorate is in recognition of Sheil’s career achievements and his contribution to opera, music, and the arts. An accomplished musician and musical director, Fergus Sheil has conducted a wide-ranging repertoire of 51 different operas (including 21 world premieres), in performance, recordings and on film, as well as producing over 60 operas at home and internationally. He has appeared with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, and Irish Chamber Orchestra, as well as conducting choral performances. Upcoming performance commitments include conducting Richard Strauss’s Salome in a new production at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in March next year. In recent years, Fergus Sheil has delivered a module in the music department at TCD in Cultural Leadership. The course encourages students to shape their own careers and to take leadership roles contributing to the development of music in Ireland.
Sheil was among the founders of Irish National Opera (INO) five years ago in 2018, which is funded by the Arts Council/ An Chomhairle Ealaíon. The company has spearheaded outreach to new and diverse audiences and the adoption of technology and modern presentation formats, while also producing some of the greatest centuries-old classic operas.
"His work in relation to Irish National Opera since 2018 has radically altered the entire opera landscape in this country. There are few careers in the arts that have had such a consequential impact as Fergus Sheil." - Trinity College Dublin
Under Fergus Sheil's guidance INO has embraced a wide range of opera productions in opera houses, theatres and in other contexts; recordings, films, online projects, site specific and operas involving VR and other technology, including the development of a new app, Isolde, for synching audio with outdoor screenings.
Welcoming the award honouring his contribution to musicianship and the arts, Fergus Sheil says the recognition reflects the achievements of Irish National Opera, and its talented team.
“This honorary doctorate is no doubt recognition of the outstanding work of Irish National Opera. This success is shared by very many people that have given immense talent, dedication and inspiration to the sharing and promotion of music since 2018. The INO team has the opportunity of a lifetime to make a big mark on opera in Ireland, and that itself is amazing reward.”
Fergus Sheil studied Music at Trinity, graduating in 1992. While in college, he set up and conducted the Trinity Orchestra, and established the precedent that it should be conducted by a student and focus on student soloists and composers. INO’s Head of Production, Gavin O’Sullivan, was a key member of the viola section at the time. The orchestra is still going, 34 years later, and has had generations of well-known musicians passing through it.
Sheil credits this formative experience at Trinity as giving him the confidence to push for other later opportunity, including performing internationally while establishing and leading opera companies with ambition and flair.
Music is a family business in the Sheil household, the conductor and artistic director confirms: “In a lovely piece of timing, this honour comes at a time when both of my daughters are students in Trinity. Both are on the committee of the orchestra, as well as being involved in many aspects of TCD life, which makes me doubly proud.”