New music students – If you’d like to learn to play or to sing, click below
Want to be a musician/singer? Sign up
Pay online here
Join Donegal Youth Orchestra – click here
For available tuition spaces, scroll down a bit 🙂
UPDATE Thursday 12th December, 2024
CHRISTMAS IS COMING – AND LOTS OF MUSIC!
Get your Christmas diaries out! Here’s what’s coming up –
DMEP CHRISTMAS CONCERT, An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny, Sunday 15th December 3pm – Donegal Youth Orchestra, Donegal Chamber Orchestra, Donegal Junior Strings, the super guitar ensemble Sunflowers, brass from Glenties/Narin, Woodland NS string orchestra, Christmas carols led by Mirenda Rosenberg and Briana McLaughlin. A Christmas concert to remember! Book here
**ALMOST SOLD OUT** The ‘Christmas Fairytale’ concert with Donegal Chamber Orchestra and special guest, flautist Amy Gillen, Tagore Gold Medal winner at the Royal College of Music in London. Book at eventbrite
What’s just happened – PCC AN FAL CARRACH, STUDENT CONCERT – lots of talent on the DMEP timetables at PCC Falcarragh with tutors Declan McClafferty (guitar), Jim Maley (piano) and Tine Verbeke (voice). Highly enjoyable evening on Tuesday 10th December. Well done everyone and big thanks to the tutors, to PCC principal Maeve Sweeney and to everyone who helped out. Administrator John McIvor went along for the DMEP – catch some video and pic coverage on the DMEP-Donegal Music Education Partnership facebook page 🙂
ABOVE – two stars of the international classical music scene, Alba Ventura, on left , and Francisco Fullana were in concert in the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny on Friday 29th November at 8pm. Check in with the RCC’s website for the busy programme there – https://regionalculturalcentre.com/
LK SOUNDWAVES – Twelve talented young musicians and singers came along to the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny on Saturday 26th October for LK Soundwaves – and created a musical buzz here all day. Cheylene Murphy and Seamus Devenny from Wall2Wall Music (Derry) were on hand to help. Some parents and friends came in at the end of it all for a recording of the result of a busy day, a original group piece involving a train trip and much more, including a walrus! Check out the video on the DMEP-Donegal Music Education Facebook page, today Thursday 28th November.
ABOVE – a talented bunch at LK Soundwaves in the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny on Saturday (26th), pictured with Seamus Devenny (left) and Cheylene Murphy, facilitators from Derry-based Wall2Wall Music. Well done to all and to the family supporters behind 🙂
Join Donegal Youth Choir – click here
HERE’S A RECENT ‘LATEST’ ON AVAILABLE MUSIC TUITION SPACES (21.10.24)
We’ve signed up 400+ for 2024-2025, which is great, and there’s still a selection of places available – if you have a young person who could be that Musician Of The Future 🙂
- See the full list of places still available down the page a bit
DMEP classes started across the county from Monday 9th September. The schools ukulele programme has also kicked off, with about thirty schools involved, as well as our other schools programmes for fiddle, brass and strings. We’d like to start recorder/wind classes in a school or two, if you’re interested! And maybe a cello one in the Donegal Town area 🙂
- If you’d like to enrol yourself or a child or young person, get on the waiting list by hitting ‘sign up’ If you’re a school interested in a music programme, get in touch – call 087 715 4700 or email musiceducation@donegaletb.ie
If you have an account with the DMEP and you need to settle up, hit the red letters at ‘Pay online here’ (above). Individual tuition costs €22 for 30 minutes. The DMEP asks for payment quarterly in advance. It’s time-consuming to follow up!
There are more than 30 tutors on the DMEP books and there are a lot of instruments covered, from strings (violin, viola, cello, double bass) to wind (flute, saxophone, clarinet, bassoon) to brass (trumpet, trombone, French horn) to percussion. There are lots learning guitar and ukulele as well, while piano remains the number one choice.
