Donegal Music Education Partnership has established a Junior Concert Band (wind and brass) which will commence rehearsals on Wednesday the 1st of February in the Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town, from 7-8pm.
The Junior Concert Band is open to brass and wind players up to a Grade 3 standard, providing an excellent performance opportunity for junior players not yet of the standard to join the Donegal Youth Orchestra. The Junior concert Band will be conducted by Don Swain.
Junior String players are welcome to join the Donegal Children’s String Orchestra, which rehearses weekly on Saturdays in Letterkenny, enrolling for new members from March 2012. For young singers, the Donegal Music Education Partnership’s Junior Choir is also now enrolling. The choir rehearse fortnightly in Letterkenny, conducted by Helen O’Hare.
Donegal Music Education Partnership also has opportunities to enrol for their intermediate, advanced and adult ensembles for the Spring-Summer Term. The Partnership’s ensemble groups stretch across a range of musical styles and genres, including jazz, classical and choral music catering for intermediate and advanced players, children and adults. Performing as part of an ensemble is a great way to meet other musicians and singers, and the many benefits include additional tuition and increased performance opportunities.
The Donegal Youth Orchestra, conducted by well-known composer and musician Vincent Kennedy, rehearse fortnightly on Fridays in Letterkenny, and students from a grade 3 standard upwards are welcome to join.
The Donegal Youth Orchestra have performed in the National Concert Hall in Dublin, and recently reunited with Altan for a special concert to celebrate Forty Years of Letterkenny Institute of Technology.
Rehearsals are currently underway for a very exciting project funded by Donegal County Council’s Public Art Office, which will premiere in Easter 2012. More advanced players are welcome to audition for the Donegal Chamber Orchestra, who earlier this year performed for RTE Radio’s Sunday Miscellany.
The Donegal Music Education Partnership’s Big Band, the Errigal Groove Orchestra, conducted by Buncana-based saxophonist Sean McCarron, is an ever-expanding jazz ensemble open to brass and wind players, double bassists, guitarists, drummers, pianists, organists and singers.
Since their debut last year, this group has captured the imagination of many young players and singers, and new members are now also welcome. Rehearsals take place on Saturday mornings in the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny.
Donegal Youth Choir, led by Sara Laughlin, is a great outlet for young adults to build confidence and explore their creativity. The choir, which is open to 14yr olds to 25yr olds rehearse fortnightly on Sundays in Letterkenny, and has members from across the county.
For adults who love to sing but have no formal training, The Errigal Singers provides a vibrant and fun performance outlet. Led by Lorna McLaughlin, the choir meets weekly on a Monday in Errigal College, Letterkenny. For further information on any of these ensembles, contact the Donegal Music Education Partnership by email on musiceducation@donegalvec.ie or telephone 074 9176293.
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