Mary Armitage followed in the footsteps of some of the world’s greatest musicians and performers when she took the stage of the National Concert Hall in Dublin on Saturday night to receive a prestigious award.

Mary is this year’s winner of the Agnes O’Kane Award, presented by the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras to someone who’s made an outstanding contribution to youth orchestras around the country.

The award was presented by a Glenties woman, Rosa Flannery, who’s running Music Generation in Laois these days. Also on stage were the husband of the late Agnes O’Kane, Philip O’Kane, and Agnes’s daughter Beth Crimmins.

The presentation took place during the evening concert of the Festival of Youth Orchestras. The master of ceremonies was RTÉ broadcaster Seán Rocks, who presents ARENA, RTÉ Radio 1’s flagship arts programme.

Those in the audience included Vincent Kennedy, conductor of the Donegal Youth Orchestra (DYO), who has worked closely with Mary over the past decade, and Dr Martin Gormley, director of schools with Donegal Education and Training Board. The DYO is organised by the Donegal Music Education Partnership, the music arm of Donegal ETB.

Pictured (below) at the National Concert Hall on Saturday night are, from left, Dr Martin Gormley; Mary Armitage; Martin McGinley, DMEP; and Clare Daly, chair of the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras.

The post Mary Armitage – on stage at the National Concert Hall appeared first on Donegal Music Education Partnership (DMEP).

And there’s more –

WHAT HAPPENED

The post What’s happening update – late April/May appeared first on Donegal Music Education Partnership (DMEP).

Young musicians from Donegal have been impressing on the national stage in recent days – from the National Concert Hall in Dublin to a Music Generation showcase in Carlow.

The Donegal Youth Orchestra won many new friends with a marvellous performance at the NCH to close the annual Festival of Youth Orchestras. The 70-strong orchestra got a standing ovation after performing part of a suite ‘Irishmen and Irishwomen’ composed by their conductor Vincent Kennedy.

Ten traditional musicians from the county took part in Music @ Mount Leinster, a high-profile trad camp in Borris, County Carlow, organised by Music Generation. The Donegal group got a wonderful reception for their set at the closing concert in the Step House Hotel.

Both trips were organised by the Donegal Music Education Partnership, part of the Donegal Education and Training Board.

The Donegal Youth Orchestra with conductor Vincent Kennedy on stage at the National Concert Hall.

Martin McGinley of the DMEP said the young musicians involved did Donegal proud.

“It really is a golden time for music in Donegal, with so many young people excelling in music right across the county,” he said. “The Donegal Youth Orchestra played out of their skins on the stage of the Concert Hall. Great credit must go to their conductor Vincent Kennedy and to that great supporter of the orchestra, Mary Armitage.

“Those at the concert included the chief executive of Donegal ETB, Anne McHugh, and one of those responsible for founding our music project, Sister Concepta Murphy. It was great to have so many parents and family members in the audience.

“In Carlow, we had young musicians from trad schools in Moville, Culdaff, Letterkenny and Gortahork. They’d never played together before but they worked very well with their tutor, James Mahon, and delivered a great set at the closing concert.

“James, who has toured the world with the band Kila, was so impressed that he’s hoping to work with them all again.

“These were two great opportunities for these developing musicians and they grabbed them with both hands. Their performances showed that Donegal is up there with the best when it comes to developing young musical talent.”

The Donegal group pictured before taking the stage at Music @ Mount Leinster in Borris, County Carlow – back, from left, Caitlin Kennedy, Maeve Gillen, Affraic Brophy, Ella McGrory, tutor James Mahon and Paul Gillespie; front, Neil Kennedy, Ronan Kelly, Jamesie Wray, Dan McLachlan and Kieva McGonagle.

The post Donegal young musicians impress on national stage appeared first on Donegal Music Education Partnership (DMEP).

The Donegal Youth Orchestra have been chosen to close the evening concert of the Festival of Youth Orchestras in the National Concert Hall on Saturday. 

More than seventy young musicians from right across the county will be on stage in front of conductor Vincent Kennedy and a packed NCH.

The orchestra will play six pieces, including five from the suite ‘Irishmen and Irishwomen’ composed by Vincent Kennedy to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising in 2016. Their performance will open with ‘The Gael’ from the film score for ‘Last of the Mohicans’.

Conductor and composer Vincent Kennedy with members of the DYO at An Grianán theatre

Vincent Kennedy said: “I am so looking forward to the performance and leading this magnificent group of young people from Donegal. They are such wonderful ambassadors for the county and they perform at the highest level. I know that they’ll do themselves and Donegal proud.

“It is a great honour for the orchestra to be chosen to close the Festival which is the showcase event for youth orchestras in Ireland in 2018. It is also a recognition of just how highly they are thought of nationally.

