ABOUT
crash

collected members of crash ensemble all in black inside a white room

Crash

ABOUT

We're Crash -
Ireland's leading new music ensemble


A group of world-class musicians who play the most adventurous, ground-breaking music of today.

Amazingly ordinary people doing extraordinary things - Crash are innovative, adventurous and ambitious.

Led by our cellist and Artistic Director, Kate Ellis and Principal Conductor, Ryan McAdams, we commission, collaborate, explore, investigate and experiment with a broad spectrum of music creators and artistic collaborators. We love to innovate, with quality always at the heart of everything we do. 

We are passionate about the music we play. We create experiences; exploring new ways of presenting music and bringing our audiences on new adventures. 

Community for us is key - our community inspires us to create and experiment more. We value our audiences and our connection with them.

We perform both in Ireland and internationally. Our music is available on our own label, Crash Records and we have recordings on Nonesuch, Cantaloupe, NMC, Ergodos and Bedroom Community labels.

Crash Ensemble is strategically funded by the Arts Council of Ireland, revenue funded by Dublin City Council and is a resident ensemble at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Ireland and Kilkenny Arts Festival, Ireland.


meet the Crash crew  

meet the Crash crew  

History


Crash Ensemble was founded in 1997 by composer Donnacha Dennehy, conductor and pianist Andrew Synnott, and clarinettist Michael Seaver. Donnacha Dennehy is Crash Artistic Partner.

Crash made an immediate and lasting impact on the Irish arts and cultural landscape, with some of the most distinctive living composers writing for the group; Terry Riley, David Lang, Julia Wolfe, Michael Gordon, Donnacha Dennehy, Louis Andriessen, Jennifer Walshe, Arnold Dreyblatt, Kevin Volans, Ann Cleare, Glen Branca, Nico Muhly, Linda Buckley and Gerald Barry. 

As well as performing throughout Ireland, Crash regularly perform internationally, with appearances in the last few years at Tampere Biennale (Finland), The Edinburgh International Festival (UK), The Royal Opera House (London), The Barbican (London), Carnegie Hall (NYC) The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington DC), Virginia Tech (Virginia), GAIDA Festival (Lithuania) and residencies at The Huddersfield Contemporary Music festival (UK) and Princeton University (NJ).

Many well-known artists from diverse musical backgrounds have performed with the ensemble

Gavin Friday
Dawn Upshaw
Julie Feeney
Lisa Hannigan
Diamanda La Berge Dramm
Íarla Ó Lionáird (The Gloaming)
Bryce Dessner (The National)
Richard Reed Parry (Arcade Fire)
Sam Amidon and Beth Orton

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Governance

Crash Ensemble is a CLG governed by a board of directors and has charitable status.

CHY: 17789 | RCN: 20066895

Company Registration Number: 447187

The board of directors are committed to the highest standards of governance guiding Crash Ensemble in its professional conduct.

The organisation complies with regulatory requirements and operates within its governing document. It is also committed to compliance with the Charities Governance Code.


Board of directors

David Brophy

Appointed September 2020

A former Assisstant Conductor of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, David now enjoys a close relationship with both RTÉ orchestras in addition to regular appearances as guest conductor with the Ulster Orchestra. His career has seen him conduct throughout Europe, Africa, the United States, Canada and China. David Brophy’s work with specialist new music ensembles, among them Vox 21 and Crash Ensemble, has led to numerous first performances including the Irish premiere of Steve Reich’s Music for Eighteen Musicians, alongside recent world premieres of arrangements by Nico Muhly for traditional Irish singer, Iarla Ó Lionáird. Beyond the realm of strictly musical performances, David has regularly collaborated in concert with numerous actors, including Brendan Gleeson, Fiona Shaw, Stephen Rae, Patrick Bergin and Adrian Dunbar and has worked on films directed by Neil Jordan and Stephen Frears. Aside from his work as a musician, David has presented the RTÉ1 award-winning TV series Instrumental (Adare Productions and RTÉ), the IFTA award-winning High Hopes Choir (Tyrone Productions and RTÉ) and David Brophy’s Choir of Ages (Tyrone Productions and RTÉ). He is a board-member of Ireland’s Contemporary Music Centre.

Sophie Motley

Appointed January 2026

Sophie began her Project journey working in the bar. She has worked in arts leadership roles since 2017, most recently as Artistic Director of The Everyman, Cork where she led the team to support over 300 artists and present 90 productions in 2023. Sophie was previously Artistic Director/co-CEO of Pentabus Theatre (England’s national rural theatre company), Co-Artistic Director of WillFredd Theatre and Associate Director of Rough Magic.

