BODY PERCUSSION WORKSHOP FOR TEACHERS!
Music Generation Laois are hosting ‘Body Percussion in the Classroom’ workshop with Ollie Tunmer from Beat Goes On in the Laois Educational Centre, Portlaoise on Tuesday 10 May from 7pm – 8:30pm.
FREE TO ATTEND & ALL TEACHERS WELCOME!!
RSVP to musicgenerationlaois@laoiscoco.ie or 057-8664176
RTE’s Nationwide programme tonight, Monday 14th March, at 7pm, will have a feature on ‘A Nation’s Voice’, one of the major events of the Ireland 1916 Commemoration programme.
18 Students from the Music Generation Laois Choral Programme are taking part, representing 5 participating schools (Errill NS, Kiladooley NS, Killenard NS, Presentation Primary Portarlington and Rath NS), under the direction of MGL Choral Team Nuala Kelly and Grace Bergin. The Nationwide crew visited the Laois rehearsal last week and filmed the children singing, along with an interview from Nuala Kelly (also School of Music Co-ordinator), who has a personal connection with 1916 through her Portlaoise grandfather John Muldowney, one of the Laois Volunteers at that time.
A Nation’s Voice is presented by the Arts Council and RTÉ, in association with the National Museum of Ireland, the Association of Irish Choirs and Music Generation, as part of Ireland 2016. On Easter Sunday, March 27th 2016, in the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks, Dublin, one thousand voices from all over Ireland will join with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra in presenting a major new orchestral and choral work composed by Shaun Davey and Paul Muldoon. This free concert promises to be one of the highlights of the 1916 commemoration programme and will be broadcast live on RTE 1 from 2.30pm on Easter Sunday.
The Music Generation Laois Grúpa Ceoil travelled to Borris, Co Carlow to attend Music Generation Carlow’s 2nd annual Music @ Mount Leinster Trad Camp during the midterm from 16th – 18th February 2015.
The group had the opportunity to work with some of the top traditional musicians in the country, including fiddle player Zoe Conway, concertina player Jack Talty and flautist Conor Crimmins.
The young musicians worked with Beoga’s Niamh Dunne as their tutor to learn about performance, harmony and arrangement and the camp culminated in an incredible performance by all the groups involved.
Check out the video below to listen to their amazing performance.
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 Laois School of Music Annual Christmas Concert, featuring all Ensemble Groups and including our new Oboe students and Chamber groups, will take place on Tuesday 15 December at 6pm in the Portlaoise Youth Education Centre, Railway Street.
The Orchestra will feature young musicians from the Music Generation Laois Brass and Orchestral Percussion Programmes and will have the groups playing a mix of classical, modern and christmas pieces to get everyone into the festive mood!
All are welcome to attend the concert. Free admission on the night but donations welcome.