Vincent Kennedy has been appointed Artistic and Musical Director of the Rathfarnham Concert Band Society (www.rcbs.ie). Vincent is the third person to hold this position in the society's 30 year history. Vincent has been involved with the society for all its 30 years, first as French Horn and Trumpet teacher and later as conductor, in which capacity he directed RCBS in winning many national band titles and in innovative concerts throughout Ireland and abroad. RCBS also commissioned Vincent to write new works and Vincent conducted the world premiere of each including the Arts Council funded "What'sa Heaven For?" which is widely performed throughout the world including the WASBE conference in Killarney in 2007 and tours by American Wind Symphonic Bands in Hungary and Croatia in summer of 2011.

Speaking of his appointment Vincent said; "It is a great honour to lead the Rathfarnham Concert Band Society and continue the great work of my predecessors in fulfilling the objectives of the society to assist young people in developing into mature adults, educated for leisure and with committed community interests through the teaching and playing of music. We will continue to program and premiere contemporary music and music from many genres, performing to the highest standards possible and engage the finest performers, including past members of the society as we did in our very successful Master Class series throughout this our 30th year. RCBS is a wonderful organisation and the best manifestation of a community educating people through music, completely self funded by members, local community and income from many concerts including annual concerts in the NCH. We will continue to share our music and our experience with everyone who is interested and to reach beyond our grasp. We will bring all our talents to the NCH again on 29th November in a concert culmination our 30 year anniversary celebrations."

Vincent will also spend time at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in September with Little John Nee with whom he is co-writing The Happy Swallow, a new interpretation of Oscar Wilde's story The Happy Prince for Narrator/Actor (Little John Nee), Orchestra (Donegal Youth Orchestra) and Chorus (from Donegal Music Education Partnership). The Happy Swallow has been commissioned by Donegal County Council and will be premiered in the 2nd quarter of 2012.