Biography
Dr. Evangelia Rigaki is a composer and has written a diverse compositional portfolio ranging from instrumental works to experimental music theatre, choir, dance, performance art, installation and opera. She is collaborating closely with leading singers, musicians, directors and writers/ poets, including poet W. N. Herbert and playwright Marina Carr with whom she enjoys an on-going collaboration since 2020 (The Gift/2020, Old Ghosts/2022, Farewell To The Gods/ 2023,Green/ 2024).
Evangelia joined Trinity in September 2010 and since has taught a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. She was the founding Director of the 'MPhil in Composition'(2012-2020). She curates the 'Music Composition Centre's public lectures and Masterclasses (2012-). She was the Head of the Music Department (2020-2023), Acting Director of Teaching and Learning (Undergraduate) for the Hilary Term in 2024, and since June 2024 she is the Director of Teaching and Learning (Postgraduate) for the School of Creative Arts.
Selected research projects include: the opera 'Old Ghosts', libretto by Marina Carr for the Ulysses 2.2 tribute across Ireland to mark a century of James Joyce's Ulysses, commissioned by the Irish National Opera, ANU Productions, Landmark Productions (2023), the short opera `The Gift, libretto by Marina Carr, as part of Irish National Opera's online project, `20 Shots of Opera' (2020), the installation opera 'This Hostel Life' after the same titled book by Melatu Uche Okorie, Irish National Opera (2019), 'While The World Misbehaves, the Baby Must Hide in the Beehive',libretto by W.N. Herbert, for 6 Dancing Percussionists, written for Richard O Donnell for the 20th Anniversary of RIAM's 'Percussion Ensemble' premiered in New York University (2018), the object music theatre piece 'Monsieur Jean & Monsieur Jean', premiered by Ensemble Lucilin in Luxembourg (2015), the opera-installation 'The Pregnant Box' (2014), libretto by W.N. Herbert & Catherine Conlon, written for one audience member at a time in a specially constructed confession box and a wandering choir, the Arts Council funded opera 'AntiMidas, or, Bankers in Hades', libretto by W.N. Herbert (2013),'Lullabaloo', libretto by W.N.Herbert, Tête à Tête Opera Festival, London, (2010), 'Gesprekken Van De Ziel', libretto & director, Sjaron Minailo, Operadagen Rotterdam Festival(2009).
Evangelia Rigaki's current PhD Students at Trinity are researching:
- Promoting Community Engagement in Contemporary Music Through Street Art, Emmelle Wadding
- Cross-fertilising Irish and European Styles of Compositional Construction: a new direction of music composition, Daniel Vives Lynch
- Five Operatic Adaptations of Euripide's Alcestis, Anastasia Motiti
- Melodic Interplay in Contemporary Composition, Boris Golovin
Completed PhD in Composition Portfolios supervised by Evangelia Rigaki include the following:
- Theatrical Elements and Musical Dramaturgy in Contemporary Music', PhD in Composition, Manos Markantonis, 2023
-`On the Move: Investigating processes of composition using visual/dramatic/physical elements and extended techniques with a focus on solos, mixed ensembles, and the marching arts', Lindsey Vincent,2021
-'Composing the Uncertainty - Exploring different possibilities of indeterminacy in composition and developing notations to encourage improvisation',Kai Chung Fung,2021
- `Melting the Boundaries : Integrating Ethnic Instruments into Western Art Music,Meg Stoops,2021
- 'Evolving Sounds - PhD Portfolio of Compositions',Brian Keegan, 2018
- PhD Portfolio of Compositions, Elis Czerniak, 2018
- 'Sublime Dissonance - PhD Portfolio of Compositions', Cobi Van Tonder,2017
- 'Big Scary Numbers - PhD Portfolio of Compositions',Jenn Kirby,2015
- 'The Use of Gesture and Found Information in the Generation of Musical Material - PhD Portfolio of Compositions ,Hugh O'Neill,2015
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Evangelia Rigaki (music), Marina Carr (words), 'Old Ghosts, Opera', Ulysses 2.2, Irish National Opera, LandMark Productions, ANU, MoLI (Museum of Literature Ireland), 2023, -
