Nós Nua - Louth Youth Folk Orchestra to perform at the 24th annual Festival of Youth Orchestras

Photo: Tony Lennon

On Saturday, 9 February 2019, young musicians from Nós Nua - Louth Youth Folk Orchestra will take to the stage of the National Concert Hall, Dublin, as part of the 24th annual ‘Festival of Youth Orchestras’, hosted by the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras (IAYO).

A joint initiative of Music Generation Louth and The Oriel Centre Dundalk Gaol (Comhaltas Regional Centre), Nós Nua aims to bring young musicians of diverse playing genres together to explore Louth’s local traditions. Drawn from across four counties – Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Armagh – and under the guidance of experienced composers and musicians, members of this folk orchestra have been meeting regularly since October 2017, working together to create unique arrangements of new and existing traditional repertoire.

The IAYO ‘Festival of Youth Orchestras’ is a non-competitive event that aims to give youth orchestras and their young players the opportunity to perform on Ireland’s national stage. In addition to bringing together ensembles from various counties, this highly-anticipated event also celebrates the achievements of youth orchestras in communities and schools throughout Ireland. To date the Festival has featured performances by more than 9,000 young musicians. This year, young musicians from the Music Generation Laois and Laois School of Music string quartet, 'Bel Canto' will perform in the foyer before this year's evening concert.

This Saturday Nós Nua will make their debut performance in the National Concert Hall, where they will perform as part of the evening concert at the Festival. Playing alongside Ceol na Mara Orchestra, Athenry Music School Camerata and Cork Youth Orchestra, their performance will include music from local composer Donal O’ Connor and a composition of Turlough O’ Carolan which was composed in County Louth in the early 18th Century.

Nós Nua is directed by Kay Webster-Dooley (Oriel Centre) and Gemma Murray (Music Generation Louth) with Conductor Conal Duffy and Project Manager Deirdre Ní Bhuachalla-Malone who work in partnership to arrange for the Orchestra.

These young musicians and their mentors had a tremendously exciting and busy inaugural year in 2018 culminating in their performance at ‘Bloom of Youth’ at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Drogheda, a celebration of ‘Bliain na nÓg’ which highlighted and acknowledged the contribution of young people to Comhaltas, Irish culture and community service. They also made their live television debut as the opening performance on Fleadh TV’s first live show of the season from Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Drogheda, 2018.

Also taking place on the night will be the annual presentation of the Agnes O’Kane Award, which is given to a volunteer who has contributed to the growth of youth orchestras in Ireland. The award recognises the vital contribution that volunteers have had in the growth of youth orchestras over the last thirty years. This year’s recipient is Mary Armitage, who has worked with the Donegal Youth Orchestra over many years.

For tickets and more information about the IAYO ‘Festival of Youth Orchestras’ visit: nch.ie or phone the National Concert Hall Box Office at: 01 417 0000.

For more information about Nós Nua – Louth Youth Folk Orchestra contact:

Gemma Murray, Coordinator, Music Generation Louth
T: 042 9364635
E: musicgeneration[at]lmetb.ie

or

The Oriel Centre Dundalk Gaol
T: 042 9328887
E: info[at]orielcentre.ie