DMEP Performing Groups – currently open for new members

 

September seemed to fly by what with getting the weekly instrumental and vocal classes started in the various centres around the County, making sure the newly hired instruments found their way into eager student hands, tweaking tutors’ timetables and offering any remaining vacant tuition slots to those still on our waiting lists.

With the classes up and running, we then turned our attention to our many Performing Groups and are delighted to say the majority of these are back rehearsing once again and now open to new members. Details of how to participate and become a member can be found below. (Suitable for children, young people & adults alike.)

Next up for us is the delivery of Introductory Instrumental Classes in our Inishowen and South Donegal centres that will cover a broad range of instruments. Many of you have already signed up for these before the Summer following a series of ‘Come & Try’ sessions and we thank you for your patience while waiting for these classes to start. We will be contacting you over the next couple of weeks with details.

The final piece of our ‘tuition jigsaw’, still in the planning phase, will be regular, ongoing Theory Classes from which participating students will have the opportunity to take graded theory exams, if desired. Please contact the office for further details.

Also note that all our guidelines, tuition timetable, rehearsal schedules, application forms, office opening hours, contact details etc are available to view and download from our website www.dmep.ie

You can also keep up with our many activities and events by following us on Facebook & Twitter

Why Join a DMEP Performing Group ?

Participating in a performing group – and there are many to choose from – compliments the weekly instrumental and voice lessons provided by Donegal Music Education Partnership. It motivates beginners to work as a team, improves sight-reading, technical and ensemble skills, builds confidence, develops social skills as well as providing exciting performance opportunities in a variety of venues and locations.

Our portfolio of performing groups cater for beginners right through to the more advanced players and singers and by initially joining one of the junior groups, you are trained and prepared for progression into the more advanced ensemble groups within the DMEP. Annual Membership Fee of €100 allows you to join one or more groups and covers all tution, music and associated costs throughout the year.

Please note you do not have to be an existing DMEP student to join any of our performing groups.
Our Choral based Performing Groups

Do you love singing? Want to have fun learning new songs? Eager to perform in great venues?

Joining one of our choirs around the county is the perfect way to do this. Led by our choral directors including Triona Sweeney, Sara Laughlin, Evan Mc Garrigle and Lorna Mc Laughlin, fundamental vocal techniques and musicianship are taught through singing different styles of music including World music (eg African, Hebrew and folk songs), Pop songs, Contemporary and Classical choral repertoire.

Our Junior Choirs meeting regularly, primarily at weekends, in Letterkenny, Dungloe, South Donegal & Inishowen and then come together several times a year to form one big Donegal Junior Choir. These choirs are suited to young singers aged between 7 – 13 years, at all levels of ability. Each choir is now accepting new members. For further details please contact our office.

The Donegal Youth Choir meets bi-weekly (every second Sunday) in the Regional Cultural Centre (RCC), Letterkenny from 4 – 6.30pm. It is open to any young male or female singers aged between 14 & 20 years. Membership is by audition only and the next audition will be held next Sunday, 18 October, at 3.30pm in the RCC. Please prepare one short piece you feel shows of your singing ability.

We also have an adult choir, the brilliant Errigal Singers who meet weekly on a Monday evening in Errigal College, Letterkenny from 7.30 – 9pm. This choir is also accepting new members at present. If interested, please come along to Room 6 at 7.30pm on either Monday 12 or 19 October.

 

Our Instrumental based Performing Groups

These range from various string and wind bands through to youth, chamber and jazz orchestras with an adult specific group also. With opportunities for beginners through to the more advanced player, there is a performing group suitable for all.

Our Beginners, Junior and Intermediate String Orchestras are led by cello tutor Víctor Yélamo and open to all Violin, Viola, Cello & Double Bass players aged from 7 – 14 years.
These groups meet weekly in Errigal College, Letterkenny on Monday evenings.

Beginner Strings is suited to those playing their instrument for a minimum of one year, meeting from 5.30 – 6.30pm.

Junior Strings is the next level up and meets on Mondays from 6.30 – 7.30pm while the Intermediate Strings is suited to string players with a minimum Grade 3 or equivalent performance standard, meeting on Mondays from 7.30 – 8.30pm.

Open to new members on Monday 12 and 19 of October.

Our Junior and Intermediate Wind Band is suited to woodwind and brass players of similar performance standard to those in our Beginner, Junior & Intermediate Strings – from 1 year’s playing experience up to approx. Grade 4 performance standard. Rehearsals recommence next week in the Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town with the possibility of Letterkenny based rehearsals also, depending on interest. Please contact our office for further details.

Errigal Groove Orchestra is a vibrant exciting group of young wind and brass musicians from all over County Donegal who perform under the direction of saxophonist Sean Mc Carron. Their repertoire is a mix of swing, popular melodies and spirituals with more than a hint of Jazz and Blues by artists such as Herbi Hancock, Jimmy Smith, Booker T and the MG’s and George Gershwin.
The minimum requirement for entry to EGO is 13 years + and grade three and above performance standard for all wind players and grade six for singers, piano and keyboard players. Guitar, Bass and drums by audition only. EGO meet on the 2nd Saturday of every month in the RCC, Letterkenny from 2 – 5pm. Next rehearsal / intake of new members is tomorrow, Saturday 10 October at 2.00pm.

Sean also leads a SAXTET group consisting only of saxophone players with all versions of the instrument represented ranging from alto and tenor through to bass and soprano sax. Also meeting on the 2nd Saturday of every month in the RCC, Letterkenny, minimum entry requirement is Grade 1 or equivalent performance standard. Their next rehearsal / intake of new members is tomorrow, Saturday 10 October at 12.30pm.

Donegal Youth Orchestra (DYO) is the largest of the DMEP performing groups and provides a great platform for students who have advanced to intermediate and advanced levels. It is open to string, percussion, woodwind and brass players of Grade 5 or equivalent performance standard and upwards. It is a great place to meet other young musicians and play a wonderfully varied repertoire that includes the great orchestral classics and innovative contemporary music, film scores, rock, pop, traditional and newly composed melodies.

Conducted by Vincent Kennedy, DYO meets bi-weekly in the RCC Letterkenny on Friday evenings from 6.30pm – 9pm and transport is provided from Donegal Town. Next rehearsal / intake of new members is on Friday 16 October at 6pm.

The Donegal Chamber Orchestra (DCO) is dedicated to helping student and amateur classical string players (violin, viola, cello & double bass) to achieve the highest level of excellence in chamber music performance.

Led by violinist Orsolya Szabó-Yélamo with artistic direction from cellist Victor Yélamo, DCO meets weekly on a Saturday from 1.30 – 4pm in the RCC, Letterkenny. It is suited to musicians aged 13 years + (and including adults) with a minimum entry requirement of Grade 5 or equivalent performance standard. Membership is by audition only. For further details, please contact our office.
And finally to our adult instrumental group affectionately named Mind Your Quavers. This mixed group is open to any adult musician regardless of performance standard or instrument played. Many of the current members have only returned to playing their instrument after years of leaving it to gather dust under beds or hidden in cupboards.

Led by violinists Irene Donnelly and Seamus Mc Guire, MYQ rehearses bi-weekly on a Thursday evening from 7 – 9pm in the RCC, Letterkenny, and their repertoire includes an eclectic mix of music that moves from light classical to folk and all in-between. Next rehearsal / intake of new members is on Thursday 15 October at 7pm.