Evangelia Rigaki (music), Marina Carr (words), 'The Gift', 20 Shots of Opera, Irish National Opera, youtube, operavision, online, 2020, -
Evangelia Rigaki, Melatu Uche Okorie, 'This Hostel Life, Opera-Installation', Irish National Opera, 2019, -
Evangelia Rigaki, W.N.Herbert, 'AntiMidas, or, Bankers in Hades, Opera', Beckett Theatre, Dublin, Arts Council, 2013, -
Evangelia Rigaki Composer, Agnes Limbos Director, 'Monsieur Jean & Monsieur Jean, object music-theatre', Rottundes, Luxembourg, 2015, -
Evangelia Rigaki Music, W.N. Herbert, Words, 'While the World Misbehaves, The Baby Must Hide in the Beehive', Composition for 6 Percussionists, New York University, Lehman College New York, CMC, 2018, -
Evangelia Rigaki, 'OTMEN [Breath] for pianist & optional audience participation', Cathy Krier, Festival Debussy, CAPe Ettelbrück (Luxembourg)12th july 2019,Rosazzo Vigne Museum (Italy) - 28th September 2020,Frauenkirche Dresden, Germany, 2018, -
Lubna Gem Arielle Words, Evangelia Rigaki Music, Aljosa Smolic, 'Bridging the Blue', V-Sense, Trinity College Dublin, 2018, -
Evangelia Rigaki Music & W.N. Herbert Words, 'Lost Ships List, for Ria Georgiadis & Sven Birch', Alte Schmiede Wien, 19 June, 2018, Contemporary Music Centre, CMC, 2018, -
Evangelia Rigaki Music & W.N. Herbert Words, 'In the Oubliette', V-Sense, Trinity College Dublin , V-Sense, Contemporary Music Centre, 2018, -
Evangelia Rigaki, W.N. Herbert (words), 'If Words Are Water', Christ Church, Taney, Dundrum/New York University, School of Music/ Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College/Lehman College School of Music, 2020, -
Evangelia Rigaki, Sjaron Minailo, ''Hadith Al Rouh' (Dutch title: Gesprekken Van De Ziel)', Operadagen Rotterdam Festival, May, Operadagen Rotterdam Festival, May, 2009, -
Evangelia Rigaki, 'Taste I/II/III', Bill Dowdall, Royal Irish Academy of Music, 2017, -
Evangelia Rigaki, The Pregnant Box, genesis and develoment, Music Department, University of Glasgow, 17 February, 2016
Evangelia Rigaki, W.N. Herbert, Darren Ellis, 'Little Instruments of Apprehension', Tete a Tete Opera Festival London, 2009, -
Evangelia Rigaki, 'Playthings', Inspired by Michael Cronin's (French Department, TCD) same titled chapter from the book 'Time Tracks, Scenes from the Irish Everyday'. , Bill Dowdall, Music Dpt Ionion University, Greece, Contemporary Music Centre, CMC, 2018, -
Evangelia Rigaki creator/composer, Libretto: W.N. Herbert, Catherine Conlon, 'The Pregnant Box', Trinity College Dublin, Front Square, 2014, -
Evangelia Rigaki, 'The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant': The Post-minimalist Gerald Barry?, Third International Conference on Music and Minimalism, Leuven, 12-15 October, 2011
Evangelia Rigaki, Singing the Unutterable: Extended vocal techniques for dramatic purposes in contemporary opera & music theatre, Song, Stage and Screen Conference, University of Winchester, September, 2010
Evangelia Rigaki(music), Marina Carr (words), 'Farewell To The Gods, Choir', 2024, -
Evangelia Rigaki (music), Marina Carr (words), 'Green, Choir', 2024, -
Evangelia Rigaki, 'Keening, for Harpsichord', Inventions: the Harpsichord across time and Borders, Ireland, Scotland, UK, 2024, -
Evangelia Rigaki, Constantine Cavafy, 'Exiles', Ostadetheater, Amsterdam, December, 2009, -
Evangelia Rigaki (music), Louise Manifold (words/director), Elizabeth Hilliard (performer), 'Crushbar, Video Installation', Model (Sligo), 2022, Supermarket Art Fair nterface Inagh, 2024, 2022, -
Evangelia Rigaki (Music), Marina Carr (Words), 'Pomegranate', Contemporary Music Centre (CMC), 2021, -
Evangelia Rigaki, 'Tutare, For 4 tabla players and 4 percussionists,', Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, 2009, -
Evangelia Rigaki, W.N.Herbert, 'Lullabaloo', Riverside Studios, London,Tête-à-Tête Opera Festival, August 2010, 2010, -
Evangelia Rigaki Words: Tamsin Collison, Director: John Lloyd Davies,, ''Professional Suicide'', Linbury Studio (Royal Opera House 2), January 2011, 2011, -
