Eimear Quinn
| Eimear Quinn | |
|---|---|
| Born |
18 December 1972 Dublin, Ireland |
| Genres | Celtic |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels | Decca Classics |
| Associated acts | Anúna |
| Website | eimearquinn.com |
Eimear Quinn (Irish: Eimear Ní Chuinn, IPA: [ˈɪmʲəɾˠ ˈnʲiː ˈxiːn̪ʲ]; born 18 December 1972) is an Irish singer. She is best known for winning the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 with the song "The Voice".
Musical career
Dublin born Eimear Quinn joined her first choir at four years of age and at fifteen she started formal vocal training at the College of Music under the tutelage of Jody Beggan. She later graduated with a degree in Music from National University of Ireland Maynooth. While studying for her degree she developed an interest in early music and was a founder member of the ensemble Zefiro.
In 1995 she joined the choir Anúna. She recorded two albums Omnis (1996) and Deep Dead Blue (1996), featuring as a soloist on a number of tracks. She also toured internationally with the choir participating in performances in Spain, France and the UK. It was while singing with Anúna in St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin at Christmas 1995 that songwriter Brendan Graham heard her and invited her to sing his composition "The Voice" as Ireland's entry for the Irish Eurosong competition. Her performance won, and she then travelled to Oslo and was victorious in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996. Quinn began touring solo, performing in Australia, America and all over Europe in venues including The Royal Albert Hall, The Sydney State Theatre and the Forest National Brussels. She also made many television appearances and also presented Television and Radio programming for RTÉ and TV3.
Quinn has collaborated with a number of international composers on a range of musical and television projects. These have included performing and co-writing the score to Belgian drama series Stille Waters with Steve Willaert. She performed "Voice of an Angel" on Liam Lawton's album Another World.
In 2006 Quinn released the album Gatherings, a collection of music she had recorded over the previous decade. This was Eimear's third solo disc and followed Winter Fire and Snow and Through the Lens of a Tear, an album she co-wrote with Pol Brennan of Clannad, who also produced the album. Quinn performed "The Voice" later that year while appearing at "Ireland's Finest in Concert", a gala celebration of the 25th anniversary of the National Concert Hall. This performance was broadcast on RTÉ television and the concert has been released as a DVD.
In 2007, Quinn was chosen by the National University of Ireland to promote the studying of Music at NUI Maynooth in a nationwide campaign. The same year she worked with the film-maker, Philip King to complete a documentary on the subject of her music and collaboration with Belfast-born composer, Neil Martin for RTÉ1 Television. December 2007 saw the release of O Holy Night a collection of carols, ancient chants and new compositions from Quinn, who also produced and arranged the album with Martin Quinn at JAM Studios. This led to her presenting a television special A Christmas Celebration with Eimear Quinn on RTÉ1 Television in December 2008.
Since then Quinn has been touring and composing. In 2011 she was asked to perform for England's Queen Elizabeth to mark her State Visit to Ireland. In August 2012 she performed at The Gathering concert in the O2 in Dublin. She performed a special concert with the Symphony Orchestra in the National Concert Hall, Dublin in October 2012.
In October 2013 she featured as part of the RTE Big Music Week Ensemble. The group which also included Marianne Knight, Nono Madolo and Celine Byrne, along with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the UCD Choral Scholars, released The Fair, Fair Land.[1] The track, which was composed by Brendan Graham, was in aid of the Barnardo's children's charity and reached number 34 in the Irish charts.[2]
Personal life
Quinn lives in County Monaghan with her husband Noel Curran, a radio and television producer, and current Director-General of RTÉ. They have two daughters: Joelene born in October 2009 and Marlene born in April 2012.
Discography
Singles and EPs
Albums
- 2001: Through the Lens of a Tear
- 2006: Gatherings
- 2007: Oh Holy Night
References
- ↑ "Eimear Quinn and Friends Sing a Song for Ireland". Wiwi Bloggs. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
- ↑ "Top 100 Singles Week Ending 10th October 2013". IRMA. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
- ↑ Irish charts – searchable database
- ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 446. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
External links
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
Preceded by Secret Gardenwith "Nocturne" |
Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 |
Succeeded by Katrina and the Waveswith "Love Shine a Light" |
| Preceded by Eddie Friel with "Dreamin'" |
Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 |
Succeeded by Marc Roberts with "Mysterious Woman" |
|