Emsona Teaching and Learning Platform

Emsona is a new music teaching, learning, and assessing platform designed specifically for primary school classroom music education. Founded by cellist, composer and educator, Adele O’Dwyer, Emsona aims to enable the development of deep understanding and fluency in the language of music through active music-making.

With the launch of the Emsona Music Portal Tullamore, the Emsona platform was made available to Gaelscoil an Eiscir Riada on a pilot basis for academic year 2024/25 where teachers and students engaged in learning activities designed to awaken the musical ear and lay the foundation for inclusive musical participation and growth for all learners.

100 young musicians from Gaelscoil an Eiscir Riada entertained a full house on Friday, 13 June 2025 in the final event of the year-long collaborative music project between the Emsona Music Portal Tullamore and Gaelscoil an Esicir Riada. Joined by guest artists, Contempo Quartet and Le Chéile Singers, the concert, which was funded by the Creative Ireland Programme, included a colourful array of music from familiar Irish children’s songs such as Dilín Ó Deamhas, to Astor Piazzolla’s stunning Argentinian Tango, La Muerte del Angel and a joyous rendition of City of Stars from the film, La La Land.

The reaction from the crowd was overwhelming at times as enthusiastic applause burst out at the end of each song, bringing smiles to the faces of the children and guest performers.

The event on 13 June offered a window into the learnings that had been achieved by some of the school’s youngest pupils guided by their dedicated classroom teachers in collaboration with the Emsona platform. Central to the performance was the chance for these young budding musicians to experience the joy of music-making alongside high-calibre performing artists as a community of music.

The Emsona Music Portal Tullamore is accepting expressions of interest from educational stakeholders and other interested parties for pilot participation during academic year 2025/26.

For more information, please contact Adele O’Dwyer at hello@emsona.com and view the Emsona website at www.emsona.com.