Over 100 young musicians from Music Generation will come together at St. Patrick’s Festival Quarter in Collins Barracks from 1 pm on Saturday 19th March.
Music Generation’s young community of harpers, rappers, classical, folk and traditional musicians unite to mark the premiere of new Irish works and celebrate Ireland’s national emblem – The Harp.
Summoning a Harp Revival features The Harp Collective, a cross-county initiative made up of 52 young musicians aged 10 -17, from Music Generation Mayo, Music Generation Louth and Music Generation Laois. The collective will premier new work from composer Michael Rooney.
This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform for a national and international audience has been long-awaited by these young musicians.
With the performance postponed until July 2022, the young musicians are delighted to finally showcase their efforts and to return to rehearsing together ‘in-person’ after two years of maintaining momentum and keeping the music alive.
“It’s so nice to have an end goal for all our work being done. Actually finally being able to play these pieces. They are brand new and it’s so exciting to be part of that!”
Zoe, Young Musician, Music Generation Louth
Joined by the acclaimed harper himself, the programme will also include arrangements of previous works composed by Michael Rooney, performed by the Laois Trad Orchestra while Music Generation Mayo’s Harp Collective will take audiences on a thrilling journey of unique traditional arrangements.
Nós Nua Louth’s Youth Folk Orchestra will perform “Causeway”, a suite of new music from Mohsen Amini.
This exciting premiere, funded by the Arts Council Young Ensemble Scheme and supported by Oriel Centre, Dundalk Gaol and Comhaltas Ceoltóirií Éireann see over 40 young musicians from across Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Armagh join the Scottish concertinist for this special collaboration.
Music Generation Cork City’s The Kabin will also travel to the capital for St. Patrick’s Festival to dedicate original music to the harp.
The Kabin’s young rap artists in collaboration with harper Donnchadh MacAodha will bring their urban energy to performances of new and traditional Irish music.
Now over a decade on, it is anticipated that in 2022 alone, Music Generation will reach 80,000 programme participants nationwide. Ahead of the new collaboration with St. Patrick’s Festival, Music Generation’s National Director Rosaleen Molloy commented:
“We are so proud of all the young people involved in such a prestigious performance opportunity that is being created for a global celebration! It is so wonderful to see the return of live performance opportunities, especially for and by young people and we wish them every success for what promises to be a spectacular musical event. Particular thanks to all of the musicians and Music Development Officers involved in making this performance extravaganza possible”.
Initiated by Music Network in 2010 Music Generation is co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, the Department of Education and Local Music Education Partnerships in which Education and Training Boards and Local Authorities play a lead role.