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:
More than 40 Festival Events throughout the day and night, many of which are free
A public, Opening Parade, Concerts, Parties, Cultural Walks, Workshops, Exhibitions, Sessions and Pop-up performances
15+ Venues and Outdoor pop-up performance sites and 300+ performers, artists and musicians from Ireland and Catalonia.
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.
Music Generation Laois, through the Laois 2016 Centenary fund, have initiated an ‘Irish Songs We Learned at School’ project with the legendary Irish Singer-Songwriter John Spillane.
National Schools across Laois, who participate in the Music Generation Laois Singing Programme, will receive monthly visits from the well-known musician from Cork, learning many of the Irish Songs We Learned at School that John Spillane recorded on the album of the same name in 2008. In addition some of the songs associated with the 1916 Rising, including ‘Grace’ and the ‘Foggy Dew’ will be included in the songs covered in this schools project.
The project will run from September to November 2016 and culminate with a large scale concert on the 24 of November in Portlaoise, where John Spillane, Music Generation Laois Singing Tutor Lorna McLaughlin, and all the participating schools will perform, along with a live band.
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.’
Pop, Rock, Traditional or African Drumming? Music Generation Laois are delighted to announce that bookings are now open for our Summer Camps for 2016. This year will see a variety of camp choices and a range of musical genres. Our experienced and renowned tutors will work with students to unleash their creative side through classes, workshops, performances and masterclasses.
Bookings are now being taken for
– School of Rock & Pop (4 – 8 July)
– Music Generation Laois Traditional Summer School (15 – 17 July)
– Stampede Drumming Junior and Senior Camps (11 – 13 July)
See below for more information on each camp.
To make a booking or for information contact Music Generation Laois on 057-8664176 or email musicgenerationlaois@laoiscoco.ie
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.
