The Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra was established in January 2016 under the directorship of Paul Finn and Siobhan Buckley. Earlier this year the orchestra collaborated with Donegal Accordionist Martin Tourish to create a new 30 minute suite of music ‘1916 Visions and Voices’ funded by the Laois 2016 Community Fund, Per Cent for Art through Laois County Council and the Music Generation Arts Council Partnership. The music was premiered on the 22 of May, as part of the Music Generation Laois New Works Series, to unprecedented public response! The work has since been performed in Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Ennis 2016, and will be professionally recorded in Golden Egg Studio Portlaoise later this year.
Music Generation Laois are auditioning for new Trad Orchestra members. Auditions will take place on Saturday 8 of October in Portlaoise. This opportunity is for advanced traditional music students with 4 years experience and upwards, and aged 18 and under.
Please note: Current orchestra members do not need to re-audition.
Weekly rehearsal: Successful applicants must be available for weekly rehearsal on Saturdays from 10am-11:30am. Attendance is strictly monitored, if members miss more than 3 rehearsals throughout the academic year, their membership will be relinquished.
Fee: Annual orchestra membership fee €100.
To apply for an audition send an email to musicgenerationlaois@laoiscoco.ie stating your name, age, instrument, and some information about your experience as a musician to-date (no more than 200 words) by 10am on Friday 7 October 2016.
Please include your parent/ guardian mobile telephone number. If selected for an audition, you will receive a text message with all relevant info. Applications from parents on behalf of their children will not be accepted.
Top notch trad musicians descended on Co Laois at the weekend, as part of the 3rd annual Music Generation Laois Trad Summer School. Well-known musicians, Cormac de Barra, Maire Ní Chathasaigh, Brendan Begley, Noel Hill, Nollaig McCarthy, Eamon Murray, Harry Bradley, Aidan O Donnell, Denise Boyle, Siobhan Buckley, Aine McQuaid, Sean Hill and Barry Leonard were among the musicians who came to tutor young musicians from Laois and surrounding counties.
The Trad Summer School, which took place from the 15-17 of July, attracts lots of young trad musicians, who avail of the wide range of classes on offer, including uilleann pipes, harp, concertina, button accordion, bodhrán, fiddle, tin whistle and trad flute.
Speaking at the tutor concert, which took place on Saturday evening in Portlaoise Youth Education Centre on Railway Street in Portlaoise, Rosa Flannery Co-ordinator of Music Generation Laois said, ‘there is huge interest in traditional music among young people in Laois, and we want to do everything we can to support, sustain and develop this interest. Young people should be able to access music tuition in their own area, without having to travel or without the barrier of high tuition fees. We are thrilled at how successful the Summer School has become, and we look forward to doing it all over again in 2017.’
The Music Generation Laois New Works Series brings young musicians and composers together, to collaborate, compose and perform a series of new works for ensembles in the County. Three composers have been appointed to compose music in collaboration with young musicians.
Martin Tourish, composer and accordionist with the Donegal-based band Altan, will work with the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra and Choir to create a new twenty minute piece of music ‘1916: Visions and Voices’ to mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising.
Elaine Agnew, a renowned composer from Northern Ireland, will work with the Laois School of Music Youth Orchestra to create a new twenty minute piece of music for Youth Orchestra and Choir.
Scottish Virtuoso Harpist Catriona McKay will work with the Music Generation Laois Harp Ensemble to create a ten minute piece of music for harp ensemble. The New Works series will be premiered as part of a gala concert on Sunday 22 of May in the Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise.
Tickets are €5 and on sale from the Dunamaise Arts Centre Box Office at dunamaise.ie or 057-8663355.
‘1916: Visions and Voices’ is inspired by the actions and events of the 1916 Rising, and is part of the ‘Ireland 2016’ programme of events in County Laois, and funded by the Laois 2016 Community Grants Scheme. All 3 new works are also funded by Per Cent for Art through the Laois Arts Office, and the Music Generation/Arts Council Partnership.
Music Generation Laois are auditioning for their new Trad Orchestra. Auditions will take place on Wednesday 6 of January in Portlaoise. This opportunity is for advanced traditional music students with 4 years experience and upwards, and aged 18 and under.
Please note: Successful applicants must be available for initial rehearsals this weekend from 6-8:30pm on Friday 8 of January and from 10am-1pm on Sat 9 of January. Annual orchestra membership fee €100.
To apply for an audition send an email to musicgenerationlaois@laoiscoco.ie stating your name, age, instrument, and some information about your experience as a musician to-date (no more than 200 words) by Tuesday 5 of January by 5pm.
Please include parent/ guardian mobile telephone number. If selected for an audition, you will receive a text message with all relevant info.
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.
llaig McCarthy, Eamon Murray, Harry Bradley, Aidan O Donnell, Denise Boyle, Siobhan Buckley, Aine McQuaid, Sean Hill and Barry Leonard were among the musicians who came to tutor young musicians from Laois and surrounding counties.
