 As
one of Ireland’s leading pianists, and through her interest
in the music of Irish composers, Una Hunt has established a unique
position as an artist for the twenty-first century. Her eloquent
performances and artistic recordings have given exposure and a
new voice to Irish music which was once forgotten and neglected.
Una Hunt has performed in Ireland, Europe and the USA, where
her artistry has been received with enthusiasm. She has appeared
on many occasions with the major Irish orchestras and has given
several first performances of new works. She has also made many
appearances in concert and on television with world-renowned flautist
James Galway. She is a frequent broadcaster and has produced and
presented several ground-breaking programmes and documentaries.
Through her deep commitment to the promotion of Irish arts, Una
Hunt has spearheaded the new Archive of Irish Composers at the
National Library of Ireland. She believes strongly that while
it remains scattered across the globe, the music of her countrymen
will remain unknown and un-cherished. The archive will provide
a totally unique and eventually comprehensive collection of historic
Irish music which artists can use to expand their repertoire and
bring once more in front of audiences in Ireland and farther afield.
Her enthusiasm for the re-discovering of lost and forgotten works
has led to several rare and unique recordings. Una has master-minded
the recording of Ulster pianist / composer Joan Trimble
on the NAXOS Marco Polo label and she also released a disc of
the complete piano music of E. J. Moeran, an
all but forgotten composer who resided for much of his life at
Kenmare, Ireland. This recording is on ASV/ Sanctuary Classics.
Her latest disc Shower of Pearls, the music of George
Alexander Osborne is on immediate release on RTE Lyric
FM’s own label.
Una has toured throughout Europe and America with her violinist
sister Fionnuala. The duo’s highly successful CD Irish
Fantasy was particularly well received in the US and
has resulted in several invitations to tour there in recent years.
The Hunt sisters featured on several important broadcasts in the
States including an hour long nationally syndicated programme
broadcast to six million people right across America on National
Public Radio. They are among the most popular and frequently broadcast
Irish  artists
on Lyric FM.
Una is a founder member of the Irish piano trio, TRIANTÁN.
In addition to their busy performance schedule the trio made a
significant contribution as artists-in residence at the Irish
World Music Centre, University of Limerick. The other founder
members of the Trio are violinist Ruxandra Colan and the cellist
Ferenc Szucs.
Una Hunt continues to nurture Irish musical talent. She is chairman
of the Rhona Marshall Trust and for some years was chairman of
the Artane School of Music. |
