Galway Music Residency will present its innovative new collaboration, Full Circle, as part of this year’s Galway International Arts Festival. This unique concert will be held at St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church next Tuesday, July 16, at 6pm.

Full Circle involves a collective of Galway musicians exploring cyclical structures and the theme of home and beyond. This blend of string quartet, piano and Indonesian gamelan will be performed by Galway’s ConTempo Quartet, with multi-instrumentalist and composer Bianca Gannon, and the In Flow Gamelan Ensemble. This is a pitched percussion ensemble of performers with intellectual disabilities.

Full Circle is the latest of many collaborations from the Galway Music Residency, all with ConTempo at their core. For this one, Indonesian gamelan will take centre stage with a percussion ensemble, largely consisting of tuned gongs of various types and metal-keyed instruments.

The In Flow Gamelan Ensemble was established in 2016 and comprises musically talented players with intellectual disabilities. Led by local musicians Andrew Madec and Aengus Hackett, it’s supported by That’s Life, an acclaimed arts programme offered by the Brothers of Charity Services in Galway.

That’s Life gives people with intellectual disabilities opportunities to explore and develop their artistic talents across a range of genres.

Next Tuesday’s concert is facilitated by Galway-born musician-composer Bianca Gannon. Inspired by a decade-long exchange with Indonesia, Bianca performs resonance-drenched piano and percussion at the same time. Full Circle will feature several of her compositions, including a new work commissioned for this performance.

Tickets cost €16 from www.giaf.ie/festival/event/full-circle.

Pictured: The In Flow Gamelan Ensemble was established in 2016.