Presented by Galway 2020 and Music Generation Galway County, Symphonic Waves Youth Orchestra have released a new recording of 'With or Without You' by U2, arranged by Glen Austin. The performance was premiered online on Monday 27 April.
Established in 2017, Symphonic Waves Youth Orchestra came under the management of Music Generation Galway County the following year. In 2019, the artistic team, including conductor, Prof. James Cavanagh, decided to commission an arrangement of With or Without You, in part as a tribute to one of Music Generation's principal donors, U2.
Award-winning classical music composer and arranger Glen Austin was enlisted and his arrangement of ‘With or Without You’ was first played in October 2019 during Symphonic Waves’ performance at Baboró music festival in Ballinasloe, County Galway. This new recording was made during the Orchestra's 2019 winter residential course in Kilkenny College. This was a joint collaboration with the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, some of whose members joined Symphonic Waves for this recording.
Music Generation Galway County is led by Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board, with support from Galway County Council, An Roinn Ealaíon, Gaeltachta agus Oidhreachta, Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Tusla, Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, NUI Galway, Galway Rural Development, FORUM Connemara CLG and local partners.