As a director, Sophie’s work includes: Werther (Irish National Opera), Gatman!, The Summer I Robbed A Bank,(The Everyman), The Giggler Treatment (The Ark), Crossings, One Side Lies the Sea (Pentabus), Millions of Years (English National Opera) BEES!, Jockey, CARE, FOLLOW, FARM,  (WillFredd Theatre), Tejas Verdes, Vincent River (Prime Cut) The Sleeping Queen (Wexford Festival Opera), Everything Between Us, Plaza Suite (Rough Magic).

As a dramaturg, Sophie has worked with numerous Irish and international artists across theatre, opera and multidisciplinary arts.

As Associate Director she has worked with Michel van der Aa/London Sinfonietta, ENO/Barbican/Opera de Lyon/Teatro Colon, Wide Open Opera/Landmark.

Sophie was Staff Director at English National Opera, Resident Assistant Director at the Abbey Theatre and Resident Stage Director for London Sinfonietta. Sophie learnt her trade as an emerging director by assisting directors such as Fiona Shaw, Deborah Warner, David Leveaux, Benedict Andrews, Yoshi Oida, Phelim McDermott, Peter Sellars and James MacDonald.

Fiona Scott (Chair)

Appointed May 2021

As a founder member of award-winning Boys and Girls, Ireland’s largest independently owned creative agency and a former MD of McConnells Advertising, Fiona has over 30 years’ experience as a leading professional in the advertising communications industry.

She currently operates as a marketing and communications consultant. In addition to working with clients to help them develop strategic plans, she goes into companies to help them run their business more effectively and increase profitability by looking at their P&L, ways of working and employee skill sets.

Fiona was appointed to the Transition Board of Golf Ireland in December 2018 and, in addition to being a member of the finance committee, she chaired the Branding sub-committee. She was responsible for developing the Golf Ireland brand, all collateral material and the Golf Ireland website.

Fiona was on the board of Poetry Ireland for 3 years and sits on the funding and the corporate affairs sub committees of Focus Ireland.

Niall Connors

Appointed March 2026

Currently the Director of Regulation and Registrar of Solicitors at the Law Society of Ireland,
Niall leads a multi-disciplinary team responsible for ensuring the Law Society meets its
statutory functions. He previously served in senior leadership roles in the Irish Aviation
Authority & the Defence Forces, including periods overseas as a United Nations
Peacekeeper, and has significant experience leading, managing and problem solving at all
levels in a complex, dynamic & operationally focused environment. He also holds an Airline Transport Pilot License and has held type-rating instructor (TRI) and type-rating examiner (TRE) ratings on a number of aircraft types. Niall is also a member of the board of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and chairs the HEA System Development Committee.

Susan White

Appointed November 2024

Susan is a seasoned HR executive with extensive experience leading global talent functions in the technology sector. She has held key leadership roles at Cisco and Ericsson, where she built and led diverse teams focused on attracting and retaining top talent worldwide. Her career is distinguished by strategic insight, international experience, and deep expertise in human capital services.

Before her tenure at Cisco, Susan honed her skills at Korn Ferry, partnering with high-profile clients in the ICT and professional services sectors. She also served as Executive Director and Board Member at Élan IT Recruitment, where she spearheaded the company’s expansion into Europe, leading to its acquisition by Manpower Inc.

Susan’s journey began in education, where she taught Maths and Science before transitioning into talent acquisition. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science and a Higher Diploma in Education from University College Dublin.

Climate Action Policy & Action Plan

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EDI Policy & Action Plan

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Feedback & Complaints Procedure

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Dignity and Respect in the Workplace Policy

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Register of Members

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Crash Ensemble Constitution

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Child Safeguarding Statement

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Audited Accounts 2024

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CHARITY SORP
The companies financial statement are presented in a form which complies with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) for Charities as issued by the Charities Commissioners for England and Wales in March 2005.

CODE OF GOVERNANCE
Crash Ensemble is committed to the code of governance and has implemented the code. www.governancecode.ie

PRINCIPLES OF GOOD FUNDRAISING
Crash Ensemble is committed to compliance with the principals of good fundraising.

SALARY DISCLOSURE
Salary band disclosure: €50-€60k – 1 staff member