Hans Petter Blad & Rhona Clarke Presentations

Join us on Monday, September 28, 2026 at the Civitella Castle for Presentations by Director's Guest Hans Petter Blad & Music Fellow Rhona Clarke. We will welcome you with light refreshments at 6:00 PM.

Monday, September 28, 2026

6 PM Welcome cocktail

6:15 PM Presentations

Hans Petter Blad is a writer of novels, poetry, plays, and screenplays, as well as a film director. His last novel, If I Die, is about a Norwegian poet writing the obituary of a Chilean political refugee in Oslo, as he lays dying. Blad is currently working on a documentary film about horses and classical dressage, to premiere in 2026. Recently he made his debut as a visual artist with a series of drawings entitled Talking Heads Live in Rome 1980.

Rhona Clarke is known for her diverse output, including choral, chamber, orchestral, and electronic works. Born in Dublin, her early musical experiences were in piano and choral singing. Formerly Associate Professor at DCU, she has been involved in music education throughout her adult life. Her music has been performed and broadcast throughout Ireland and worldwide. Her work is characterized by an emotional depth and is a synthesis of contemporary and traditional classical music. Rhona was elected to Aosdána, Ireland’s affiliation of creative artists in 2006.