Spaces we’ve still got Weds 21.10.24
Individual classes cost €22 for 30 minutes, payable quarterly in advance. Small group classes cost €13 for 30 minutes, large group classes €10 for 30 minutes.
We have 60 timetables in total across Donegal, with more than 30 tutors involved. Some timetables are full. Here are the remaining half hour spaces –
Brass (trumpet, French horn) – Errigal LK Mon 7.15, 7.45
Cello – Errigal Weds 4.30pm, 7pm, Thurs 6pm, 7.30pm
Cello/clarinet – Donegal Town FET, Weds 7.30, 8pm
Drums/violin – Carndonagh Colgan Hall Mon 3.30pm; Moville CC Tues 4pm, 6.45
Guitar – PCC An Fál Carrach Tues 4pm; Errigal Weds 6.30, 8pm, 8.30, Thurs 5pm, 6pm; Crana College Thurs 6.15, 7.15
Keyboards – Crana College, Tues 5.45, 6.15
Piano – Errigal Mon 8pm, Thurs 8pm; Donegal Town Weds 6pm, Fri 6.15; PCC Tues 4.30, 5.30
Piano/wind – Errigal, Weds 8pm
Piano/ukulele – Errigal, Weds 8.30
Violin – Donegal Town FET Mon 7pm; Errigal Mon 4.30, 7.45, Tues 8pm, 8.30, Weds 4.30, Thurs 4.30, 6pm
Voice – Errigal Tues 4.30, Weds 7.30, 8pm
Wind (sax, flute, clarinet) – Ballyshannon Mon 5.30; Errigal Mon 7.30, 8pm, Tues 8.30, Thurs 6.30, 7.30
Join the Donegal Youth Orchestra!
The next rehearsal for the Donegal Youth Orchestra is tomorrow night Friday 29th November from 5.30pm – 8pm in the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny with conductor Vincent Kennedy (Dublin). We’re looking forward to seeing all the DYO members as the DMEP Christmas Concert approaches (An Grianán Theatre, Sunday 15th December, 3pm).
What a busy weekend – and a very musical one!
One of the musical highlights was certainly the closing moments of the Donegal Chamber Music Festival in Conwal Church in Letterkenny on Sunday 20th October. Tango duo Vito Sputnik (or, as we now know them, Agustina and Ernesto) joined the Donegal Chamber Orchestra and soprano Sandra McNulty for a couple of stunning pieces by Astor Piazzolla. A real treat.
Donegal Youth Orchestra – join up!
New members welcome! If you’re around Grade 3 and interested, give us a call on 07491 76293. Or you can sign up here The fee for 2024-2025 is €100, payable during the year.
DYO members should mark a couple of dates in January 2025 in their diaries (digital, of course) – Saturday 25th January and Sunday 26th, when they’ll be heading off for a meet with Mayo Youth Orchestra and a stay at the Achill Outdoor Adventure Centre.
There’s usually a space or two on the 56 timetables organised across the county by the DMEP. Lots of instruments taught, and voice. €22 for 30 minutes individual, payable quarterly in advance. Here’s some publicity for the classes in the Donegal News –
And now some coverage below in the Finn Valley Voice. The paper recently celebrated its 30th birthday.
And finally a DMEP advert in the Inish Times –
Gaeilge agus fáilte
The DMEP is Irish language friendly and the plan for 2024-2025 is to have more Irish on this site, on our social media channels and in our communications generally. Tá an bainisteoir MáirtÃn MacFhionnlaich ag foglaim Gaeilge. Chaith sé seachtáin ag Oideas Gael i nGleann Cholm Cille mà Iúil agus bhain sé sult as, mar is gnáth. NÃl muid lÃofa anseo fós ach tá plean againne! I gcaitheamh na bliana, tá sé beartaithe an Ghaeilge a chur nÃos mó ar an suÃomh seo (ok, Wikipedia helped with the last bit).
DMEP academic year calendar 2024-2025
Terms and conditions of tuition, 2024-2025
It’s a condition of tuition with the DMEP that these terms and conditions are accepted by students and their parents/guardians.
Concerts go leor!