“This Donegal team is in the premier league of youth orchestras today. It is a great honour for me that they are performing my music and it is very unusual for an orchestra to perform classical music by a living composer and even rarer to have the composer conduct it.”

The post Donegal Youth Orchestra tops bill at National Concert Hall appeared first on Donegal Music Education Partnership (DMEP).

The composer of a new piece of music being premiered in Letterkenny next weekend has said it draws its inspiration from the sounds of Donegal and the experience of living in the county.

‘This is Real’ has been written by John McLachlan, one of Ireland’s best-known contemporary composers. He lives near Redcastle in Inishowen. The piece will be performed in Conwal Church in Letterkenny on Sunday week (21^st) at 3pm.

The world premiere will feature the renowned Robinson Panoramic Quartet (above), who are based in Dublin, with the Donegal Chamber Orchestra. There is also a recorded part, with Donegal voices and sounds from the Donegal landscape.

John McLachlan (pictured above with the DMEP’s Martin McGinley) said: “Donegal is a big presence in ‘This is Real’. That presence is most obvious in the recorded sounds, which come from beaches, fields, even cafes in Donegal. But the parts for quartet and chamber orchestra are also drawn from ideas and feelings about the county. So it’s great to have the first performance here.”

The new work has been commissioned by the Donegal Music Education Partnership with the assistance of the Arts Council. The DMEP is part of Donegal Education and Training Board.

The concert at Conwal Church will also feature a second world premiere. The Robinson Panoramic Quartet will give the first performance of ‘Absence’ by composer Derek Ball. Derek, who lives in Glasgow and is originally from Letterkenny, is expected to attend the concert.

He composed ‘Absence’ recently as a gift for cellist Victor Yélamo and his wife, the violinist Orsolya Szabo-Yélamo. Victor conducts the Donegal Chamber Orchestra and Orsolya is its leader.

Martin McGinley, of the Donegal Music Education Partnership, said the concert is a very special one for music in Donegal.

“To have one world premiere is an honour, to have two makes it an even more remarkable occasion,” he said. “It’s also wonderful for our musicians in the Donegal Chamber Orchestra, and in particular our talented young students, to get a chance to work with John McLachlan and play with the Robinson Panoramic Quartet.”

The Donegal Chamber Orchestra (above, with conductor Victor Yélamo and leader Orsi Szabo-Yélamo on right) is one of the eleven performing groups of the DMEP. It is a mix of adult and student musicians.

The Robinson Panoramic Quartet is based in Dublin. All four members are top Irish-based classical players – Malachy Robinson, double bass, and Robin Panter, viola, who both play with the Irish Chamber Orchestra; Malachy’s wife Anita Vedres, violin, a member of the Irish Baroque Orchestra; and Kate Ellis on cello, who’s artistic director of the acclaimed contemporary music group, the Crash Ensemble.

The Donegal Chamber Orchestra will open the concert in Conwal Church with a selection of works by some of the best-known classical composers. The Robinson Panoramic Quartet will continue with a work by English composer David Knotts (1972 – ) called ‘Night Song and Garden Quadrille’ before giving the world premiere of Derek Bell’s ‘Absence’. The concert will conclude with the world premiere of John McLachlan’s ‘This is Real’.

Admission is €10 (€5 concession). For more information contact the DMEP on 074 91 76293 or email musiceducation@donegaletb.ie

The RPQ will give a second performance of ‘This is Real’ in the Sugar Club in Dublin on Thursday 1^st February as part of the ‘Kaleidoscope Night’ concert series.

The post World premiere at Conwal Church concert appeared first on Donegal Music Education Partnership (DMEP).

The performing groups of the DMEP are out and about as usual in the busy run-up to Christmas. Lots coming up (this posted on Monday 11th Dec) –

• Weds 13th Dec 8pm – Conwal Singers Christmas Concert, Conwal Church, featuring the Donegal Chamber Orchestra (conductor Victor Yélamo, leader Orsi Szabo-Yélamo). Also – four hand piano from Edita and Eiko
• Sat 16th 10am – 5pm – Soundwaves III day, Errigal College. All musicians/singers 12 – 18 welcome
• Sat 16th 2pm – 3pm – Mind Your Quavers fundraising for North West Simon, LK Shopping Centre
• Sat 16th – Errigal Singers at Cafe Davitt, LK, lunchtime (time tbc)
• Sunday 17th 5pm An Grianan Theatre – DMEP Christmas Concert (sold out)
• Tuesday 19th – concert at Castlefin Community Centre feat. Donegal Junior Strings Orchestra

Victor Yélamo conducts the Donegal Chamber Orchestra in the performance of Saint-Saen’s Christmas Oratorio in St Eunan’s Cathedral

