Irish Association of Youth Orchestras

The Ceol na Mara Summer School for Strings will take place between the 28th July and the 2nd August 2013 in the Connemara West Centre, Letterfrack, Co. Galway.

Now in it’s sixth consecutive year, it is a family friendly course suitable for all ages and levels including adults.

The classes involve classical and traditional music as well as mixing in some elements of drama, singing and music appreciation.

For further details on the course and application forms visit www.ceolnamara.ie or contact Oonagh Keogh on 086-2668428.

Musical Director: Ronan O’Reilly

This year’s IYWE takes place from 17th-25th August 2013 at University of Limerick.

Applications are invited in the following instruments:

Flute, Piccolo Oboe, Cor Anglais, Bb, Eb and Bass Clarinet, Bassoon & Contrabassoon, Alto / Tenor / Bari, French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, Percussion, Harp, Double Bass

Further information e: info@iywe.ie t: 021 421 5185

Application closing date Friday 22 March 2013

Auditions in Cork and Dublin

Applicants must be aged between 16 and 25 and must have a minimum of Grade 6 standard.

Download the application form here.

The National Youth Orchestra of Ireland will hold their summer course this year in Kilkenny College from July 21st to 29th. This will encompass the NYOI Proms, where they will perform the 2nd Symphony by Sibelius, Verdi’s Operatic Highlights and Bingham’s Celticity.

More information can be found at the NYOI website.

Saturday 27th July in College Street Chapel, Waterford

Tickets available from www.garterlane.ie

Sunday 28th July in University Concert Hall, Limerick

Tickets available from www.uch.ie

Monday 29th July in The National Concert Hall, Dublin

Tickets available from www.nch.ie

Taking place on Sunday February 24th, the DYO Chamber Music Day is designed for orchestral players (string, wind, brass and percussion) with some experience in chamber music, as well as those musicians who are completely new to ensemble playing.

During the day, each chamber group takes part in three sessions with their own individual tutor, learning key techniques in playing as a chamber group. Groups are formed and music is chosen according to age and ability. An informal concert for parents and friends is given at the end of the day, allowing each group to perform the music they have worked on with their tutors. The most outstanding groups are often invited to perform at a DYO concert later in the year.

Percussion workshops are also part of the day, led by a professional percussionist. This special workshop gives non-orchestral musicians such as keyboard and guitar players the opportunity to experiment with percussion instruments.

The cost is €50 per player, with a €10 discount for each additional family member.

To apply, please visit the DYO website and the closing date for applications is February 15th 2013.

The Ulster Youth Orchestra has completed its annual series of auditions just before Christmas but would still like to recruit some more experienced violin players.

The repertoire for this summer’s course and concerts will include Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky and Symphony No 12 by Shostakovich. Their violin tutors are Adrian Levine and Joanne Quigley and our conductor is Takuo Yuasa. The course is a ten-day residential to be held from 15 – 24 August, 2013 at Greenmount Agricultural College, Antrim, and will conclude with public concerts in the Guildhall, Derry on Friday the 23rd of August and in the Ulster Hall, Belfast on Saturday the 24th of August.

This year they have organised a “Play-in Day” to be held in the City of Belfast School of Music, Fortwilliam Park, Belfast BT15 4AR, from 10.00am to 4.00pm on Saturday the 23rd of February. Michael Thompson, world famous French horn player and conductor, will rehearse the Orchestra on the last movement of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 and the last movement of Shostakovich’s Symphony No 5. All who have been accepted already will meet together with those who have still to be auditioned. Any interested violinist at Grade VIII standard may contact Stanley Foreman on 00447776228600 or by email uyoni@tiscali.co.uk, attend the Play-in and do their audition on the same day.

Download the application form here.

Tues 26 Feb 2013 at 6pm
Aula Maxima NUIG
Applications are invited from interested musicians of Grade 5 up to pre-professional
Isabelle O’Connell has a growing international career and has been described by the New Yorker as “the young Irish piano phenom.” Since her critically acclaimed Carnegie Hall debut in 2002, she has performed as soloist and chamber musician around the world and has a reputation for being a dynamic interpreter and energetic advocate of music by 20th and 21st century composers and is often invited to give masterclasses and workshops. For a chosen few, she has kindly agreed to host one such masterclass for our 10th birthday.

