We are currently auditioning for our Junior Trad Group.
The Junior Trad Group rehearses weekly on Thursdays from 5:30pm-7pm in Laois Music Centre, on Church Avenue, Portlaoise.
€100 annual membership fee.
Entry is by audition only. Please email mgl@loetb.ie with your expression of interest by 5pm, Tuesday 8th of October 2019. Auditions will be held on Thursday 10th of October. You will receive an email if you have been selected for an audition.
In your email, we will need the young musician’s:
Name
Date of Birth
Address
Parent/Guardian name, email and mobile number
Instrument
Years experience
We are looking for young trad musicians who have been playing at least 2 years, can pick up basic tunes and learn to play them by ear with ease.
In the audition, young musicians will need to play two contrasting tunes and participate in a short interview (5-10 minutes).
There is no age limit – the selection process is based on playing standard.
MGL Junior Trad Group, Music at the Malt House 2019 – image credit Denis Byrne
Develop confidence and stage presence in a weeklong camp culminating with a concert on the Dunamaise Stage on the final day. A team of tutors from the Music Generation Laois School of Rock and Pop including James O’Connor, Terry Byrne, Ros O’Meara and Denise Boyle will work with musicians and singers – all instruments welcome! Participants must already play an instrument or sing to participate.
We will have an optional jazz module this year led by Paul McIntyre (keys) and Dave Redmond (bass) pending sufficient interest.
Booking: musicgenerationlaois@laoiscoco.ie or 057 8664176
Summer School of Rock and Pop | 2nd to 6th July
Dunamaise Arts Centre Portlaoise.
Develop confidence and stage presence in a weeklong programme culminating with a concert on the Dunamaise Stage. A team of tutors will work with musicians and singers – all instruments welcome!
Ages 10-18 | Fee: €70
Times:11am-3:30pm (Mon to Thurs),12 noon-3pm &
4pm-7pm (Fri)
Mezzanine Gig in the Dunamaise Arts Centre, Tuesday 3rd July @ 8pm featuring tutors Dale Hennessy, Terry Byrne, Ros O’Meara and James O Connor. (Admission €10/€5).
TradSummer School| 20th to 22nd July
Trad Summer School| 20th to 22nd July Portlaoise Further Education and Training Centre, Tower Hill, Portlaoise. Age: 8 years upwards | Fee: €60 Times: 11am-3pm (Fri & Sat), 11am-4:30pm (Sun)
Tutors include: Mohsen Amini (concertina),Ernestine Healy (concertina),Deirdre Granville (harp), Lauren O Neill (harp), Mikie Smith (uilleann pipes), Padraig Mc Govern (uilleann pipes), Paul Finn (button accordion),Derek Hickey (button accordion), Siobhan Peoples (fiddle), Denise Boyle (fiddle), Tommy Fitzharris (flute),John Kelly (flute), Colm Phelan (bodhrán), Tommy Hayes (bodhrán), Laoise Kelly (harp), Joseph Byrne (uillean pipes) and Aine McQuaid (mixed juniors).
Trad Summer School Concerts
Opening Gala Concert, Fri 20th July, Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise, 8pm
Featuring Tutors from the Summer School, the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra, and the Music Generation Laois Junior Trad Group
Concert featuring top-notch traditional musicians teaching at the Summer School, the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra and the Music Generation Laois Junior Trad Group.
€5 – Book directly through Dunamaise Arts Centre 057 8663355 / Dunamaise.ie
Talisk, Sat 21st July, The Courtyard @ Kavanaghs, Main St, Portlaoise 7pm (family-friendly gig)
Epic Scottish Trad Band, recent winners of BBC 2 Folk Band of the Year 2017
Mohsen Amini (concertina), Hayley Keenan (fiddle) and Graeme Armstrong (guitar) create a captivating, energetic and dynamic sound that, in just a couple of years, has earned them multiple award wins, unwavering nationwide media praise, and standing ovations far and wide.
The Music Generation Laois ‘New Works Series’ was commissioned in 2016 to bring young musicians together with three acclaimed professionals to collaborate, write and perform a series of new works for ensembles in the county.
This high quality CD pack contains 3 separate CDs featuring:
CD 1: In My Back Garden by Elaine Agnew, with text by Ann Egan, performed by the Laois School of Music Youth Orchestra and Music Generation Laois National Schools’ Choir
CD 2: Rising of the Harps by Catriona McKay in collaboration with the Music Generation Laois Harp Ensemble, performed by Catriona McKay and the Music Generation Laois Senior Harp Ensemble
CD 3: Visions and Voices by Martin Tourish in collaboration with the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra, performed by Martin Tourish and the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra
This recording project was supported by the Music Generation/ Arts Council Partnership.
