Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble brings Beijing to Belfast through British Council’s Connections through Culture initiative

The event was funded through the British Council's Connections through Culture programme and follows Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble’s performance at the Beijing Modern Music Festival in 2025. As a result of that visit Hard Rain furthered their collaboration with China with new works by eminent Chinese composers created especially for the ensemble. This includes music inspired by poetry as well as tales of legendary Chinese heroes and depictions of firecrackers at Dragon Carnivals. The music was premiered at the Queen’s University event.

Special guests on the night included Professor Xiaogang Ye and Guo Haiou from China, as well as Chinese Consul General Mr. LI Nan, Chinese Consulate Belfast, and Nora Douds, Chair of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the principal funder of Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble, thanks to National Lottery funding.

Noirin McKinney, Director of Arts Development, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said, “Every once in a while, a group of like-minded artists comes together and shakse things up. They become the catalyst of something special, pushing the boundaries of creativity and taking their chosen art form to new places and new heights. The only contemporary classical music repertoire ensemble in Northern Ireland, Hard Rain’s championing of innovative new music is acknowledged as pioneering on these islands.

They have built new audiences for the music, performing works that we would not otherwise have the opportunity to experience live, and all to the highest possible standards. In doing so, they have reconnected Northern Ireland’s music making with the best of modern classical music from elsewhere in the world, and we are delighted to see this special collaboration between Hard Rain and China thanks to British Council’s Connections through Culture programme.

To learn more about Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble and upcoming events visit their website www.hardrainensemble.com