The Music Generation Laois Harp Ensemble were delighted to travel to the international O’Carolan Harp Festival taking place in Nobber, Co Meath, the birth place of Ireland’s most famous harpist Turlough O’Carolan, on Saturday 3rd October.
The 15-strong group partook in workshops with some of Ireland’s most talented Harpists and competed in the festival competitions against young musicians from all around Ireland, with a number even having travelled from Scotland and Italy.
The Music Generation Laois Harp Ensemble was joined by their tutor Siobhan Buckley who had them well prepared for their competitions. The group were divided into workshops and were put through their paces for three hours, learning new tunes, techniques and styles.
The O’Carolan Harp Festival, 2nd – 4th October 2015, is in its 28th year and attracts harpers from far and wide to take part in its workshops and competitions. The three-day festival holds an array of events including excellent concerts, ceilís, lectures, exhibitions & tours with a special memorial ceremony to celebrate to life and work of Turlough O’Carolan.
The Fraserburgh Academy are making a return visit following Laois School of Music Orchestra’s fantastic trip last March. The group are travelling by coach all the way from Fraserburgh and will be arriving in Laois on Saturday, 3rd October.
They will be rehearsing with the Laois School of Music Orchestra to prepare for a wonderful concert on Sunday 4th October at 5pm in the Portlaoise Youth Education Centre which will feature students from our Brass & Orchestral Percussion programmes. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend.
The Scottish group will be making visits to three school around Co. Laois to perform for the pupils and entertain the teachers!
Oboe tuition is an exciting initiative that is part of a new pilot programme through the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras, Laois School of Music and Music Generation Laois. A specialist tutor will travel to Portlaoise to provide oboe tuition, and the approach will include both one-to-one music lessons along with the introduction of periodical Skype lesson. Lessons will be subsidised and an oboe will be provided. The aim of these lessons is to develop oboe players in County Laois, and further develop the woodwind section of the Laois School of Music Youth Orchestra.
A new branch to the Music Generation Laois tree introduces Traditional Flute, Tin Whistle and Concertina as the latest instruments in our Irish Traditional Music programme which already includes Uilleann Pipes and Harp. The classes will be taught by the talented Musician Áine McQuaid.
Pop, Rock, Classicial, Traditional or African Drumming? Music Generation Laois are delighted to announce that bookings are still open for our evening music lessons in Portlaoise for 2015-2016. Our experienced tutors will work with students to unleash their creative side through classes, workshops, performances and masterclasses.
John Lennon Educational Tour Bus completed a circuit around Ireland stopping off at Music Generation programmes across the country organised by the Music Generation National Development Office.
This state-of-the-art mobile audio and HD video recording and production tour bus offers young people the opportunity to write and record a song and make an accompanying music video all within an intense, action packed 8-hour workshop. The Bus, which was made possible by Yoko Ono Lennon, is dedicated to providing young people with tours of the studios and participation in free songwriting and multimedia production workshops.
Laois were extremely lucky to have the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus in situ for two days and both junior and senior members of the School of Rock & Pop attended. Two fantastic songs were written.
Here are the two songs:
‘Rain rain, go away…’ Written and recorded by our Junior group on the first day
‘Jibber Jabber’ – Written and recorded by our Senior group on Day 2
There was a great reaction to the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus from around the country and some brilliant songs were produced. Here’s a snapshot of some of the 2015 Ireland Tour:
This is the second time that the bus has visited Laois. Have a look at the link below to listen to ‘A Chance to Begin’, recorded by Music Generation Laois’s Angelic Explosions in 2013:
As part of our Culture Night programme, Music Generation Laois and the Laois Arts Office are delighted to announce Songwriting Workshops with Singer-Songwriter John Spillane on Thursday 17 September @ 6pm – 8pm. The workshop will take place in Portlaoise Youth Education Centre, Railway Street, Portlaoise.
Workshops are open to singers and musicians over the age of 13. Spaces are limited so registration is essential. For more information, please contact the Music Generation Laois office on 057-8664176 or email musicgenerationlaois@laoiscoco.ie.
Irish Singer and Songwriter, John Spillane celebrates 33 years of an ever-consistent, vastly illuminating and exciting career within the world of music. John will help students to examine and enjoy the Irish ballad tradition and show how a story may be told in a song. He will encourage and help them lose inhibitions and fears they may have about writing songs. The workshop is suited to the more senior musicians. There will be some focus on songwriting “as Gaeilge”, John will encourage this in an unpressurised way and he will work bilingually.
approach will include both one-to-one music lessons along with the introduction of periodical Skype lesson. Lessons will be subsidised and an oboe will be provided. The aim of these lessons is to develop oboe players in County Laois, and further develop the woodwind section of the Laois School of Music Youth Orchestra.
