Young South Dublin musicians take to the stage at Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade conference

On Tuesday, 08 January 2019, young musicians from Music Generation South Dublin gathered at Dublin Castle to perform at the ‘Global Ireland 2025: Making it Happen’ conference hosted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which brought together over 80 Heads of Mission and 250 participants.

Performing on the day was a choir of secondary school students from Firhouse Community College and Killinarden Community School, who are participants in the Music Generation South Dublin programme. Excerpts from two of their original compositions, ‘The Hills’ and ‘Brother. Sister,’ were sung by the students who, together with composer Joe Csibi, are working to create a ‘signature sound for the county’. The vocal commission is part of ‘South Dublin Culture and Creativity Strategy 2018-2022’, led by Music Generation South Dublin with funding from Creative Ireland and South Dublin County Council Arts Office.

So proud of the young people from @Firhouse_cc & Killenarden Community School for sharing their brand new compositions-in-progress with Heads of Missions @dublincastleopw today. Huge thanks to Ewan Cowley & @MusicGenSD musician team for accompaniment & support #GlobalIreland pic.twitter.com/AbNJWmib7C

— Music Generation (@mus_gen) January 8, 2019

At this high profile Conference of Irish Ambassadors and Diplomatic Mission Chiefs the vocal ensemble was accompanied by pianist Ewan Cowley and Music Generation South Dublin musicians Ernestine Healey and Micheline Moran.

Speaking after the performance, Erin McCabe, member of the vocal ensemble, said: 'It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase our own original composition. I found the experience, singing in front of such a large audience, both daunting and exhilarating. We were extremely grateful to have the opportunity to perform.’

Last month, the ensemble presented a work-in-progress performance of the vocal commission, which is set to culminate with a full performance of the original work in its entirety this May.

For further information about other Music Generation South Dublin projects and events, contact:

Aideen McLaughlin, Music Development Officer, Music Generation South Dublin

e: amclaughlin[at]sdublincoco
t: +353 86 145 5146
www.musicgenerationsouthdublin.ie