• Donegal Chamber Orchestra, conductor Victor Yélamo – ‘Christmas Oratorio’, St Eunan’s Cathedral, Letterkenny (Sat 25th Nov)
• Letterkenny Junior Choir – McGettigan’s Hotel, LK (Fri 1st)
• Errigal Groove Orchestra, conductor Sean McCarron – national Pride of Place Awards, Mount Errigal, LK (Sat 2nd Dec)
• Donegal Youth Choir – Jim Rafferty Foundation Concert, Fintown (Weds 6th Dec); Lourdes trip fundraiser LK Shopping Centre (Sun 10th Dec)
• Mind Your Quavers – Hospital Concert, An Grianan, LK (Tues 5th)

Sara Laughlin introduces a performance of the Donegal Youth Choir at the Jim Rafferty Foundation concert in Fintown

The post Check out our Christmas gig guide! appeared first on Donegal Music Education Partnership (DMEP).

Four music students from the Donegal Music Education Partnership have been invited to audition for a major classical music concert after getting distinctions in their examinations with the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

All four have been given the prestigious High Achiever Award by the RIAM.

They are Paul Gillespie (cello), Ezgi Ozbay (piano), Shaun Fletcher (piano) and Martin McGinley (violin), who’s the DMEP manager.

They’ve been asked to send video recordings of pieces to the RIAM to help senior examiners choose performers for the High Achievers regional concert in Sligo next month.

Around 42,000 music students do the RIAM examinations each year. Around 450 get the High Achiever award.

Ruth Moody of the RIAM’s Local Centres office said it’s a fantastic achievement for all four DMEP students.

“These High Achiever Awards are very special, and are based on the examiners’ recommendations. It takes an exceptional performance in an exam to get one. All four DMEP students can be proud of themselves.”

Martin McGinley said the news of the award came as a bit of a shock personally, but he’s delighted that four DMEP students are RIAM High Achievers for 2017.

“There’s encouragement in this for people of all ages who are learning music or would like to. We’ve got a big range here, from Ezgi Ozbay, who’s setting out on her journey on the piano, to someone like myself, turning to classical violin after many years playing traditional music.

“The awards are a tribute to the DMEP tutors involved –  husband and wife team Victor Yélamo on cello and our full-time violin tutor Orsolya Szabo-Yélamo, and piano tutors Ursula O’Faodhagain and Edita Labanuskien.”

The RIAM awards came at a range of examination grades – Shaun Fletcher at piano Grade 8 (the highest of the numbered grades); Ezgi Ozbay at piano Grade 2; Paul Gillespie at cello Grade 5; and Martin McGinley at violin Grade 6.

Aisling Grier, DMEP administrator, said the High Achiever awards are for families too.

“Family support is vital in getting to this level, in terms of encouragement but also the day-to-day stuff of getting to lessons, examinations, workshops and performances.”

The RIAM High Achievers concert for the Connacht-Ulster region will take place on Sunday 26^th November at the Hawk’s Well Theatre in Sligo.

The Donegal Music Education Partnership organises music tuition in a range of instruments for almost 500 children and young people across Donegal. There are also 11 performing groups, including the Donegal Youth Orchestra and the Donegal Youth Choir. The DMEP is part of the Donegal Education and Training Board.

For more information on music classes and groups, contact the DMEP by phoning 07491 76293 or email musiceducation@donegaletb.i

The post Quartet of High Achievers at DMEP appeared first on Donegal Music Education Partnership (DMEP).

Donegal has a new online music library – thanks to the work of a small team of volunteers at the Donegal Music Education Partnership (DMEP).

The team, led by pianist and tutor Ellen Quinn, has catalogued more than 1500 musical items held at the DMEP office in the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny.

The new catalogue is available to the public online. If anyone spots a music book or piece they’re interested in, they can borrow it from the DMEP office.

The project has been going on for more than a year. Every Monday morning during school-time the volunteer team has been working on the catalogue – Ellen Quinn, Maureen Fryer-Kelsey from Ramelton and James Sarsteiner, now living in Derry.

The team has been getting professional advice from Marianne Lynch of Donegal County Council library services.

The DMEP online music library was launched at Café Davitt in Letterkenny.

Ellen Quinn and Maureen Fryer-Kelsey pictured at the launch of Donegal’s online music library at Cafe Davitt in Letterkenny.

Martin McGinley, DMEP manager said: “The DMEP has gradually amassed a considerable collection of music books and pieces over the past decade. This catalogue makes these works available to the public, and it creates a valuable music resource for the county.

“Ellen, Maureen and James deserve a lot of credit for their time and expertise – this is painstaking work and to do it you also need a good knowledge of music.

