Irish Association of Youth Orchestras

These limits are really tested by the course’s intense programme of chamber music, orchestral music and musical theatre, as well as daily sports and activities. The musical theatre aspect encourages the kids to improvise with their instruments and with their imaginations, and the result (in the form of one 30 minute ‘show’ on the final day) was really beautiful. Each student’s personalities and skills were encouraged and celebrated.

The staff do a great job here. No evening is left unorganised and, thanks to the enthusiasm of the teachers, the kids throw themselves into everything with visible (and audible) gusto – talent show, quiz night, costume night, movie night, prop-making night, and the evening that we organised: string quartet night. Even our 90 minute talk/demonstration about how to work in a professional string quartet held the attention of the youngest students. This is certainly down to the general atmosphere created on the course – where kids embrace learning wholeheartedly because it’s challenging and fun.

This is a wonderful course. A lot of hard work is put into it, and a lot of invaluable experiences are created. The students here don’t only learn music, they learn what it is to be a musician.

Rowena Kennally, Evropska Quartet (Quartet-in-residence 2012)

[For the first time in 2012, the ConCorda Chamber Music Course accepted junior quartets for a day of masterclasses during the summer course. Ella Brennan from St Canice's in Kilkenny and Alanna Kenny Flaherty from Coole Music wrote about their experiences for Newsnotes.]

Our quartet, the ‘Poco A Poco’ quartet, felt both excited and privileged when we were asked to attend the ConCorda Chamber Music Course for one day during the summer. Our quartet, tutored by Ms Ruth O Leary in St Canice’s National School Kilkenny, consists of 4 girls, all going into 6th class! We were one of the first junior quartets to attend ConCorda and we were eager for a taste of the action! Throughout our day at ConCorda we would receive tutoring from experienced music teachers from all over Europe. We would also take part in a music theatre session and have the opportunity to listen to some of the older quartets play.

Our quartet, along with two other junior quartets, arrived at Kilkenny College at midday on Saturday to register. We were all slightly nervous but excited to see what our day held in store. After a quick lunch and a warm welcome from the ConCorda staff and older quartets we were ready for our first music session. Bill Butt, an experienced cello tutor would work with our quartet for our first session. Bill had a very fun, quirky approach on all our pieces giving us helpful tips and pointers on how to improve our pieces even further. Bill’s musical enthusiasm helped motivate our quartet to play as best we could and we all agreed that during the 45-minute session our pieces had improved a great deal!

Much the same was to be said about our next tutor, an accomplished violinist, Katharine Hunka (leader of the Irish Chamber Orchestra). Katharine helped us to capture the mood of our pieces. She also helped us with our bowing and dynamics and really emphasising the whole feel and the atmosphere of the pieces. Next was something a little different! We, along with our fellow junior quartets, took part in a music theatre class. The music theatre class was conducted by cellist David and professional mime artist Oscar Valesschi. This was a very relaxed class and a lot of fun. During the class we did some miming and some musical improvisation – it was different from any class we had ever done!

Time flies when you’re having fun but there was still time to listen to some of the older quartets play. This was one of my highlights of the day and everyone in our quartet was blown away by the sheer standard of the older quartets. Listening to the quartets was like an insight into just how good our quartet could become in a matter of years. Our day at ConCorda was a lot of fun and a great experience and our only criticism was that we couldn’t have come back again the next day for more!

Ella Brennan

On Saturday the 18th of August, our quartet from Coole Music in Gort was invited to join the ConCorda Chamber Music course in Kilkenny for a day. We left bright and early and had our first practice session with a tutor just after lunch.

We introduced ourselves and played the three pieces that we had prepared for Andre. He worked with us on making the melody stronger and find the right dynamics. Our next session was with Cian where we learned to listen more to each other instead of watching and he made us sit back to back, which I found very interesting and helpful.

Our third session was Music Theatre which involved all the 3 junior quartets with tutors Chris and Oscar. In this session we played mime and rhythm games and we were also given different notes and asked to improvise and make up our own tunes. For the final session we got to observe two senior quartets rehearse. They were very good and played some harder tunes we had never heard or played before.

Over all I found the Music Theatre the most fun as we got to move around as we played. It was a great day and I had so much fun with Joshua, Aleksandar and Anna from my quartet and a big thank you to Katharina Baker our music teacher for all her help.

by Alanna Kenny Flaherty, age 12, Coole Music

[A Press Release from the International Summer Music School]

International Summer Music School 2012  Strikes a High Note in the Musical, Artistic and Cultural Landscape of the Irish Midlands

As summer slowly draws to a close and the routine of another academic year begins, so to does the International Summer Music School close its doors for another season. The summer music school, under direction of cellist, composer and educator Adele O’Dwyer, took up residency in Durrow National School in the county of Co. Offaly at the heart of the Irish Midlands for a 9-day period at the end of August. With participants from Europe, the UK and the US as well Irish musicians based both locally and nationally, the summer school brings together performing artists and participants of all ages for an intensive period of mentoring and performance. The 2012 offerings provided opportunities for the public to hear both participants and professional in action in a series of concert events presented in venues throughout Co. Offaly.

