PwC renews commitment to supporting young artists through sponsorship of Wexford Factory 2024/25
Artists from the Wexford Factory are welcomed into the National Opera House by Aine Brassill (Partner PWC, left) and Rosetta Cucchi (WFO Artistic Director, right) to mark the start of the 2024/25 Wexford Festival Opera’s Academy for young Irish and Irish based singers, repetiteurs and stage managers which is supported by PwC. With masterclasses led by internationally recognised artists and professionals, artists also have the chance to perform in the festival. This partnership showcases PwC’s support of the Arts & Culture sector and their commitment to projects which make a valuable impact to our society. Photograph: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland
On 16 September, the artists for the 2024 Wexford Factory gathered in Wexford to mark the beginning of this year’s academy. Over the decades Wexford Festival Opera has seen many extraordinary artists perform there early on in their careers, who have gone on to become leading performers on the world stage.
The Wexford Factory programme is designed to mentor young singers through masterclasses led by internationally recognised artists and professionals. The artists also have the chance to perform in the festival.
PwC have renewed their commitment to supporting artists through their continuing sponsorship of Wexford Factory through 2024 and 2025. PwC has been a long-time supporter of Wexford Festival Opera, expanding the partnership to sponsor Wexford Factory in 2020. This partnership showcases the firm’s support of the Arts & Culture sector and their commitment to projects which make a valuable impact to our society.
Artists from the Wexford Factory pictured serenading Aine Brassill (Partner PwC) on the streets of the town to mark the start of the 2024/25 Wexford Festival Opera’s Academy for young Irish and Irish based singers, repetiteurs and stage managers which is supported by PwC. With masterclasses led by internationally recognised artists and professionals, artists also have the chance to perform in the festival. This partnership showcases PwC’s support of the Arts & Culture sector and their commitment to projects which make a valuable impact to our society.
Photograph: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland
Speaking about the sponsorship, Áine Brassill, Partner, PwC said “Enabling diverse young talent to reach their potential is a priority at PwC. We are also conscious of supporting the Arts & Culture sector and their valuable impact on society and in our communities. Our support of this important professional development academy at the Wexford Factory is a perfect fit with our brand. We wish all of the artists great success for the 2024/2025 programme and in their future careers.”
Speaking of the Factory and PwC partnership WFO Artistic Director Rosetta Cucchi said “With PwC as a partner from the start of Wexford Factory we have been able to grow and develop the programme since 2020. We are excited to welcome a new group of singers, repetiteurs and stage managers this year, who will grow and develop with the programme over the next 2 years. Thank you to PwC for supporting us in this vital part of our Festival.”
The artists who will take part in the 2024/2025 Wexford Factory will be:
Singers: Laura Ahearne, Ioana Constantin-Pipelea, David Kennedy, Giorgi Lomiseli, Rory William Lynch, Matteo Mancini (an exchange with Accademia Zedda Rossini Opera Festival), Maria Matthews, Anna Helena Maclachlan, Kathleen nic Dhiarmada, Paolo Nevi and Samuel White.
Pianists: Frasier Hickland, Declan Murphy and Doireann O’Carroll.
Stage Managers: Jasper Cahill and Amelia Hauer
The factory artists will take part in this year’s festival in several ways including a production of Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo and pop ups throughout the town during the festival. The professional development programme will culminate in two special Wexford Factory concerts in the O’Reilly Theatre; the first on 29th September, followed by another performance during the Festival itself on 21st October. More details to be announced.
Meet the Wexford Factory Participants here.
Wexford Factory is an international collaboration, with TUD (Technological University Dublin), RIAM (Royal Irish Academy of Music) and the Rossini Opera Festival “Alberto Zedda” Academy, Pesaro. The programme is also supported by The Arnhold Foundation and its repetiteur and stage professional branches by The Community Foundation Ireland.