It was music all the way in the run-up to the summer break, with students involved in what could be a record number of concerts for the DMEP at this time of year. At the last count, these talented children and young people had entertained audiences in eight student concerts Рin Letterkenny, Buncrana, Falcarragh, and Carrick (details below). To finish it up, there was the Donegal Chamber Orchestra concert in Donegal Castle on Saturday 15th June and the Donegal Junior Strings tour of schools on Tuesday 18th June. One of those DJS stops was a concert in itself Рthe DJS were in action with the string orchestra at Woodlands School, outside Letterkenny. The Woodlands group are taught by DMEP tutors Victor Y̩lamo (cello/double bass) and Orsi Szabo-Y̩lamo (violin/viola).
Also on Saturday 15th June, same day as the sold-out DCO concert in Donegal Castle, the DMEP held ‘Come and Try’ events and ukulele workshops in Gairmscoil Chú Uladh in Ballinamore; in Ionad Teampall Chróin, Dungloe; and the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny. The DMEP tutors involved were Tracy Friel, Brian McDevitt and Dave Whaley. The events were part of Crinniú na nÓg day in Donegal, supported by Creative Ireland and Donegal County Council.
DYO closes the year in style
The Donegal Youth Orchestra and conductor Vincent Kennedy brought 2023-24 to a successful close with a fine Summer Concert at the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny on Sunday 19th May.
The orchestra features young musicians from across Donegal, from Killybegs to Dungloe to Letterkenny. They performed a programme of classical favourites, music from films, Irish songs and compositions by Vincent Kennedy, including the ‘Letterkenny Waltz’.
There were solos on the programme from those in the DYO getting ready for their Leaving Certificate and making their last regular appearance with the orchestra. Those heading off included orchestra leaders Aoife Fleury (Killybegs – violin) and Neil Kennedy (Dungloe – violin), Eve O’Donnell (Donegal Town – flute), Aaron Smith (Letterkenny – clarinet), and Isabel Miranda (Letterkenny – piano).
WhAt HAppEneD?!
- Weds 24th April – student concert at Buncrana library, organised by DMEP keyboard tutor Annette McNelis
- 2nd May (Thurs) – 360+ ukulele players from 19 national schools in concert at An Grianán Theatre. Big sound!
- Saturday 11th May – DMEP student concert in Regional Cultural Centre featuring some outstanding soloists, the Sunflowers guitar ensemble from Downings (young players from Ukraine and tutor Tetiana Kovalova), and Donegal Junior Strings
- Tuesday 14th May – student concert at PCC Falcarragh, organised by DMEP tutors James Maley, Declan McClafferty, and Tine Verbeke, principal Maeve Sweeney and staff
- Friday 17th May (Fri) – trad workshops in Regional Cultural Centre (RCC) with four members of group Flook, organised in conjunction with Music Network
- Saturday 18th May – student concert at RCC organised by DMEP tutors Irene Donnelly (violin) and Ursula O’Faodhagain (piano)
- Sunday 19th May (Sun) – also at the RCC, a Summer Concert with the Donegal Youth Orchestra, conducted by Vincent Kennedy
- Wednesday 22nd May – Trinity College London examinations, hosted by DMEP at RCC (17 from DMEP)
- Friday/ Saturday 24th May/25th May – Royal Irish Academy of Music examinations at ATU Donegal Letterkenny (33 from DMEP).
- Thursday 6th June – student piano recital, RCC, organised by DMEP tutor Edita Labanauskiene
- Saturday 15th June – Donegal Chamber Orchestra concert, Donegal Castle
- Saturday 15th June – Crinniú na nÓg, ‘Come and Try’ sessions in Ionad Teampall Chroine, Dungloe 11am – 1pm; Gairmscoil Chú Uladh, Fintown 2pm – 4pm; RCC Letterkenny, 6pm – 8pm
- Sunday 16th June – student concert in Carrick organised by piano tutor Evan McGarrigle for his private students and DMEP students
- Tuesday 18th June Рannual school tour by Donegal Junior Strings, conducted by Victor Y̩lamo. Included visit to Woodlands NS to play with string orchestra there, taught by DMEP tutors Victor Y̩lamo and Orsi Szabo-Y̩lamo
- And more since then!