International Summer Music School Director and founder Adele O’Dwyer notes that, “…the International Summer Music School programme has grown significantly over the past 4 years and provides an opportunity for local and international students to work with Irish as well as International professionals on both solo and ensemble music. Participants have the opportunity to perform regularly in informal and formal settings and to hone their skills with the mentoring of top-class performing artists. The International Summer Music School is a great opportunity for aspiring musicians to engage with high-calibre artist-performance professionals and it is my hope that we will see more local participation in coming years.”

Read more »

I’ve been to Aravon three times before, but this year was by far the best. The music is great, as always, and the food remains up to scratch! Aravon is weirdly like High School Musical meets Hogwarts – you’re in a school that looks like a castle, and if someone spontaneously grabs an instrument or starts singing, it’s considered completely normal!

Aravon’s really one-of-a-kind. Where else can you play music, sport, stay up late and plunge into an icy pool three times a day? Not forgetting the legendary Aravon’s Got Talent!

Seriously, if someone didn’t want to come to Aravon they’d be crazy. It’s awesome – the highlight of the summer.

Julie – violin

After years of persistent fundraising and months of rehearsals, the Cork Youth Orchestra began its trip to Italy in Cork Airport in early July, with 119 enthusiastic members swarming onto the plane, bearing identical red t shirts. The excitement was contagious and our expectations were high.

By the third day, we were ready and waiting for our first concert, conveniently situated right by our own hotel. Playing outside under the stars was a new experience for most of us and we were in awe. Our music bounced off the mosaics so typical of Italy’s history, making the usual thrill of a concert so much better.

I was surprised to find that we really did tour Italy. We got to visit amazing places like Sienna, Pisa, San Gimignano, Rome and best of all Florence. Sticking to our groups we could stroll around these spots gorging on the famous ice cream.

Out of the three concerts, it could be unanimously said that Florence was by far the best. We played in a huge square where approximately 2,000 people stopped to watch us, either sitting on the ground or standing for the entire concert. With incredible acoustics, the complete silence of the gathering crowd during musical pauses made it a breathtaking experience; I think some players even had tears in their eyes as we stood to the final applause.

Overall the tour gave us fun time by the pool, a trip to the beach and a terrific musical experience which brought us all together in a way only an orchestra tour can. We will have memories and photos forever and could not have asked for a more successful trip, it being so well organised and thoroughly enjoyable.

Ciara – Viola

I felt that my stay at Concorda was a thoroughly enjoyable one. On the first day when I arrived, I was shown by the staff to my dorm were I met my roommates. We had a nice long break to get to know each other and to get organised. The day passed with a blur as we had our first quartet session, orchestra and, of course, the inevitable name-games! My first impression was indeed a good one as all of the staff and past students helped us newbies on our way. I couldn’t wait for the week ahead!

As the week progressed, I realised several things. One, everyone could sing really, really well! For instance, when someones birthday arose and everyone sang “Happy Birthday” they sang in three-part harmony! Everyone often spontaneously burst into song during the week and it was great fun to join in! Second of all was that I recognised many of my fellow students from various music festivals and such. The music world is very small!

I definitely enjoyed the talent show the most and within that, most enjoyable of all, was the completely improvised song by Meadhbh, who had been at Concorda for the past five years. She basically managed to play the ukelele and make fun of members of the audience at the same time, while sneaking in verses of the “Peel Bananas” song! Obviously, this was no mean feat!

Overall, Concorda was a brilliant week and the music standard was very high. The concert at Castalia Hall (a truly magical venue) was an amazing experience. The Evropska Quartets performance there was brilliant and received a well-deserved standing ovation from the audience. Even the thing that I dreaded most, Music Theatre was extremely enjoyable and we all had a great laugh about it. I made many friends of which I hope to see again next year at Concorda. I hope that there will many new faces next year, as I think that many should go to Concorda. It was probably the most fun week I have had in a long time!

Eric Sheeran-Purcell

I felt that my stay at Concorda was a thoroughly enjoyable one. On the first day when I arrived, I was shown by the staff to my dorm were I met my roommates. We had a nice long break to get to know each other and to get organised. The day passed with a blur as we had our first quartet session, orchestra and, of course, the inevitable name-games! My first impression was indeed a good one as all of the staff and past students helped us newbies on our way. I couldn’t wait for the week ahead!

