IAYO Youth Orchestra Collaboration Grant: Limerick School of Music

The Limerick School of Music (LSOM) is collaborating with Julianstown Youth Orchestra (JYO) and Irish Midlands Youth Orchestra (IMYO) as part of the IAYO Youth Orchestra Collaboration Grant scheme. The Youth Orchestra Collaboration Grant scheme seeks to encourage collaboration among youth orchestras in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, you can read more about the scheme here.

This collaboration will see a year long collaboration, both musically and socially, between the players in these orchestras and their artistic staff and directors. This will include rehearsals, social activities and a performance next summer where all orchestras will play together.

Below Anna Jane Ryan from Limerick and Lorraine O’Dwyer from Julianstown discuss the project so far, they have also compiled feedback from the young players.

“Julianstown Youth Orchestra hosted Limerick School of Music and Irish Midlands Youth Orchestra in Coláiste na hInse in Bettystown, County Meath on Saturday, 21 October. Over 150 young musicians rehearsed together and got to know each other through social activities including a table quiz. It was a full day of shared music, food, performance and even inspired a spontaneous dance off!! There was an informal performance at the end of the day.

Thanks to funding from the IAYO this collaboration between the three orchestras was an excellent opportunity for the young musicians to learn from each other and to gain valuable experience playing in a large orchestra. Under the guidance of three conductors, Lorcan Daly (JYO), Anna Jane and Matt Rafter
(IMYO); the young musicians were immersed in a day of intensive rehearsals at the JYO rehearsal space in Coláiste na hInse. The final performance was followed by activities organized by the JYO player committee and a pizza party ensuring an enjoyable experience for all.

Over 100 excited orchestral players left Limerick and the Midlands early on that Saturday full of excitement for the day ahead. A warm welcome awaited at Colaiste na hInse for us all, where Julianstown Youth Orchestra had rehearsal space ready to go and after a quick snack and some ice breakers we got down to the first musical block of the day. The 130 strong group were given a workout, first by LSOM conductor Anna Jane who put them through their paces with Libertango. During lunch the
group mingled, and got to know each other while enjoying a wonderful spread. After lunch, Matt Rafter (IMYO) took the reins and the group worked on some Beatles music followed by a session with Lorcan Daly (JYO) on Bizet’s Farandole. Hearing the collective forces was quite a sound and at the end of the
afternoon session an informal performance of the three pieces took place for some parents. Then it was time for a quiz which was wonderfully prepared and delivered by representatives of
each of the three orchestras and finally some dodge ball!

JYO would like to acknowledge the continued support of Music Generation Meath, Meath County Council Arts Office, Louth and Meath Education and Training Board and the volunteer parents committee. The orchestras would also like to thank Lorraine, Patricia and all at Julianstown Youth Orchestra for a wonderful welcome and a day that couldn’t have run any smoother.”

Below is some feedback from the young players.

“It was a great opportunity for us to experience the different and unique styles of conducting brought by the wonderful and talented conductors from the different orchestras. Everyone at JYO is so excited to play with them and meet them all again.” – Malvina Woznica (JYO Leader)

“It was great playing with different conductors and players and I made lots of new friends. I’m really looking forward to meeting everyone again…I enjoyed chatting with other young musicians
and hearing how they got into music.” – Rita Terren-Hogan (LSOM oboist)

“I’m a French horn player. The great thing about the collaboration was it felt magical hearing new sounds and instruments that we don’t have in our orchestra for example saxophones and a tuba. We got to play with Liam’s brother Lorcan Daly, and more brass players.” – Luke Darcy (LSOM French horn player)

“I thoroughly enjoyed the group dynamic of the three orchestras in Bettystown and I am very much looking forward to a reunion in Limerick. The sound of the three orchestras together complimented each other very well and I thought the music sounded very good and will only get better. Everyone mixed
really well and the table quiz was definitely the highlight for me.” – Liam Aubin ( IMYO Player)

The second proposed event will see LSOM host JYO and IMYO in Limerick in late April 2024. This event will culminate in a formal performance in Limerick City at the LSOM summer concert where each orchestra will perform their own short programme of music and the three orchestras will perform a finale together. There will also be rehearsal, food and social activities earlier in the day at LSOM.