—————–
Fiddle visitor
Monday 8th April – Wednesday 10th April – visits to eight schools in east Donegal by leading Scottish fiddler Pete Clark (in conjunction with Donegal fiddle organisation Cairdeas na bhFidilériÃ)
MEANWHILE, the report from 4th March, 2024 –
If it’s not the National Convention Centre, it’s Dublin Castle. Yes, Donegal was well represented at two major Music Generation events in Dublin in recent days.
DUBLIN 1 – First up it was the massive ‘We Are Music Generation’ event in the even more massive National Convention Centre on Saturday 2nd March. The Donegal Youth Orchestra delivered another fine set under the direction of conductor Vincent Kennedy, and then Falcarragh-based band Hannah B rocked it to finish the day (with the help of three MG Roscommon bass players, one for each song – thanks Udo!). This was a showcase event from Music Generation, with maybe 800-900 musicians, four stages, open mic events, workshops and more.
DUBLIN 2 – Back to Donegal for a breather, then on the bus again on Tuesday (5th March) for the Music Generation national conference in Dublin Castle. Incredibly enough, the guitar group ‘Sunflowers’ from Ukraine, and now from the Beach Hotel in Downings, were asked to play at this high-profile event – just months after starting lessons in the hotel in May with their tutor Tetiana Kovalova. The six girls and Tetiana were Queens of the Castle after a set featuring the theme from Harry Potter and ‘Zombie’.
1 DONEGAL – Donegal Youth Orchestra member Pola Janik was also busy on Tuesday. Fresh from the Dublin trip, she was a featured musician at the launch of the One Donegal Social Inclusion Week in the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny. By all accounts Pola, a cup winner at the Feis Ceoil in Dublin last year, produced a polished performance for the occasion.
GLENTIES 17 – Yesterday (Monday) brought another highlight – the start of a new brass project at Scoil Mhuire in Glenties. A class of 17 students were handed their brass instruments by tutor Dave Whaley – trumpets, cornets, French horns, Bb horns, trombone. Dave will be giving them lessons in pairs in the coming weeks, with the idea of them getting together to play one lunchtime each week. Keep you posted!
Our thanks to principal Crona Regan and the other teachers at Scoil Mhuire, who’ve been very supportive. Overall there’s lots of music happening at the school at present, which is great. And thanks to Dave for lending his expertise.
DONEGAL TOWN – On the evening of Wednesday 21st February there was a big sound coming from the room behind the Donegal FET Centre at Drumcliff. Yes, it was a ‘Come and Try’ session, and both the children and the parents took it seriously – at any one time you could hear trombone, violin, saxophone, cello, trumpet and more. It was all to encourage more students to take DMEP music lessons in the building. The good news is that there are several more young people and the occasional adult signed up. Tutor Shaza O’Hara is building a new timetable for flute and clarinet. And there’s also a new piano teacher whose timetable is filling up fast, Ingrid Grollke, who put her head around the door (as they say) at the ‘Come and Try’. Welcome to you both, Shaza and Ingrid!
That’s all there’s time for at the minute. If you or one of yours would like to learn an instrument or to sing, give us a ring on 07491 76293 (goes to mobile) or email musiceducation@donegaletb.ie There might be a space or two. For instance, a new brass timetable at Errigal College is starting tonight (Tues 12th). Our thanks to our tutor Ciaran Simpson for taking it on.
SHORT 2 – DMEP manager Martin McGinley caught two events ‘down the country’ last month – a conference on music of the world in Limerick, and another successful Festival of Youth Orchestras at the National Concert Hall. The annual event is organised by the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras.
Irish class beckons – more soon!