The Masterclasses with Isabelle are open to the public and all welcome whether playing or not.The event is free of charge. Please return forms by 18th February.

To apply forward your:

1. Name, Address, Phone and Email

2. Level / Grade / Performance experience

3. Teacher name and contact details

4. Pieces (2) you wish to present at the workshop

Further information from The Galway Music Residency 091 586706, info@thegalwaymusicresidency.ie or 55 Corrib Village, Newcastle Road, Galway

15th – 23th August 2013

Kilkenny College, Castlecomer Road, Kilkenny, Ireland

ConCorda is an innovative and long-established chamber music course which attracts a high calibre of international string players from all corners of the globe.

The course takes place in the picturesque and very popular city of Kilkenny, a city synonymous with the arts.

ConCorda offers talented string players aged between 14 and 21 an inspiring and transforming musical experience in chamber music, string orchestra and music improvisation. Participants study chamber music intensively at a high level with a staff of Irish and International tutors.

As well as members of the prestigious Irish Chamber Orchestra, tutors have included renowned violinist, Marc Danel, the award winning French quartet Quatuor Varese and Oscar Valsecchi, an actor and mime artist, who is in much demand across Europe’s most exciting theatre companies.

Applications for ConCorda 2013 are now open. The closing date for applications is Friday 31st May 2013.

Apply Online by clicking here and filling out and submitting the form.

The forms have been tested but if you have any problems, then please do contact us using the email form or ring us on 021 421 5185 to let us know.

Participation Fee

€500 including full board and all tuition fees. There is no deposit for the 2013 course. Some discounts may apply.

More information can be found on the ConCorda website at http://concorda.ie/

APPLE HILL CHAMBER MUSIC WEEKEND, GARTAN OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTRE, 14TH-16TH DECEMBER 2012

Apple Hill String Quartet and Director Lenny Matczynski return to Donegal for a Chamber Music Workshop in the Gartan Outdoor Education Centre.

The Apple Hill Centre for Chamber Music has a long standing relationship with the music community in the North West performing concerts and workshops in the area for over a decade, as well as funding scholarships for more than 20 young musicians to attend the Apple Hill Summer Chamber Music Workshop in Nelson, USA.

The Donegal chamber music workshop is a residential course held in the beautiful surroundings of the Gartan Outdoor Education Centre, from 6pm on Friday 14th December until Sunday 16th. Each participant is assigned a chamber music piece which they work on over the weekend with coaching from the Apple Hill Quartet. The weekend concludes with groups performing for their fellow participants and friends.

Applicants should be Grade 6 or above and at least 12 years old.

Instruments include violin, viola, cello, doublebass, piano, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, French horn.

Places are limited so early applications are advised. For more information on the weekend contact ahdonegal@gmail.com

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National Youth Orchestra of Ireland

Winter Course 2012 / 2013. Sunday 30th December 2012 – Saturday 5th January 2013 in Kilkenny College, Castlecomer Road, Kilkenny.

Summer Course 2013. Saturday 20th July – Sunday 28th July 2013 at Kilkenny College, Castlecomer Road, Kilkenny

Full details are available www.nyoi.ie

National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, Suite 33, 2nd Floor Morrison Chambers, 32 Nassau Street, Dublin 2, Ireland

E: info@nyoi.ie

T: +353 (0)1 6169638

APPLICATIONS FOR AN AUDITION TO JOIN THE 2013/2014 EUYO (European Union Youth Orchestra) are now open.

Applications are open for candidates to audition for the 2013 /2014 orchestra. Auditions are held in all member states of the European Union.

Please see www.euyo.org.uk for application deadlines, final round audition dates and details of how to apply in each country.

Some information is still to be confirmed so please keep checking their website for the latest information and they will post updates as soon as possible.

Remember, your country may also hold preliminary round auditions so please check with the local organiser.