As the week progressed, I realised several things. One, everyone could sing really, really well! For instance, when someones birthday arose and everyone sang “Happy Birthday” they sang in three-part harmony! Everyone often spontaneously burst into song during the week and it was great fun to join in! Second of all was that I recognised many of my fellow students from various music festivals and such. The music world is very small!

I definitely enjoyed the talent show the most and within that, most enjoyable of all, was the completely improvised song by Meadhbh, who had been at Concorda for the past five years. She basically managed to play the ukelele and make fun of members of the audience at the same time, while sneaking in verses of the “Peel Bananas” song! Obviously, this was no mean feat!

Overall, Concorda was a brilliant week and the music standard was very high. The concert at Castalia Hall (a truly magical venue) was an amazing experience. The Evropska Quartets performance there was brilliant and received a well-deserved standing ovation from the audience. Even the thing that I dreaded most, Music Theatre was extremely enjoyable and we all had a great laugh about it. I made many friends of which I hope to see again next year at Concorda. I hope that there will many new faces next year, as I think that many should go to Concorda. It was probably the most fun week I have had in a long time!

Eric Sheeran-Purcell

DYO Summer Chamber Music – Junior Course 2011

I had never been to Aravon before so I didn’t know what to expect. When I got there I was given a timetable telling me what happened when. First I had quartet . My teacher was Emma Montenen. She was very nice. I really enjoyed the music that we played and I loved being in a small group.

After that it was orchestra for an hour. I found some of the pieces tricky and I lost my place a couple of times but I still enjoyed it!

I really enjoyed the swimming. I had never been in a pool as cold. It involves a lot of climbing in and out but when you get used to it you could stay in there for hours.

One of my favourite bits of Aravon was the talent show.

I had a great time at Aravon – my playing improved and every day was fun!

Amy Scanlan – age 9

All ready for orchestra and quartet

Ready to have some fun

All in the correct room

Viola, violin, cello and double bass of course

On Friday morning we started

Nothing bad to say!

Una McNicholas – age 12

DYO Summer Chamber Music – Senior Course 2011

From the minute I walked through the doors of Aravon School for the third year, I felt like I was at home once again. The highlight of the course was most definitely the quartet lessons. You could build up your repertoire and learn endless amounts of pieces throughout the six days which was another bonus. I loved the sports, especially rounders because it was a great way to mix with new people and get to know them better.

The teachers are great and helpful and never stop running around the place from lesson to lesson.

Anna Walsh – age 13

Had you driven past Wexford Park at 2:30am on Thursday the 7th of July last you would have witnessed a rather unusual scene. Myself and 21 other members of the County Wexford Youth Orchestra, ranging in age from 12 to 19, piling our instruments, our luggage and ourselves onto a minibus. Our destination? The Third International Youth Music Festival of Bratislava, capital city of Slovakia. Our orchestra was the only representative from Ireland in this international festival in which orchestras, choirs and ensembles from thirteen countries participated.

The five day trip was the culmination of months of careful planning by our conductor Emily Redmond and the staff in the County Wexford School of Music along with the leaders who accompanied us to Slovakia and ensured that we did not come back one violinist short! Huge credit is also due to all of the staff and parents who took part in the various fundraising events without which this trip would not have been so successful. Needless to say we members of the orchestra did our bit too and put in many long hours of practice to ensure that our performance would be the best that we could possibly make it.

Getting 22 musicians and instruments from Wexford to Bratislava is no mean feat! Our journey involved a two and a half hour flight from Dublin to Vienna and then a bus journey across the Austro-Slovakian border and on to the beautiful city of Bratislava arriving just in time for dinner and the opening concert.

At 7:30am on the following morning, Friday, we arrived at the majestic Primatial Palace in Bratislava, where we were the first group to perform in front of a panel of 6 judges. Aside from the ‘normal’ nerves we would experience before a concert, for most of us it felt a little odd to be giving a public performance so early in the morning! Nonetheless in true County Wexford Youth Orchestra style we gave it our all, as we always do! When we finished playing we felt that we had done well but had to wait until the following evening for the announcement of the competition results.

At the more civilised time of 2:30pm on the following day we played in a second non-competitive concert in the Klarisky Concert Hall which was a slightly less nerve-wracking experience. For the performance we played from a wide repertoire which encompassed both popular and classical music as well as a fantastic piece called “If you have to ask, you will never know”, by the Irish composer Vincent Kennedy. The audience, which included locals from Bratislava and members of various other musical groups, gave our performance a very warm reception which was greatly encouraging.

That evening the competition results were announced. To our delight we came second in our category (ensembles with free instrumentation up to 21 years) and received an overall bronze grade. For first time entrants facing competition from professional ensembles it was a really brilliant result!