A musical Christmas from the DMEP
What was on –
Saturday 2nd December – Two excellent student concerts at the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny. Young musicians performing on lots of instruments, from violins and pianos to drums and electric guitar, and super singers
Sunday 10th December – the DMEP Christmas Concert. Another triumph for all involved – the Donegal Youth Orchestra with conductor Vincent Kennedy (Dublin) were in excellent from; the Glenties Youth Choir and musicians, conducted by Anne McDwyer, got a great reception; Sunflowers, a Ukrainian guitar ensemble with DMEP tutor Tetiana Kovolova, were stunning (the young players just started in May, remarkable progress); the Colmcille Harp Trio with tutor Lucia McGinnis did three beautiful pieces; and the renowned classical guitarist Manus Noble gave a virtuosic performance of three American-themed pieces. Big crowd, including Donegal ETB chief Anne McHugh, who spoke, and Director of Schools Dr Martin Gormley
Tuesday 12th December – a highly entertaining concert in PCC An Fál Carrach from students of the Atlantic School of Rock and tutors Declan McClafferty, James Maley and Tine Verbeke. With thanks also to the very supportive PCC principal Maeve Sweeney
Sunday 17th December – the long sold-out ‘Festive Treats’ concert at Rockhill House outside Letterkenny was another big success for the Donegal Chamber Orchestra
BRASS SCHOLARSHIPS
Well, let’s take it one step at a time . . . the DMEP is offering scholarships to encourage children and young people to take up great instruments like those brass ones (trombone, French horn, tuba even), the double bass, the bassoon (ever see one of those?) and the oboe. These are some of the lesser-spotted instruments but they sound great! They’d also be a great addition to the Donegal Youth Orchestra in a year or two (or three, right enough).The offer is tuition at half-price (€11 per 30 minute lesson) and free instrument hire for anyone taking up one of these instruments. The double bass lessons are online – from Conor Murray, originally from Falcarragh, and now to be found in London or New York!
SIGN UP WITH TINE
Tine Verbeke is one of the top voice coaches in the country – and she lives along the Donegal coast! She has offered to do a second evening of voice classes at PCC An Fál Carrach, a Wednesday evening. If you love singing, sign up now!
BEATS AND BOWS in Inishowen
We’re keen to get some more DMEP students in Inishowen. Seamus Devenny is available to give after-school lessons in drums and also in violin in Carndonagh (Mondays), Moville (Tuesdays) and Buncrana (Wednesdays). The DMEP has violins for hire, drums you’ll have to sort! Fee – €22 for 30 minutes individual, payable quarterly in advance. Sign up here
Still a few places left on our tuition programme – not too many, as there are more than 440 children and young people, and some adults indeed, signed up across Donegal. There’s a list below. New students are joining up so the spaces are disappearing.
If you’re already a player, of around Grade 3 standard or better, you can join the Donegal Youth Orchestra. The rehearsals are every fortnight, Friday nights 5,30pm – 8pm at the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny. Conductor – Vincent Kennedy (Dublin).
Will you give your child the gift of music?
The 440+ signed up with the DMEP are learning to play a whole range of instruments, from piano and violin to trumpet and percussion. There are also voice lessons.
Once again the programme stretches right across the county, from Carndonagh to Ballyshannon to Gaoth Dobhair – 30 tutors delivering 60 timetables in 13 centres.
We believe that learning a musical instrument or to sing is one of the best things a child can do. Maybe we’re biased 🙂 But the Donegal Music Education Partnership exists to give children and young people that chance.
Get on the waiting list by clicking this link for ‘new students’. At the moment we have 440+ children and young people learning a whole range of instruments, and also singing. If you have a child aged six or more, give them the gift of music.
The cost of tuition in 2024-2025 is €22 for a 30 minute individual session, paid quarterly in advance. There are 30 lessons in total across 2024-2025.
An important thing for parents/guardians to note – if your child or young person has to miss a class, please let the tutor know. And remember that classes that are missed by students are not made up by the tutor. This is only fair, as the tutor has turned up for the class but doesn’t have a student! On the other hand, if a tutor has to miss a class, then that class has to be made up at a future date. The tutor has to make a reasonable attempt to find a date that suits the student.
