Con Brio is an independent, voluntary organisation providing live performances of great music in Sligo by some of the best classical musicians from Ireland and abroad.

It was founded in 1999 by Luisa McConville, who is an ardent music lover and is particularly passionate about sharing the joy of classical music.

The establishment of Con Brio evolved after Luisa organised a one-off recital in the Yeats Memorial Building featuring Nicola Cleary (violin) and friends, including Sligo soprano Elaine Canning. The success of the event was such that Luisa decided to run more classical music events and this she did by forming Con Brio with a number of other music lovers in Sligo-Seamus Concannon, John Buckley, Maura McTighe and Brendan Canning. They were joined by Deirdre O’Keeffe and Felim McNeela the following year.  

The concerts featured soloist musicians, singers, chamber music ensembles and small orchestras. The concert series were run on a voluntary basis and funded mostly by private sponsors. Con Brio was greatly supported by the then Director of the Institute of Technology, Sligo, Dr. Breandán MacConamhna, The Yeats Society and the Sligo Arts Office. 

Since that first concert in 1999 Con Brio has continued to successfully present an annual series of 6 to 8 classical music concerts in Sligo in venues such as the The Model and the Yeats Memorial Building as well as in several churches in Sligo.