Of course we didn’t spend all of our time buried in our music! We had the opportunity to visit the sights of Bratislava and much to the bemusement of passers-by we even found time to have an impromptu traditional Irish music session in Hviezdoslav Square, one of the main squares in the city! As well as that we made time to attend the performances given by other groups and particularly enjoyed those given by Chinese, Russian and Czech musicians. On top of this we made a day trip to Vienna where we visited the Mozart Museum and climbed up (and down!) the 342 steps of St. Stephan’s Cathedral! And of course none of us could forget our guide Tomàs and his apparently inexhaustible supply of Bublanina – a type of traditional apricot cake!

Perhaps it sounds a little clichéd but we will always have very fond memories of our trip to Bratislava. Thanks to the County Wexford Youth Orchestra we had the opportunity to play and to hear fantastic music in some great venues and also to develop friendships which will last a lifetime.

Mona O’Brien, member of County Wexford Youth Orchestra

For one week during the Easter Holidays, the sixty-two members of Kilkenny Youth Orchestra and I, along with our two conductors, travelled out to Italy to perform four concerts around Florence. Every four years, K.Y.O. organises a foreign trip to perform, to bond as an orchestra and take in a new culture. Most of the members go on one foreign trip in their time in the Youth Orchestra, and Florence was our trip. K.Y.O has developed links with a Florentine orchestra called Orchestra Giovanile di Firenze and an exchange was arranged with the Florentine orchestra, who came over to stay with us last year. This time it was our turn to visit with them.

We played four concerts during our stay in Florence; one in Cortona, a town about two hours from Florence (or in our case four hours, after getting lost!). Two concerts in two different halls in a small town in Florence, called Scandicci, which is the location of the music school where many of the Italian orchestras members attend. The second concert in Scandicci was a celebration of the Italian’s independence from the Germans, so we had many people who had been enlisted in the war, as well as the mayor of Scandicci come to hear us play and celebrate the day with them. And the fourth concert was in a Salesian Church in Via Gioberti, in Florence city. Our final concert was a joint one with the Italian orchestra, and a children’s choir. We had a sweltering rehearsal in the music school beforehand, having great fun trying to get both orchestras squeezed into a small room in the Italian heat, but it was well worth it to have both orchestras performing together. In the concert, the first half was the Italian orchestras repertoire, the second half was our repertoire, and then both orchestras playing together accompanying the children’s choir. It certainly was an excellent experience to be conducted by a different conductor.For me, and for many of the members of the orchestra, the main highlight of the trip was staying with an Italian family. Half of the orchestra stayed with host families, and half stayed in the hostel, but everyone got a taste for the real Italian life. On Easter Sunday, the members in the hostel were invited out to the Italian families to join in the celebrations. I was lucky enough to stay with an Italian family for the week, and become part of their family. Our hosts would take us into Florence and show us the ‘real’ Florence, as well as more importantly, the best shops! They knew the best ice-cream shops, which were full of Italians, without a single tourist to be seen. We tasted the Italian food that families eat on an everyday basis, as well as the two five-course meals on Easter Sunday. But most importantly, we got to know our families, and see the dynamics of a real Italian family. In my family, the parents and children spoke English, ranging from very little to almost fluent. However the grandparents didn’t speak a single word of English, but somehow it didn’t matter. They chatted away to us in Italian and we chatted away to them in English, and we could understand each other (with a little help from sign language!). The hostel used was Youth Hostel Firenze 2000 which was very comfortable and convenient. It was within walking distance along the river Arno to the old city of Florence .It had lovely patisseries nearby which were visited each day for breakfast. The Easter Bunny even found time to visit!!!!We also spent a lot of time in Florence city, exploring the culture and sightseeing when we were not busy rehearsing for concerts, went on walking tours of Florence, visited the Villa Constanza Vecchio, where the famous Medici family lived, and visited the beautiful church of Santa Croce. We wandered the old cobbled town of Cortona, before our concert, a beautiful walled town on the top of a hill. The countryside was surprisingly luscious and green; it seemed throughout the city, any spare inch of ground had something planted in it.

This trip was vital to the orchestra, for bonding and making friends within the orchestra. I certainly became closer to the other members I hadn’t really spoken to before. We also became great friends with the Italians, on our last evening in Florence, we had a going away party with Italians and Irish dancing together, traditional Irish and Scottish dancing which everyone had been taught on our first evening there. There were many sad ‘Ciaos’ as we left the next morning, leaving our new Italian friends and families. But the trip really was invaluable to the orchestra. We were only two days back and a reunion was being organised for everyone, even after spending a week together. It was an amazing trip, showing us a new culture, new food, new music and most importantly, new friends.Jennifer Allan