“We were also fortunate to have Marianne Lynch available for advice and encouragement.  She took a genuine interest in the project which was great.”

Ellen Quinn said the project turned out to be bigger than they thought.

“I don’t think we expected we’d be working at this for more than a year! Hopefully we’ve created something that will be useful to the music community in Donegal, from choirs to tutors to young people who want to explore music pieces.”

The Donegal Music Education Partnership is part of the Donegal Education and Training Board. Martin Gormley, director of schools with Donegal ETB, said the new online catalogue is a very worthwhile initiative.

“This project highlights the importance of volunteers in our music service and indeed in so many organisations throughout Donegal,” he said.

Well-known singer Triona Sweeney, who lives in Letterkenny, started off the library project during her time working with the DMEP.

“When the DMEP manager Angela McLaughlin was leaving on her career break, she suggested we do this catalogue while she was away. I’m delighted it has been completed.”

Those at the launch at Café Davitt included Traolach O’Fionnáin, arts officer with Donegal County Council, who’s a DMEP board member.

The DMEP is interested in hearing from anyone who would like to donate music scores, instruments or other musical items. Contact musiceducation@dmep.ie or phone 07491 76293.

The music library can be found at

Pics below –

The post Ellen’s team creates online music bank appeared first on Donegal Music Education Partnership (DMEP).

Sing like Cathy Jordan! Play the pipes like Jarlath Henderson!

At least a bit!

Yes, the singer with Dervish and the man who pops up in all sorts of all-star outfits are coming to us for workshops on Friday 15th September. Cathy Jordan will work with the singers, and Jarlath with work with either whistles or pipes, depending on demand.

It’s all happening here at the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny before their concert with Mick Daly at 8pm that evening. But don’t sleep in – Cathy can take up to ten in the singing workshop (4.30pm – 5.30pm), Jarlath up to eight in the instrumental workshop (4pm – 5.30pm). 

LEFT – Jarlath Henderson, Cathy Jordan and Mick Daly, headed this way

Thanks to support from Music Network, the workshops are just €10. Thanks once again, Music Network!

If you’re interested, get in touch – email musiceducation@donegaletb.ie or phone 07491 76293.

CATHY JORDAN – Noted for her earthy yet ethereal vocalisations and deceptively powerful voice, Cathy Jordan’s irrepressible energy and powerful stage presence have captivated audiences worldwide. Lead singer of trad supergroup Dervish, Jordan has performed thousands of concerts in over 40 countries, including gigs at the Great Wall of China and the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.

JARLATH HENDERSON –  the youngest-ever winner of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award, the Tyrone-born singer and multi-instrumentalist Henderson has won widespread acclaim for his playing alongside such luminaries as Lau, Capercaillie, Paddy Keenan, Salsa Celtica, the Peatbog Faeries and Wolfstone.
“Breathtaking interpretations of traditional songs” – The BBC on Cathy Jordan
“A remarkable player of uilleann pipes and whistles… one of the heroes of the new Celtic folk scene” – The Guardian on Jarlath Henderson

The post Cathy Jordan and Jarlath Henderson – in workshop! appeared first on Donegal Music Education Partnership (DMEP).

Great reception from the big audience at An Grianan theatre in Letterkenny last night for the Donegal Young Maestros.

First up were the Murray twins from Falcarragh, Conor and Michael (double bass/sax). Two showcase tunes to kick things off. Conor and Michael are heading off to Vienna soon to study for six months.

Then Sarah Walsh from Ballybofey was up on violin, with a highly impressive Telemann’s Fantasia no. 9 in B minor.

Amy Gillen from Bridgetown on flute was joined by Evan McGarrigle on piano for ‘Danny Boy’ and ‘Brian Boru’s March’, which both went down a treat.

Amy Meehan from Galdonagh (we’re claiming her for Raphoe, although we have to admit the postal address is Manor) proved very comfortable on piano for two great songs – and delivered the usual exceptional vocal performance. The second song, the classic ‘Autumn Leaves’, brought all the Donegal Young Maestros together for a cracking version (check it out on Amy’s facebook or on the DMEP page).

Remember the names – these young musos have big futures ahead!

Pics below – multi award winning Scottish fiddler/composer Aidan O’Rourke (Lau / Kan / Blazin Fiddles) with his cuz Amy Meehan; the Murray twins Conor (left) and Michael with Donal Lunny; Donal with Amy Gillen and Sarah Walsh; “I’m blessed amongst women”, Donal said; and the young maestros, from left, Amy G (that’s a runner if we ever launch the supergroup ‘Maestroz’), Sarah, aMy (as distinct from Amy G), Michael and Conor.

The post Donegal Young Maestros did (very) good! appeared first on Donegal Music Education Partnership (DMEP).