Cultural Events to Banish Post Festive Blues 2015

Grand Opera House 

 Mid Winter is a time when I retreat to the sofa and wrestle for domination of the remote control. But this will pass and  I enjoyed putting together this round up of cultural events to tempt culture vultures off the couch. My selection  appeared in the print edition of the Irish Examiner  on Friday 2nd January.
Arts Events Selection for month's ahead.

 Here are some further  suggestions.


Opera in Belfast .
I visited Belfast for the first time in decades back in the September  and was impressed with the scale and elegance of the city centre and the many venues. With a journey time of less than 2 hours by bus to Dublin, it is closer than I imagined.   I have a yen to see some opera in the Grand Opera House with it's splendid red brick Victorian facade.

 In February, Northern Ireland Opera present  Richard Strauss’ potent late Romantic setting of Oscar Wilde’s play based on the biblical femme fatale, Salomé.

Belfast-born Giselle Allen sings the title role of the bloodthirsty Princess .  Nicholas Chalmers conducts the Ulster Orchestra in this new production directed by Oliver Mears. There is more opera at the venue when English touring company Opera North  brings two rather more genteel   productions , to this historic venue

Opera at the Grand Opera House www.goh.co.uk

Salomé   Strauss 6-8 Feb

Marriage of Figaro Mozart  Mar 19^th and 21^th

La Travaiata Verdi Mar 18 and 20^th 

Special Consensus at Sixmilebridge

Superpowers in Galway

Festival of Youth Orchestras NCH Feb 7th

RTE Philharmonic Choir celebrate 30 years 

Back to School: St Peter's College Grand Concert

Pat Morris with St Peter's College Orchestra 2013

It was a  Sunday afternoon in Dunboyne, Co Meath. Dozens of youngsters arriving in their school uniform on a weekend afternoon  was unusual enough but even more so was that  all of them were carrying cases bearing musical instruments of one sort or another.   St Peter's College is a large co ed post primary school run by  Meath VEC with about 1200 students currently enrolled. Among the extra curricular activities it boasts a 40 + strong school orchestra. I was thrilled to be invited as guest of honour to a Grand Concert by St Peter's College Orchestra. last May, their first full length concert. There was a wonderful sense of occasion as the  hall was packed with colleagues, past pupils, siblings  and  proud parents, There were refreshments for all. The sense of immense pride in the endeavour was palpable and  both Principal Eamonn Gaffney and Vice Principal Maureen Murray were in attendance.

St Peter's College Orchestra 2006

My own involvement goes back a decade or so when I worked at the school and established the ensemble with my colleague Pat Morris as a feature of the school extra curricular programme.  I reported on the project in the early years for IAYO Newsnotes and you can read my article here . I am in awe of the commitment of the staff including my former colleague Pat Morris in sustaining  the ensemble over a decade as a regular activity in the school and  locality. I remain terribly  proud of my association with them. It  gives me great pleasure to remember the  highlights. Although there were many grand occasions including indeed an exciting performance in the grand  portals of  the National Concert Hall, the occasion I would choose as my favourite is one for which I have no photograph.  Statesman TK Whittaker arrived  as a surprise guest to hand out the prizes at the first PLC courses run by the school and said wonderful things about  education and learning and of course complimented the fledgeling ensemble.

TK Whittaker 

Since my time there Clare Carolan has been busy teaching wind instruments in the area and assisting with directing the ensemble The impact one committed teacher can have was apparent in the many fine wind and brass players in the ensemble.
On a practical level a full length programme was achieved with a good mix of solo and ensemble numbers and smaller ensembles drawn from the larger pool.  Players of all level of ability were included. I specially liked  film themes, The Great Escape, Concerning Hobbits, Pirates of the Carribbean to name just a few.

 Bravo tutti! Pat, Clare and your students on your wonderful work.

You can read Pat Morris' report on the event here 

The Happy Prince :Donegal Oscar

In a recent post on the Festival of Youth Orchestras, I included an audio  interview with composer Vincent Kennedy who accepted a Special Achievement Award from the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras on behalf of a Donegal arts initiative.I am grateful to the composer for sending this video on the remarkable project, commissioned via the Per Cent for Art scheme.

The Happy Prince (Featuring Little John Nee, Vincent Kennedy, Donegal Youth Orchestra & Donegal Youth Choir) from Jeremy Howard on Vimeo.

18th IAYO Festival at NCH

There was not just one but two  sold out houses for the annual festival devoted to young musicians held at the National Concert Hall on Saturday. The full list of participants can be found on this link to the iayo website iayo.ie/festivals  Here is the post festival update from the website.

'This year’s festival proved to be a resounding success, with all of the orchestras performing fantastically in both the afternoon and evening concerts. There was a great atmosphere throughout the whole day and it was an accurate representation of the vibrancy and enthusiasm of youth orchestras in Ireland.

A special word of congratulations must be given to Donegal Youth Orchestra for their Youth Orchestra Achievement Award, Julianstown Youth Orchestra for their Orchestra Development Award and John O’Brien for receiving the Agnes O’Kane Award. Coole Music also deserve congratulations for their special commendation on the night and we wish them the very best of luck on their tour to Sweden this week.'
 You can hear my interview my interview with one of the recipients of the Achievement Awards below.

My highlights  were the musical fairytale Rapunzal from Budding Bows Chamber Orchestra from Waterford under director Deirdre Scanlon. Deirdre organised the first youth orchestra of which I was a member and I can still remember the excitement. although it is a very long time ago. Composer Brian Irvine was in the house to hear his work performed by the Julianstown Youth Orchestra with a striking vocal performance by Ferdia Walsh Peelo.  There were many Cork accents in the foyer as supporters of the County Cork School of Music Orchestra arrived in large numbers to see Michael Cummins direct the impressive orchestra. There was a folk influence in the selection from a merger between Young Dublin Symphonia and orchestras from Denmark and Norway but time also for.  a tango Jealousy .  Sean Rocks brought his acting talents to the podium in his updated narration of Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra ; perfect programming for the event with the accomplished symphony orchestra from The Royal Irish Academy.  Liz Nolan compered both concerts and had her work cut out with some of her young interviewees. Below are a few of the voices heard  in the foyer on the day . Well done to Artistic Director, Carol Daly , Allin Gray and team for a memorable and gala event  which no doubt will form happy memories for all fortunate to participate.

Co Cork School of Music Symphony Orchestra with the President

Venue Notes
The National Concert Hall is a great venue for a festive occasion and lends itself to people congregating post show to meet and greet. I was amazed at the efficiency  with which the hall was cleared following the evening event. . The show finished at 10.40 and not much later than 11pm staff were poised with keys and preparing to lock up..  In the balcony we rather enjoyed the mime show as  ushers collaborated to locate transgressors of  the No Camera Rule.  While I think this is proper order, an announcement clearly stating the policy at the start of each half. might help reduce infringements

PS Adding this photo of renowned Canadian pedagogue, Joanne Martin who I met at the evening concert

listen to ‘Amy Sarah’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Vincent Kennedy’ on Audioboo