George Higgs (b. 1968) is a composer, writer and director for theatre and cinema. His work has been performed across Ireland, in Russia and the United States and he has received numerous awards and honors including a grant from the Wellcome Trust, the Director's Prize from the Chamber Orchestra Kremlin, numerous Arts Council awards and he has recently been named a MacDowell Fellow. George's work includes opera, symphony, compositions for small ensemble, music for experimental theatre, work for installation and a number of HIGGSTRUMENTS which he has designed for the installation of certain compositions. He holds a Masters degree in music technology from Trinity College Dublin and is represented by the Contemporary Music Centre of Ireland.
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HIGGSTRUMENTS ON THE ROAD:
The Joculator
George's electro acoustic vehicle has been performing on the streets in and around Dublin. This bike powered and propelled jalopy allows the composer to create, record and perform his music while traveling in public. In September you'll be able to hear a radio composition on RTÉ composed on the streets as part of Dublin Fringe Festival.
The Evolvaphone Travels to the Montshire Museum of Science
The Evolvaphone, the booth which generates a musical composition from two people's initials in accordance with the laws of natural selection, will be on exhibit in the Montshire Museum of Science from October 2010 until March 2011. The Evolvaphone was funded by the WELLCOME Trust and the visit to the US museum is made possible in part by Culture Ireland.
Higgstruments Fall on Deaf Ears
George has recently finished working with the Dublin Deaf Choir, thanks to a CREATE Artist in the Community Award and hopes to continue his investigations into the deaf experience of music later this year.
HIGGSTRUMENTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The Voice of the Building
George has just been funded by the Arts Council to compose and workshop a new, large-scale piece, The Voice of the Building, and will travel to the MacDowell Colony in the USA for the month of October to work on this piece. The initial funding for this project was provided by Dublin City Council.
Page from early draft of score
The Poor Man's Ball
He has also been commissioned through the Arts Council by dancer Cindy Cummings to compose the music for an unusual piece of interactive theatre, The Poor Man's Ball.
Sight-Impaired Choir in the Botanic Gardens
George is rehearsing a song he wrote with a fascinating group of blind musicians for a performance in the Botanic Gardens on September 1, 2010 as part of Sculpture in Context.
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Please refer to the 'works' section of this website for a comprehensive list of works, as well as audio and video samples of his work.