Three extraordinary young musicians from Music Generation Laois joined musician and mentor Zoë Conway to present a superb performance of traditional Irish music and song for members of the Kennedy International Committee on the Arts at Iveagh House, Dublin, on Friday 17 June 2016.
The performance by 15-year old Sarah Bennett from Portlaoise (Bodhrán, Fiddle, Tin Whistle), 14 year-old Conall Ó Cnáimhín from Borris-in-Ossory (Cajon, Button Accordion, Fiddle, Tin Whistle) and 13 year-old Fiadh Fitzpatrick from Portarlington (Uilleann Pipes, Voice, Tin Whistle) was met with rapturous applause and a standing ovation on the evening. The ensemble of Music Generation Young Ambassadors played alongside Zoë Conway on Fiddle.
Their repertoire on the night included a traditional set arranged by Zoë and a rendition of ‘The Foggy Dew’.
This group made their international debut just last month when they performed at The American Ireland Fund 41st Annual New York City Gala in Pier Sixty, Manhattan. All three were delighted to have another opportunity to share their exceptional musical abilities with an international audience.
Speaking of this fantastic performance opportunity for the three young musicians, Music Generation Laois Coordinator Rosa Flannery said: “I am so proud to see these superb young trad players perform for such an engaged audience. Sarah, Conall and Fiadh are incredible young musicians and it’s been a privilege to see their expertise grow even further through their participation in Music Generation Laois. It’s very important for the development of young musicians to have an opportunity to perform at this level. It is just one of the many benefits that Music Generation Laois provides to the children and young people in our locality.”
On Friday evening, 24 June, the three Young Ambassadors joined the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra and members of Music Generation Carlow trad group, Reelig, to perform in a larger ensemble at The Worldwide Ireland Funds 40th Anniversary Conference in Trinity College Dublin, where the global audience of delegates included US Vice President Joe Biden, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson and the US Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin O’Malley.
The Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts was established in 2001 to promote international arts exchange and to strengthen the Kennedy Center’s international initiatives.
About Music Generation Laois
Music Generation Laois is a performance music education programme for children and young people in County Laois. Music Generation Laois is based in the Arts Office, Laois County Council, and delivers engaging music programmes in schools and centres across 6 programme strands: Singing, Trad, Orchestral, Stampede (World) Drumming, The Music Box – a Music Programme for children and young people with special needs – and a School of Rock and Pop. Since it was established in 2012, Music Generation Laois has invested in a large-scale instrument bank and in 2015 over 2,300 children and young people participated in the programme. Young people have weekly access to subsidised tuition and instruments, augmented by once-off workshops, masterclasses, concert attendance and performances, including performances at Electric Picnic 2014. Music Generation Laois is part of Music Generation – Ireland’s National Music Education Programme, initiated by Music Network and co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds together with The Department of Education and Skills and Local Music Education Partnerships. Locally, Music Generation Laois is managed by Laois Music Education Partnership and co-funded by Laois County Council, Laois-Offaly Education and Training Board and Laois Partnership Company.
For more information about Music Generation Laois programmes and events contact:
Rosa Flannery, Coordinator
Music Generation Laois, Laois County Council, Áras an Chontae, Portlaoise, Co Laois
T: +353 57 866 4176
E: musicgenerationlaois@laoiscoco.ie
www.musicgenerationlaois.ie
The performance by 15-year old Sarah Bennett from Portlaoise (Bodhrán, Fiddle, Tin Whistle), 14 year-old Conall Ó Cnáimhín from Borris-in-Ossory (Cajon, Button Accordion, Fiddle, Tin Whistle) and 13 year-old Fiadh Fitzpatrick from Portarlington (Uilleann Pipes, Voice, Tin Whistle) was met with rapturous applause and a standing ovation on the evening. The ensemble of Music Generation Young Ambassadors played alongside Zoë Conway on Fiddle.
Their repertoire on the night included a traditional set arranged by Zoë and a rendition of ‘The Foggy Dew’.
This group made their international debut just last month when they performed at The American Ireland Fund 41st Annual New York City Gala in Pier Sixty, Manhattan. All three were delighted to have another opportunity to share their exceptional musical abilities with an international audience.
Speaking of this fantastic performance opportunity for the three young musicians, Music Generation Laois Coordinator Rosa Flannery said: “I am so proud to see these superb young trad players perform for such an engaged audience. Sarah, Conall and Fiadh are incredible young musicians and it’s been a privilege to see their expertise grow even further through their participation in Music Generation Laois. It’s very important for the development of young musicians to have an opportunity to perform at this level. It is just one of the many benefits that Music Generation Laois provides to the children and young people in our locality.”
On Friday evening, 24 June, the three Young Ambassadors joined the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra and members of Music Generation Carlow trad group, Reelig, to perform in a larger ensemble at The Worldwide Ireland Funds 40th Anniversary Conference in Trinity College Dublin, where the global audience of delegates included US Vice President Joe Biden, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson and the US Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin O’Malley.
The Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts was established in 2001 to promote international arts exchange and to strengthen the Kennedy Center’s international initiatives.
About Music Generation Laois
Music Generation Laois is a performance music education programme for children and young people in County Laois. Music Generation Laois is based in the Arts Office, Laois County Council, and delivers engaging music programmes in schools and centres across 6 programme strands: Singing, Trad, Orchestral, Stampede (World) Drumming, The Music Box – a Music Programme for children and young people with special needs – and a School of Rock and Pop. Since it was established in 2012, Music Generation Laois has invested in a large-scale instrument bank and in 2015 over 2,300 children and young people participated in the programme. Young people have weekly access to subsidised tuition and instruments, augmented by once-off workshops, masterclasses, concert attendance and performances, including performances at Electric Picnic 2014. Music Generation Laois is part of Music Generation – Ireland’s National Music Education Programme, initiated by Music Network and co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds together with The Department of Education and Skills and Local Music Education Partnerships. Locally, Music Generation Laois is managed by Laois Music Education Partnership and co-funded by Laois County Council, Laois-Offaly Education and Training Board and Laois Partnership Company.
For more information about Music Generation Laois programmes and events contact:
Rosa Flannery, Coordinator
Music Generation Laois, Laois County Council, Áras an Chontae, Portlaoise, Co Laois
T: +353 57 866 4176
E: musicgenerationlaois@laoiscoco.ie
www.musicgenerationlaois.ie