55 Young Musicians from County Laois to Perform at Annual National Festival of Youth Orchestras in the National Concert Hall
On Saturday, 10 February 2018, 55 Young Musicians from County Laois will take to the stage of the National Concert Hall, Dublin, as part of the 23rd Annual ‘Festival of Youth Orchestras’, hosted by the IAYO. Under the baton of renowned composer Elaine Agnew, whose works have been performed worldwide by artists including the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and at major festivals including the BBC London Proms, the Laois School of Music Orchestra will perform ‘In My Back Garden’, a 20-minute suite of music written for them by Elaine.
Members of the Laois School of Music Youth Orchestra perform ‘In My Back Garden’ at Music Generation Laois’ New Works Series premiere performance 2016
The IAYO ‘Festival of Youth Orchestras’ is a non-competitive event that aims to give youth orchestras and their young players the opportunity to perform to the best of their ability on Ireland’s national stage. In addition to bringing together ensembles from various counties, this highly-anticipated event also celebrates the achievements of youth orchestras in communities and schools throughout Ireland. To date the Festival has featured performances by more than 8,000 young musicians, including previous performances by the Laois School of Music Orchestra in 2009 (in collaboration with the Midlands Youth Orchestra) and 2013 (with Carlow and Lir). The Orchestra is thrilled to join the Festival line-up for the third year in 2018, representing Laois School of Music and the whole county with this specially-commissioned work.
Composer Elaine Agnew conducts the Laois School of Music Youth Orchestra at Music Generation Laois’ New Works Series premiere performance 2016
‘In My Back Garden’ was commissioned in 2015 by Music Generation Laois as part of its ‘New Works Series’ – an ambitious initiative involving the creation of three brand new works, funded by Per Cent for Art through Laois County Council and the Music Generation/Arts Council Partnership. The suite, written by Elaine Agnew for the Laois School of Music Orchestra and the Music Generation Laois National Schools Choir, was premiered in May 2016 and performed again a year later as part of ‘Music at the Malthouse in May 2017. Elaine developed the suite through a series of workshops with the Youth Orchestra, creating and adapting the score to the versatility and ability of the young musicians. The IAYO Festival will mark the third performance of this impressive piece of music which features text by Ann Egan, sung by members of the Music Generation Laois Singing Programme.
The 2018 ‘Festival of Youth Orchestras’ will involve almost 500 young musicians and span two separate concerts across the day, at 3pm and 8pm. The Laois School of Music Orchestra, whose members have been busy rehearsing for this extraordinary opportunity in recent months, will perform as part of the evening event.
Music Generation Laois is co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds and the Department of Educations and Skills, managed locally by Laois Music Education Partnership, led by Laois County Council in partnership with Laois Offaly Education and Training Board and Laois Partnership Company.
For tickets and more information about the IAYO ‘Festival of Youth Orchestras’ visit: nch.ie or phone the National Concert Hall Box Office at: 01 417 0000.
Laois School of Music Orchestra
The Laois School of Music Orchestra comprises a total of 55 members from both the Orpheus (junior) Orchestra (Conductor John Davidson) and the Senior Ensemble (Conductor Vincent Hunt). Combining junior and senior groups for certain projects has had the benefit of easing the transition from Junior to Senior Orchestra, in addition to making a great impact for a full Orchestral sound.
Both groups play a diverse range of music from classical to traditional, world music to popular, all the while promoting excellence in orchestral playing. In association with Music Generation Laois, Brass and Orchestral Percussion were introduced to the original set-up of Strings and Wind in 2013, with Oboe and Double Bass more recently added through a collaboration with IAYO, Music Generation Laois and Music Generation Carlow. Recent Orchestra activities include involvement in the ‘New Works series’, commissioned by Music Generation Laois in 2016, wherein composer Elaine Agnew created a new suite for Youth Orchestra and Choir. In March 2017 the Orchestra enjoyed a weekend collaboration with the Donegal Youth Orchestra and Choirs, working on a number of pieces together with special guest conductor Elaine Agnew.
Music Generation Laois Children’s Choir
Under the direction of Nuala Kelly, students from the Music Generation Laois Singing Programme in Errill NS and Kiladooley NS will perform Elaine Agnew’s ‘In My Back Garden’ with Laois School of Music Youth Orchestra, singing lyrics created by Ann Egan in collaboration with participants from MG Laois Singing Programme.
Elaine Agnew: Biography
Elaine Agnew read music at Queen’s University, Belfast and followed with postgraduate studies in composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with James MacMillan. Her many works have been commissioned and performed worldwide by artists such as the Škampa Quartet, RTÉ National Symphony and Concert Orchestras, Scottish and Irish Chamber Orchestras, soloist Sir James Galway, and have featured at major festivals including the BBC London Proms, the Slovenian Unicum Festival, and in many world-class venues. Recent works include ‘Everyone Sang’, premiered by the RTÉ Philharmonic Choir and RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra to celebrate the choir’s 30th birthday. Elaine was appointed as the first RTÉ Lyric FM Composer-in-Residence and her two commissioned Christmas carols from this time have been released on RTÉ Lyric FM’s ‘Choirs for Christmas’ CD.
Ann Egan: Biography
Laois native Ann Egan is a multi-award winning Poet and in 2010 was the Laois Arts Office Writer-in-Residence. Other residencies include counties, hospitals, schools and prisons across Ireland. Ann’s poems have been broadcast on RTÉ and BBC and her awards include Writers’ Week Poetry Prizes, the Annaghmakerrig Award and the Oki Prize. Ann has written four books and edited more than 30. She was 2010 Guest Editor of The Midlands Arts and Culture Review.
About Music Generation Laois
Music Generation Laois is part of Music Generation, Ireland’s National Music Education Programme, initiated by Music Network, co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds and the Department of Educations and Skills. Locally, Music Generation Laois is managed by Laois Music Education Partnership, led by Laois County Council in partnership with Laois Offaly Education and Training Board and Laois Partnership Company. www.musicgenerationla
