Young Cork Ambassadors perform at the 2015 Worldwide Ireland Funds’ Conference

Killarney, June 18, 2015: Young musicians from Music Generation Cork City will today take centre stage at the Europe Hotel Killarney for what promises to be a spectacular performance for delegates attending the 2015 Worldwide Ireland Funds’ Conference. Performing to a global audience of the Irish diaspora, these young ambassadors will perform an exciting programme of contemporary music, including the world premiere of three new works.

Rewind is a collaborative composition by the young people involved in SoundOUT music programmes, while
Aaron Cunneen is a budding composer and performer who is discovering his musical identity in a new composition Scars, to be performed by the whole ensemble. Thirteen year old Julia Varian will perform her original track entitled Touching the Ceiling.

The twenty-five member ensemble features young musicians participating in a number of Music Generation Cork City programmes in partnership with community music providers throughout Cork City. Working with Cork’s leading professional musicians, the young musicians are excited and honoured to perform their own original compositions for the international delegation.

Speaking at rehearsals yesterday, Julia Varian said "I've never performed in Killarney before and am very proud to be involved. I will be rapping a song I wrote myself called Touching the Ceiling. This will be the very first time I will be performing this particular version and am very excited to be doing it."

Aaron Cunneen added that "Music is everything to me. I feel it's a great privilege to perform my music in front of others, whether it be to 4 people or 400 people and I really appreciated the opportunities that Music Generation Cork City have given to me over the years."

According to Margaret O’Sullivan, Music Generation Cork City Coordinator, “Music Generation Cork City is proud to share the original work of young participants of our programmes in partnership with multiple community music groups in Cork City. The discipline, creativity and spirit of collaboration amongst these wonderful young people is matched by the dedication and commitment of the talented musicians who work with them, and we are deeply grateful to the many funders and partners who support us in making this happen.”

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Notes to editors

Music Generation is Ireland's National Music Education Programme that helps children and young people access high quality performance music education in their local areas. Initiated by Music Network, the programme is co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, The Department of Education and Skills and Local Music Education Partnerships. Music Generation Cork City is supported locally many partners including Cork Education and Training Board, Cork City Council, University College Cork, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork City Partnership, the HSE and local music providers. For further information visit www.musicgeneration.ie

Media Contact:
Deirdre Scully, Acting PR & Marketing Manager, Music Generation National Development Office, NCH Building Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2
E: deirdre@musicgeneration.ie
T: 01 4758454