Music Generation Laois Saturday Jam is now open for auditions for the following instruments:
vocals
guitar
trombone
saxophone
flute
Music Generation Laois hosts a weekly Saturday jam with Musician Paul McIntyre:
– Young person-led with a focus on popular music and jazz
– High-standard of musicianship required
– High-standard of preparation required in between weekly rehearsals
– Weekly rehearsals take place on Saturdays from 2pm-3pm, approx 25 rehearsals per academic year
– Entry by audition only
– Fee: free to current students of Music Generation Laois and Laois School of Music, external musicians pay an annual membership fee of €100
– All ages welcome, membership based on standard rather than age
If you would like to be considered for an audition, please send an email with an expression of interest to musicgenerationlaois@laoiscoco.ie no later than Wednesday 26 September. Include your name, DOB, home address, parent email address and mobile number (if under 18), and instrument/s of competency. Supply some background information of your musical journey to-date, and why you think you would be a suitable candidate for the weekly jam.
Auditions will take place on Saturday 29 of September @ 2pm. If you are offered an audition, you will be requested to perform 2 pieces of music on your chosen instrument, or if a multi-instrumentalist, one piece of music on each.
Please note – interested applicants can apply using parent/guardian email addresses or their own email addresses, however, applications must clearly be written by young musicians not parent/guardians.
Music Generation Laois works in partnership with Laois School of Music to deliver whole-class, group and one-to-one violin lessons in Co Laois.
Music Generation Laois & Laois School of Music are now seeking submissions from an experienced Violin Tutor to deliver our programmes. Training in whole-class string tuition will be provided to the successful candidate.
Closing date for completed submissions is: Wednesday 29 August 2018 by 12 noon
Interviews are scheduled to take place on: Wednesday 5 of September 2018
About:Music Generation Laois is a performance music education service for children and young people in Co Laois. Music Generation Laois is part of Music Generation – Ireland’s National Music Education Programme, initiated by Music Network and co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds together with, The Department of Education and Skills and Local Music Education Partnerships. Locally, Music Generation Laois is funded by Laois County Council, Laois-Offaly Education and Training Board and Laois Partnership Company.
Laois School of Music was established in September 2001. The Arts Office of Laois County Council identified a significant deficit in the provision of musical education in the Midlands region. In order to bring this concept to fruition, Laois County Council recognized the need for a partnership approach with Laois V.E.C (now Laois Offaly ETB) and the Arts Council. The development of music was one of the principal objectives under the Arts in Laois Development Plan 2001-2003. Laois County Council, with assistance from Laois V.E.C. and the Arts Council, prioritised this art form in establishing the Laois School of Music.
The school, which has been vacant for a year, was built on the site of the town’s 16th century garrison inside a stone fort whose walls are still largely intact. The Fort Protector was the first English fort in Ireland, built to quell Laois rebellions. Laois County Council plans to use the site as a base to provide music and performing arts education to over 600 young people involved with Music Generation Laois and Laois School of Music.
Reacting to the news, Music Generation Laois Co-ordinator Rosa Flannery said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have secured a premises for ourselves and Laois School of Music. Thank you to Laois County Council, Laois Arts Office, Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board and the brilliant Nuala Kelly, Co-ordinator of Laois School of Music. The new home for Music Generation Laois and Laois School of Music will continue to build upon the strong partnership between Laois County Council and Laois Offaly Education and Training Board. It is onwards and upwards for the future of music in Laois!”
Preparations are underway for the move, and in the interim both Music Generation Laois and Laois School of Music continue to operate from Portlaoise Further Education and Training Centre, Tower Hill.
We are delighted to announce the recommencement of our Music Generation Laois Harp Orchestra. Siobhan Buckley is composing music for the orchestra, to be premiered as part of National Harp Day 2018.
Outline rehearsal schedule:
PLEASE NOTE, NO STUDENT WILL BE REQUIRED FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION OF REHEARSALS, ONCE WE KNOW WHO IS JOINING, WE WILL BREAK REHERSALS INTO SECTIONS!
Thursday 23 August, 1pm-5:30pm
Friday 24 August, 1pm-5:30pm
Sunday 9 September, 1pm-5:30pm
Sunday 23 September, 1pm-5:30pm
Sunday 7 October, 1pm-5:30pm
Friday 19 October, 5pm-7pm
Premiere on Saturday 20 October, Venue and times tbc, to mark National Harp Day 2018
Location: Rehearsals take place in Portlaoise Further Education and Training Centre, Tower Hill, Portlaoise
Fee: Membership Fee for the orchestra is €25
Harps: If you own your own harp, you must bring it to rehearsals, MGL harps will be available to our harp students who do not yet own their own harp
Please note, the orchestra is only open to harp students from Music Generation Laois, ie. those in our schools programmes and those who attend classes in our centre.
Spaces are limited on a first-come-first-serve basis, please email musicgenerationlaois@laoiscoco.ie or call 057 8664176 to sign up for the orchestra.
Photo: Denis Byrne