SPECIAL OFFER – we want to have more brass students this year 2024-2025. We’re offering some half-scholarships to first year students of trumpet, trombone, and French horn as well as free instrument rental. Drop a line to musiceducation@donegaletb.ie if you’re interested.
There’s tuition in a wide range of instruments in Letterkenny, mostly in the evenings at Errigal College (thanks Errigal!). In Donegal Town, you can have lessons in violin, cello, clarinet, trumpet, flute, saxophone, piano, voice and more. We have music hubs at Mulroy College in Milford and PCC An Fál Carrach (Falcarragh). Other centres for tuition include Ballyshannon, Stranorlar, Gaoth Dobhair and, in Inishowen, Buncrana, Moville and Carndonagh.
Our ukulele programme in national schools is going great guns – well done everybody! We have around 1,000 children learning ukulele in 30 schools. Congratulations to everyone involved in the ‘Ukulele Heaven!’ concert in An Grianán on Thursday 8th June. It was a blast! Snapshot below, check out the DMEP Facebook page for videos.
NOW, AN ENTRY FROM EARLY SEPTEMBER, 2023 – Recently the DMEP started a fiddle programme in east Donegal. So far there are four schools and more than 70 young fiddlers involved. Thanks to the talented Paul Harrigan, who is the tutor.
Learning an instrument opens up opportunities for young people. With the DMEP they can join one of our performing groups, such as Donegal Junior Strings (open to beginners), the Donegal Youth Orchestra (Grade 3 standard or better), the Donegal Youth Choir (singers aged around 12 or more) and Letterkenny Junior Choir (singers at national school).
We’re working on our events programme for the rest of 2023. Here’s some of the events on the way –
- Friday 22nd September (Culture Night) – Donegal Youth Orchestra open rehearsal, Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny; Donegal Chamber Orchestra, Conwal Parish Church, Letterkenny
- Saturday 14th October – Donegal Junior Strings, Wainfest Family Concert, Glebe Gallery, Churchill
- Sunday 15th October – Donegal Chamber Orchestra, St Mary of the Visitation Church, Killybegs
- Saturday 2nd December – DMEP student concert, RCC, Letterkenny
- Sunday 10th December – DMEP Christmas concert, An Grianán Theatre, LK
- Sunday 17th December – Donegal Chamber Orchestra, Christmas concert, Rockhill House, LK
- to be arranged – student concerts before Christmas in Donegal Town and Falcarragh
One of our highlights of 2022-2023 was a performance in An Grianán Theatre by the Donegal Youth Orchestra and guests of a new suite from their conductor, the composer Vincent Kennedy, for the Colmcille 1500 celebrations. The Donegal Junior Strings were in great form on their school tour in June. Another highlight was the Donegal Chamber Orchestra concert at Mussenden Temple on Sunday 4th June. They gave a super performance in a stunning location.
Other recent-ers
The Donegal Youth Orchestra got a standing ovation at their end-of-year concert in the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny on Sunday 21st May. Sharing in the applause were their special guests, members of the Donegal Youth Choir. The orchestra was conducted by Vincent Kennedy (Dublin). A highlight was the world premiere of a new piece of music by Vincent, ‘The Letterkenny Waltz’. The choir was conducted by Evan McGarrigle, with Hannah Gallagher on piano.
DMEP students did themselves proud at a series of three student concerts, two of them in the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny and another in Crana College, Buncrana. Lots of talent out there! Well done to the students and some special guests, and to the tutors.
There was an afternoon of workshops at the RCC on Sunday 16th May with two touring Music Network artists, both brilliant musicians – Liz Knowles from Kentucky on the four strings, and Congolese maestro Niwel Tsumbu on the six. Their concert in the venue that night with the ace concertina player Niall Vallely was something very special. Good to have some up-and-coming young Donegal musicians along to learn from Liz and Niwel.
Something special – Niall Vallely, Liz Knowles and Niwel Tsumbu.
Now, here’s an entry from Thursday 11th May 2023 –
SOME THINGS WE PREPARED EARLIER . . .
