Internationally renowned performer/singer-songwriter Melanie O'Reilly will perform a concert at the University of Glasgow on 22 June 2007.

Crafting a unique and compelling bridge between Irish traditional music and jazz, O'Reilly has earned a reputation in Europe and the United States as a true pioneer. After establishing a distinguished music career in Ireland and Britain, O'Reilly moved to America where she made her name in the international market. Returning to Glasgow, where she enjoyed popularity throughout the 1980s, O'Reilly will perform some of her latest Celtic jazz pieces.

Dr Katie Gough from the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies and organiser of the event, said: "It is a both a pleasure and privilege to have Melanie perform here in Glasgow. In her creative work she continues to cross musical boundaries with the same ease that she crosses geographic ones."

O'Reilly is currently Visiting Scholar/Musician-in-Resident at Celtic Studies, UC-Berkeley. She is a regular performer on BBC radio and TV and is the radio presenter for the programme "Jazz on the Bay" for Ireland's National broadcast station, RTE.

O'Reilly has won several awards for her musical work, including a jazz award from the Arts Council of Ireland, and the top award at the Celtic Film, TV and Radio Festival in Quimper, Brittany (France). She also received an award from the Scottish Arts Council, which promoted her work with American arranger Richard Niles.

The concert forms part of a major conference being held at the University which will celebrate and investigate Ireland throughout the 19th Century.

The concert will take place on 22 June 2007 at 8pm in the University Concert Hall. The event is free and open to the public. To request tickets email tonetogonne@arts.gla.ac.uk

Kate Richardson (K.Richardson@admin.gla.ac.uk)

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For more information please contact Kate Richardson at the University of Glasgow's Media Relations Office on 0141 330 3683 or email K.Richardson@admin.gla.ac.uk

First published: 19 June 2007