Announcing Two New Appointments to the Board of Music Generation

Music Generation has announced the appointment of two new members to its Board: Arts Consultant and former CEO of Music Network, Deirdre McCrea, and Chantal O’Sullivan, philanthropist and owner of O’Sullivan Antiques (Dublin and New York).

Welcoming the new appointments to the Board of Music Generation, Chairperson Leo Blennerhasset said: ‘I’m delighted to welcome Deirdre and Chantal to the Board of Music Generation, each of whom brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the programme. Their considerable and diverse skillsets – particularly in the areas of business and philanthropy, arts and music development – will be of immense value to the Board as we embark on a new and exciting phase of development for this pioneering organisation.’

Deirdre McCrea responded to the announcement of her appointment to the Board: ‘Having worked closely on Music Network’s Feasibility Study ‘A National System of Local Music Education Services’, which was the blueprint document for Music Generation’s formation in 2010, I am gratified to now join the Board and to have the opportunity to help progress the development of the organisation. Eight years into its remarkable journey, I welcome the chance to work with the Board to further the reach of Music Generation so that thousands more children and young people can experience its positive and powerful benefits.’

Chantal O’Sullivan commented: ‘It is a great honour to join the Board of Music Generation, an organisation whose ground-breaking approach to public-philanthropic partnership has already yielded such unprecedented change for Irish music education. I look forward to collaborating with my fellow Board members to build on the programme’s success to date and to advance our collective goal to ‘make music education happen.’'

Music Generation is Ireland’s National Music Education Programme, initiated by Music Network and co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, the Department of Education and Skills and Local Music Education Partnerships. ‘Phase 1’ of Music Generation established the programme in 11 areas of Ireland (Louth, Mayo, Sligo, Cork City, Laois, Wicklow, Carlow, Limerick City, Offaly/Westmeath, Clare and South Dublin) and in September 2017 a further nine areas were selected for participation as part of ‘Phase 2’ (Galway County, Waterford, Wexford, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Leitrim, Kilkenny, Cavan/Monaghan, Galway City and Roscommon). In addition, in December 2017 Government announced its commitment to support expansion of the programme nationwide by 2022. Currently the programme creates more than 48,500 opportunities each year for children and young people to engage in high-quality, subsidised performance music education across more than 150 different programmes in all musical genres and styles – from trad to jazz, rock, pop and hip-hop, samba drumming, brass band, choral and orchestral initiatives, composers clubs and much more.

Music Generation believes in every child and young person’s musical potential and their innate artistry, that it is every child and young person’s right to have the choice of access and the chance to participate as a musical citizen and that music doesn’t just change lives, it transforms lives.

//ENDS