After a whirlwind year, the Christmas break is upon us!
The office will close 22 December, from 12 noon and will reopen on Monday 9 January at 9.30am.
We would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year! See you again in January for another brilliant and exciting year!
Tickets available from Kavanagh’s Portlaoise
In association with Laois County Council Arts Office, Music Network presents Anneleen Lenaerts, principle harpist of the Vienna Philharmonic & Dionysis Grammenos, ‘the new prince of clarinet’ in a dynamic concert in St Peter’s Church of Ireland, Portlaoise on Sunday 13 November at 7pm.
Tickets available from the Dunamaise Arts Centre, €15/€12, 057-8663355 / www.dunamaise.ie
Ten young traditional musicians from Music Generation Laois have been invited to perform at the prestigious Celtic music festival ‘Creative Connexions’ in Sitges, Spain this October bank holiday weekend. The group of musicians, include harp, flute, pipes, bodhran and fiddle will travel to Spain for the 4 day Fesitval, and perform alongside well-known Irish musicians including Colin Dunne, dancer, musicians Daire Bracken, Ellen Cranitch, Desi Wilkinson and Brian Fleming.
Speaking about the forthcoming performance, Co-ordinator of Music Generation Laois, Rosa Flannery, said that ‘the invitation to perform at an international festival is recognition of the high standard of traditional music among young people in Co Laois. Three young traditional musicians from Music Generation Laois were invited to perform in New York in May of this year, where they were introduced on stage by U2’s Adam Clayton. These international performances are an excellent passport for our young people to see the world, make international connections and promote Laois throughout their travels.’
Creative Connexions in Sitges, Barcelona takes place from the 27-30 October, and it will include:
The Music Generation Laois Harpists were delighted to travel to the international O’Carolan Harp Festival in Nobber, Co Meath, the birth place of Ireland’s most famous harpist Turlough O’Carolan, on Saturday the 1st of October.
This group of 18 harpists participated 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 and in the workshops they learned new tunes, techniques and styles.
The O’Carolan Harp Festival, 30th September – 2nd October 2016, is in its 29th 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.