Conducting Seminar with Maestro, Eimear Noone
Have you ever wondered what a conductor really does and how conducting works? Here’s your chance to learn directly from Eimear Noone as she discusses the techniques and tools she employs to conduct these great scores. Bring your baton – but no experience is necessary. In addition to an overall view of the function of the conductor, the seminar will also include topics such as:
- Exercises for strength, stamina and precision.
- The basic beat patterns, including sub-divided patterns.
- Meter changes.
- Basic techniques to get you through a recording session such as firmatas, cut-offs, cues, dynamics and articulation.
- How to procure a clean execution and good ensemble by breathing with the orchestra.
- Working with click-tracks and a discussion on free-timing.
- Recording procedure and protocol.
The seminar will conclude with a handful of the participants getting an opportunity to employ what they have learned by conducting a small ensemble, master-class style, with Eimear critiquing the students.
About Eimear Noone
Eimear Noone is an award winning Irish composer and conductor, resident in Malibu California, who splits her time between composing for video games, feature films, TV, commercials, and conducting classical and game music concerts. Most recently, Eimear composed and conducted for the iconic video game, “World of WarCraft” and the recent expansion, “Warlords of Draenor.” The score for “WoD” received the 2014 “Hollywood Music in Media Award” for “Best Video Game Score” and was nominated for 5 “Annual Game Music Awards,” and “The 2015 ASCAP, Composer’s Choice Award.”
Arguably the world’s current premier conductor of video game scores (both in the studio and in the concert hall), her credits include the most respected in the genre. In addition to “World of WarCraft,” her credits include “Heroes of The Storm,'” “StarCraft II,” “Diablo III.” “Reaper of Souls,” “Hearthstone,” “Overwatch,” and many more. “Diablo III,” as one example, smashed the record in game sales by selling over 3.5 million copies in the first 24 hours alone. It also won the 2012 GDC award for best audio – which includes the award for music, the 2012 Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Score, and a 2013 BAFTA Nomination for Original Score.
In the live performance of video game music, currently Eimear is a conductor for the touring show “Video Games Live.” Prior to this, for two years, Eimear toured as the principle conductor for “The Zelda Symphony,” a full four- movement symphony created from the themes from the iconic video game, “Zelda.” As a conductor she has led many of the world’s great ensembles such as The Philadelphia Orchestra (The Mann Center), The Dallas Symphony (Myerson Hall), The Royal Philharmonic (Hammersmith Apollo Theater), The Sydney Symphony (Sydney Opera House), The National Symphony (Wolf trap), just to name a few. Recent studio conducting responsibilities include leading the orchestra for Electronic Dance Music legend BT’s upcoming release, “Electronic Opus” as well as the score for the just released Gus Van Sant film “Sea of Trees,” staring Mathew McConaughey. She has also conducted for the legendary “Gladys Knight.”
In 2011, Eimear recorded the “Zelda Symphony 25th Anniversary CD,” released by Nintendo as part of their newest Zelda game, “The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.” Eimear also conducted for the series of 3D music videos that Nintendo released with their 3DS. These videos were filmed during the actual recording sessions for this Zelda game – the first time a game score had been filmed in 3D while it was being recorded. Bootlegs of the videos have garnered millions of YouTube viewings. Although best known for these contemporary performances, her background is solidly in classical music. Recent concerts include her conducting works as varied as Scheherazade (Rimsky-Korsakov), The Firebird (Stravinsky), The New World Symphony (Dvorak) and more.
Before relocating to California, for four years Eimear conducted and composed for the Dublin City Concert Orchestra, an ensemble she co-founded at the age of 21 for the performance and promotion of film music and repertoire used in films. The three honorary patrons of the orchestra were John Boorman, Elmer Bernstein and Noel Pearson. The orchestra and symphonic chorus held a sell out series of concerts at the National Concert Hall in Dublin and earned much attention from the Irish national press. As the Irish Independent described her debut performance: “…In one movement the audience rose to its feet in a standing ovation reminiscent of Riverdance. It was magic, the response of the audience… people left exhilarated and in tears.”
