Finola Merivale
Irish composer Finola Merivale’s creative practice sits at the intersection of collaboration and solitude, structure and improvisation. In this episode, she discusses recent compositions shaped by field recordings and environmental research. She also discusses creative collaboration with other artists during her fellowship at the Institute for Ideas and Imagination and exploring the creative process through her new podcast, Lodestar.
Atelier is produced by the Columbia Global Paris Center, a Columbia University initiative housed at Reid Hall.
A composer from Ireland, Finola Merivale’s music has been described by the Wire as “edgy and discomforting yet exciting and distinctive,” and by The Washington Post as a “wild ride.” Recent accolades include fellowships from MacDowell and the Civitella Ranieri Foundation, a New York State Council on the Arts grant, and a Music Bursary from the Arts Council of Ireland. In 2021, Finola and her creative team were the winners of the international Fedora Digital Prize for “As an nGnách/Out of the Ordinary,” a community opera in virtual reality which was commissioned by Irish National Opera. Finola completed her DMA in Composition at Columbia University in 2023.