Yes, 120 talented young musicians giving it laldy at Coláiste Ailigh in Letterkenny on Saturday 1st April. Two Dublin youth orchestras came to stay at the Gartan Outdoor Education Centre for the weekend, and spent the Saturday doing workshops and then performing with the Donegal Youth Orchestra. It all added up to Ireland’s biggest orchestra for the day. Thanks to everyone who made it happen – Wendy Arlow, general manager of the Dublin Youth Orchestras; DYO conductor Vincent Kennedy; all at Coláiste Ailigh, who couldn’t have been more welcoming, including principal Seán MacSuibhne and deputy Rosa McLaughlin; Elina Haessler, DMEP administrator and very busy viola player that day; and of course Mary Armitage, the DYO’s greatest supporter. Donegal ETB director of schools Dr Martin Gormley called in and then attended the concert and said words of welcome to all.
Good one! – PCC Soundwaves II at PCC An Fál Carrach – 13 talented young musicians and singers in action on Saturday 4th March. They combined to form an exciting new band for the day, Awesome Biscuits, and created a new song, ‘Now’s My Chance’ (see below shortly). Thanks to Cheylene Murphy and Seamus Devenny from Wall2Wall Music for their work on the day, and also to principal Maeve Sweeney and all at PCC for their support.
Grade 3 or over? Join Donegal Youth Orchestra! Next rehearsal – RCC Letterkenny, tomorrow Friday 12th May, 5.30pm – 8pm, RCC. Great to visit the Abbey Vocational School in Donegal Town for a rehearsal on Friday 10th March. Get your tickets now for the DYO end-of-year concert at the RCC on Sunday week (21st) at 5pm. Special guests – Donegal Youth Choir. Tickets available now online at Eventbrite, search for ‘Donegal Youth Orchestra’. Numbers limited. Adult €10, under-18s €5.
TUITION IN 2024-2025
We offer tuition across Donegal in a whole range of instruments, from violin to trumpet, guitar to drums. The cost is €22 for a 30 minute individual class. Group classes are available for some instruments.
Want to be a musician/singer? Sign up
PERFORMING GROUPS – Information below on our performing groups. We also have a ukulele programme involving 25+ primary schools and 1000+ young ukulele players! Schools – ask us for details. Our email is musiceducation@donegaletb.ie
ABOVE – Vincent Kennedy conducting the Donegal Youth Orchestra and Donegal Youth Choir during the world premiere of his suite, ‘Colmcille, Dove of Peace’, at An Grianán Theatre in Letterkenny in March 2022. The second performance at the theatre on Sunday 24th July 2022 also got a standing ovation. Pic – John Soffe Photography.
MUSIC WORKS!
All the evidence backs up what we see every day of the week – music is great for children (and adults). If you’re a young person, or the parent/guardian of a young person, take advantage of the many opportunities to learn an instrument across Donegal. Join up!
IMPORTANT WEBSITE NOTE –
The information contained in these web pages is, to the best of our knowledge, true and accurate at the time of publication and is solely for information purposes only. Donegal ETB accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising as a result of use or reliance on this information.
And now here’s a link to a short video [Links to a clip of Eden, Hannah and Renato Paris having an impromptu jam at the end of Renato’s ‘Groove’ workshop in the RCC in Letterkenny on Wednesday 23rd June 2022] –
The pic above shows conductor Victor Yélamo and the DJS in action. If you’re a string player aged 7 -14 you can join the DJS. Drop us a line to musiceducation@donegaletb.ie or call John on 087 715 4700 (working hours).
If you’ve a child interested in learning music or singing, you’ve come to the right place!
You can enrol a new student using the link below (or above!). The name goes on our waiting list, used to fill any available places.
New students – If you’d like to learn to play or to sing, click here
Any queries? Ring our manager Martin McGinley on 087 1677 699 or our administrator John McIvor on 087 715 4700. Our office number is 07491 76293 and our email is music education@donegaletb.ie Check out the Facebook page Donegal Music Education Partnership-DMEP.
