Search icon

Entertainment

24th Jan 2020

Galway woman will be first female to conduct Oscars orchestra

Darragh Murphy

First woman to conduct at Oscars

Galway woman Eimear Noone will make history next month when she becomes the first female to conduct the orchestra at the Oscars.

The Kilconnell-born composer will be the first woman to lead the orchestra in the history of the Oscars when she conducts excerpts from the five nominated scores.

Noone, who is best known for her award-winning work in composing music for video games, will lead the 42-piece orchestra at the Academy Awards on February 9.

Noone thanked producers Stephanie Allain and Lynette Howell for the honour of conducting on such an iconic platform while she reserved special praise for Ricky Minor, who is the musical director for the ceremony.

Noone admitted that she will be feeling the nerves when she takes centre-stage at the Dolby Theatre.

Speaking to Variety, she said:”I’d be dead inside if I didn’t have any concerns. Luckily for me, I have friends in the orchestra and I have friends on the page in front of me.

“The background changes, but the little black dots on the page are always home for me. No matter what country I’m in or what concert hall, it doesn’t matter – the score is where my mind and my heart are.”

Noone won’t be the only Irishwoman experiencing nerves on the night as Saoirse Ronan will have her fingers firmly crossed for the big win because she is nominated in the Best Actress category for her role in Little Women.

READ NEXT – Colin Farrell showed off his Abrakebabra black card on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Topics: