Works

Catching Proteus

For trombone, voice, guitar, bass, trumpet, tenor saxophone and two percussion2018 · c. 10 minutes

Inspired by the third chapter of James Joyce's Ulysses, set on Sandymount Strand, Dublin. Proteus explores themes of flux, perception and the shifting nature of reality — the chapter in which Stephen Dedalus walks the strand, lost in philosophical thought. Released on Unruly Behaviour (Diatribe Records, 2018).

Personnel: Colm O'Hara trombone, Lauren Kinsella vocals, Markus Pesonen guitar, Derek Whyte bass, Tobias Wiklund trumpet, Cathal Roche tenor saxophone, Marc Lohr percussion, Conor Murray percussion.

Dance

For amplified bass flute and percussion2020 · c. 14.5 minutes

Commissioned by renowned Irish duo Slapbang, with support from the Music Commission Award, Arts Council of Ireland. Dance received its part premiere at Shortcuts: Experiment und Begegnung, Frankfurt am Main, Germany (2020), its full premiere at Brilliant Corners Festival, Belfast (2022), and a repeat performance at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin (2023).

Prometheus

For large improvising ensemble 2022 · concert-length

A concert-length suite for the Colm O'Hara 10tet, supported by a Bursary and Performing Award from the Arts Council of Ireland. Prometheus received its world premiere as the closing concert of New Music Dublin 2022 at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, and was subsequently recorded live for release on Diatribe Records.

Personnel: Colm O'Hara trombone/composition, Olesya Zdorovetska voice, Lina Andonovska flute, Matthew Berrill bass clarinet, Cathal Roche alto saxophone, Nick Roth tenor saxophone, Barry O'Halpin guitar, Seán Maynard Smith bass, Matthew Jacobson drums.

Republic of Sound

Community composition project - Conceived and directed by Colm O'Hara

A community arts project working in Dublin 8, in which Colm O'Hara conceived and directed the creation of original music with the local community. The first of three works composed and performed by the community of Dublin 8, facilitated for Commonground Arts Organisation.

Searching in the Storm

For improvising youth orchestra 2014 · c. 7–8 minutes

Composed for East Meets West Orchestra — a cross-country youth ensemble co-founded by Colm O'Hara and Matthew Berrill, bringing together Kilbride & Lakeside Band from West Wicklow and Headford Youth Orchestra from County Galway. The work received its premiere at the 19th Festival of Youth Orchestras at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, 2014. East Meets West Orchestra subsequently received the Special Achievement Award from the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras (IAYO, 2015), and an Arts Council Young Ensembles Scheme grant to compose and perform four new works with improvisation that were performed at the International Society for Music Education (Glasgow, Scotland 2016).

Spontaneous Composition

Duo for Trombone and Percussion 2018 · 4 minutes 21 seconds

A freely improvised duo recorded live at Ergodos HQ, Dublin, 2018 with percussionist David Lacey. Captured in a single session, the recording documents an approach to spontaneous composition that has been central to O'Hara's practice throughout his career.