Mulroy Academy of Music, Milford – If you’d like to join the Mulroy Academy of Music at Mulroy College in Milford (guitar, bass, drums, violin, piano – group rates available, apart from piano) click here.
Atlantic School of Rock, Falcarragh – started up 2021 – 2022, with tuition in guitar, bass, voice, drums and piano at Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola (PCC), at Falcarragh. Please use the form for ‘New students’ above, and mention Atlantic School of Rock. Group rates, apart from piano/voice.
——-
Below, at PCC Soundwaves in PCC An Fál Carrach on Saturday 11th December 2021 – Seamus Devenny from Wall2Wall Music keeps the beat as Anu on piano awaits the cue from other band members. The song is an original, ‘After the Storm’ (working title), from, remember the name, Ten Human Beings. There’s a video from way back then on the DMEP Facebook page.
Contact the DMEP – email musiceducation@donegaletb.ie or phone 07491 76293. John’s new office mobile – 087 7154 700 (office hours).
Cost
One-to-one lessons (mostly what we do) cost €22 for 30 minutes. We follow the school year and have 30 weeks of lessons. You pay in advance quarterly. We have some group lessons, such as with guitar, at €10 for half an hour. Two or three in the group.
Outstanding fees? Pay here 🙂
You’ll need the info we sent you when you registered – your family ID (starts with CD2), your six-digit PIN and the last four digits of the mobile number you gave us. Any difficulties, email musiceducation@donegaletb.ie
LATEST
For the DMEP’s latest developments, please check out our Facebook page DMEP-Donegal Music Education Partnership, and also the Facebook account of our music development manager, Martin McGinley – dmep.
PERFORMING GROUPS
ABOVE – The Errigal Singers and conductor Maghnus Monaghan performing at Donegal Castle.
We have several performing groups and they’re always glad to see new members. So you can join the likes of the Donegal Youth Orchestra (if you’re under 25 and at least Grade III standard), the Donegal Chamber Orchestra or Donegal Junior Strings. In the past we’ve also had other groups, such as the Donegal Youth Choir (ages 12 – 18 approx), and Letterkenny Junior Choir. Some groups have been on a break since Covid – it would be great to welcome them back. Active now are the DYO, DCO, DYC, and DJS (see previous sentences to work out acronyms!)
Yes, you could be starring in a DMEP performing group! The cost for 2023 – 2024 is just €100.
Here’s the line-up in no particular order (ages approximate, rehearsal times may change for 2024-2025, starting September) –
Donegal Junior Strings, conductor Victor Y̩lamo Рbeginners, 6 Р12 yrs. Rehearsals weekly, Saturday afternoons, 4pm Р5pm RCC Letterkenny
Donegal Youth Orchestra, conductor Vincent Kennedy – most instruments, grade 3 and up, 12 – 20 yrs. Rehearsals every second Fri, 5.30pm – 8pm, RCC, Letterkenny
Donegal Chamber Orchestra, conductor Victor Y̩lamo Рstrings, prob Grade 4/5 and up, mix of students and adults. Saturday afternoons, 1.30pm Р4pm, RCC Letterkenny
Get in touch via musiceducation@donegaletb.ie or phone us on 07491 76293.
Check out what we do on Facebook or see our playlist on YouTube for loads of music 🙂
Note – we request data to allow us to run our programme. Our data protection policy is here.
WHO WE ARE
The DMEP is the music arm of the Donegal Education and Training Board, which is doing marvellous work in education and training across the county. The DMEP is supported by the Department of Education.
Martin McGinley is the DMEP’s Music Development Manager, John McIvor is the administrator and Orsolya Szabo-Yélamo is the full-time violin resource tutor. In terms of the DMEP’s web presence, there’s valuable support from hosting expert Jakub Józefowicz of LetsHost, based in Oranmore, County Galway.
We teach mostly classical, with some jazz and contemporary/rock. We cater for all ages and abilities. Details here.
Click here to enrol for music tuition or our groups