Evangelia Rigaki, 'Poios Ekane Pipi sto Missisipi', Pais Opera Festival, Opera of Thessaloniki, Greece, 2008, -
Evangelia Rigaki, W.N.Herbert, 'Bumblepuppy', Tete a Tete Opera Festival London, 2008, -
Evangelia Rigaki, Darren Ellis, 'Tempt My Better Angel', The Place, London, 2007, -
Evangelia Rigaki, Lucilin Ensemble, Marcel Reuter, Abbaye de Neumünster, Composition Summer School 2015, 2015, -
Evangelia Rigaki, 'Evocation', String Trio written for Kirkos Ensemble, 2012, -
Evangelia Rigaki , 'The Dress I Wear', BBC Singers, 2007, -
Evangelia Rigaki, 'Music', Trinity College Chapel, cond. Jane Alden, 2016, -
Society for Musicology in Ireland (SMI) & International Council for Traditional Music (ICTM Ireland), Annual Plenary Conference of the Society for Musicology in Ireland (SMI), 2021, 2021, Trinity College Dublin
Evangelia Rigaki, 'String Quartet', Barbirolli Quartet, Cheltenham Festival, July , 2008, -
Evangelia Rigaki, Waterford New Music Week Composition Today , Composition Today, WIT College, 7 March , 2017, WIT College
Evangelia Rigaki, Constantine Cavafy, 'Antonius is Forsaken by His God', Manchester Cathedral, , John Armitage Memorial Concert (JAM), March, 2009, -
Evangelia Rigaki, Discussion with Sir Harrison Birtwistle & Evangelia Rigaki, 2014, -
Evangelia Rigaki, 'Dyarchia', Written for and priemered by Ensemble Amorpha, London, The Forge, March, 2010, -
Evangelia Rigaki, 'Departed', Michelle O'Rourke, Creative Lab, New Music Dublin Festival, 2012, -
Evangelia Rigaki, 'To Be Elsewhere', Avalon Ensemble, Hugh Lane Gallery Dublin, 2011, -
Evangelia Rigaki, Analysis and discussion of my recent compositions., Music Department, University of Brunel, March 2016, 2016, Music Department University of Brunel
Evangelia Rigaki, Experimental Music Theatre, DIT College of Music, March 2015, 2015
Evangelia Rigaki, 'Exploring Notions of Theatricality in Music', UCD School of Music, 15 October, 2012
Evangelia Rigaki, Evangelia Rigaki discusses her recent compositions., Evangelia Rigaki discusses her recent compositions., Music Department University of Bristol, 15 March, 2011, Music Department, University of Bristol
Evangelia Rigaki, On Music and Collaboration, 17 February, 2010, Music Department, University of Sussex
Evangelia Rigaki, Lucilin Ensemble, Marcel Reuter, Abbaye de Neumünster, Composition Summer School 2015, 2015, Abbaye de Neumünster
Evangelia Rigaki, W.N.Herbert, 'Ode to Debt', Crash Ensemble, Beckett Theatre, 2012, -
Pregnant Box: What Happens When Opera Enacts an Embodied Analysis of Concealing Pregnancy in, editor(s)Helen Kara , The Bloomsbury Handbook of Creative Research Methods, London, Bloomsbury Academic, 2023, [Catherine Conlon and Evangelia Rigaki]
Recognition
Awards and Honours
Irish National Opera Studio, Inaugural Studio Composer for 2018 - 19
Arts Council UK, Composition Commision, for Keening,Inventions: the Harpsichord across time and Borders Research Project
Arts Council IE, Composition commission for CrushBar, Video Installation, Louise Manifold, Elizabeth Hilliard
Composition Commission by Cultural Ministry of Luxembourg for 'OTMEN' piano for Cathy Krier
Opera Project Award (Presentation), Arts Council IE
Opera Project Award (Development), Arts Council IE
Royal Opera House, Composition Residency (VOX 2)
ENMR (European Network for Musicological Research) Fellowship for post-doctoral research at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Die Neuköllner Oper, Composition Residency (Open Forum Stipendiat)
Arts Council UK and SPNM Composition Residency for Researching Notation for Tabla (alongside other composers and percussionists)
Britten-Pears Young Artist Composition Residency (New Music-New Media), Aldeburgh
Jerwood Opera Writing Programme, Composition Residency, Aldeburgh
Opera Writing Composition Residency, Aldeburgh
Memberships
Advance HE
Contemporary Music Centre (CMC), Ireland
CHMHE (The Council of Heads of Music in Higher Education)
Shortlisted Composer for Society for Promotion of New Music, UK (former named SPNM)
SMI Society for Musicology in Ireland