Paddy Moloney and Kevin Conneff from The Chieftains formally launches Music Generation Wicklow at the Clermont Campus in Rathnew
On Thursday 24th May Music Generation Wicklow was formally launched at Clermont Campus in Rathnew. Music Generation is an exciting new education initiative for County Wicklow, running low cost music education programmes for children and young people throughout the County.
At the event Music Generation Wicklow launched their Summer Schools Program in Rock, Traditional and Classical Music. In addition applications for primary schools to avail of year-long choral, instrumental and foundation music programs commencing in September 2012 were launched.
In addition Music Generation Wicklow will also be putting in place a Preschool Music Programme and a Scholarship Program for the 2012/2013 school year. Every Primary School in Wicklow has been sent an application pack to apply for the different strands of music tuition, these application forms and more detailed information on the selection process and programs can be downloaded from www.musicgenerationwicklow.ie.
Paddy Moloney and Kevin Conneff from The Chieftains were on hand to perform music with Redmond O’ Toole, Coordinator of Music Generation Wicklow, at the launch. Both Paddy and Kevin were delighted to act as ambassadors for the project; they gave strong words of encouragement to budding young musicians.
‘It is great to see this project going ahead in Wicklow, it brings me back to my school days when we had an hour of music every week along with a school band and great encouragement’ Paddy Moloney (The Chieftains)
Michael Lawlor Chair of County Wicklow VEC, Sylvester Bourke Chair of Wicklow County Council, and Rosaleen Molloy Director of Music Generation’s National Program presented at the launch. The overwhelming message was one of excitement and of the excellent educational opportunity Music Generation Wicklow will offer the County. Coláiste Chill Mhantáin, Saxaphone Quartet directed by their renowned music teacher Willie Dunne opened the event to great applause.
County Wicklow is among six counties currently selected for participation in Music Generation – the U2 and Ireland Funds’ supported National Music Education Programme that gives young people access to music education in their own communities. This Summer Music Generation will be running week long courses in Traditional, Rock and Classical music in Bray, Arklow, Blessington, Baltinglass and Dunlavin as well as a songwriting workshop with Luan Parle as part of Bray Summer fest, full details can be found on the Music Generation Wicklow website (www.musicgenerationwicklow.ie). September will see the beginning of instrumental tuition, Wicklow Children’s Choir, Foundation Music Classes and a program for preschools.
Music Generation has already hired 10 musicians to work on the summer program and will be hiring more tutors for the September program from next week. Fiona Hartley CEO of County Wicklow VEC stated ‘County Wicklow VEC as the lead partner in Music Generation Wicklow is looking forward to the implementation of the project across the County. Music Generation Wicklow offers young people in our community an unprecedented opportunity to engage in affordable and accessible music education. It is expected that the project will impact not only the music students but their parents, schools and the wider community. Music Generation Wicklow also offers employment opportunities to musicians in Wicklow and surrounding counties at a time when such opportunities might be expected to decrease. County Wicklow VEC is delighted that we have the opportunity to lead and manage such an innovative project in partnership with Wicklow County Council, Towns Councils and Music Generation Nationally’
Music Generation Wicklow is a partnership between Music Generation Ireland, County Wicklow VEC and Wicklow County Council. It is managed and administered by lead partner County Wicklow VEC and its Steering Committee, Wicklow Music Education Partnership. Music Generation Wicklow is also supported by County Wicklow Town Councils.
Music Generation Wicklow Contact Details
Music Generation Wicklow can be contacted via their website, Facebook, by emailing ei.cevwolkciwnull@noitarenegcisum or by phone 0404 60505
Download a pdf version of this latest Music Generation Wicklow Press Release
