The ‘where and whens’ for a merry, musical Christmas

December can be a busy month, not least for music-makers and those hoping to catch them in action as part of a festive concert or performance. We’ve rounded up some dates for your diary to help guide you through a selection of the events that might be coming up in your area…

Friends and families of the young musicians participating in Music Generation Carlow’s Hubs will gather to celebrate their work throughout the year over two evenings, on Wednesday 12 December (Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, 7pm) and Thursday 13 December (Borris Vocational School, 7pm).

Each weekend between now and the big day the streets of Cork City will be alive with music thanks to a whole host of groups and ensembles taking part in GLOW: a Cork Christmas Celebration. The team welcome volunteers to help bucket-collect at each performance and of course supporters and singalongs are encouraged!

There will be ‘A Very Grainstore Christmas’ in Cabinteely, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, on Sunday 16 December as Music Generation dlr host workshops and performances throughout the day.

Donegal-based teenage musicians, singers and those interested in playing and performing as part of a group are encouraged to sign up to the Soundwaves 2018 Christmas Edition, taking place in Balor Arts Centre, Ballybofey on Saturday 15 December.

To mark months’ worth of rehearsals and preparatory work, Galway County’s Symphonic Waves Regional Youth Orchestra will perform two concerts in Furbo (Saturday 15 December, 4pm) and Loughrea (Sunday 16 December, 6pm), under the baton of Conductor and Director James Cavanagh.

Those in the midlands can look forward to a fix of festive cheer as Music Generation Laois hosts its annual Christmas Concert in Dunamaise College, Railway Street, at 4pm on Sunday 16 December.

Budding young singers are welcome to St George's Heritage Centre, Carrick on Shannon, this Saturday afternoon (8 December from 1pm), where Music Generation Leitrim will present a free singing workshop suitable for those ages 7 to 12 year olds.

The Oriel Centre, Dundalk Gaol will be this year’s venue for the Music Generation Louth Winter Showcase, featuring its Junior Harp Ensemble, participants in its Brass and Rock and Pop programmes among others, playing from 6pm on Saturday 15 December.

The Core Mayo – a creative space for young musicians – welcomes musicians, families and friends to an evening of live local talent in Ballina Arts Centre on Thursday 13 December from 8pm.

Trad and rock musicians from Music Generation Wicklow's Blessington Hub will showcase their skills from 6.30pm on Friday evening, 7 December in Blessington Further Education and Training Centre.

Of course we’re sure there will be jingle bells in many other schools, hubs, streets and centres over the coming weeks and we wish the very best of luck to all young musicians for their final preparations. Here’s to a merry, musical Christmas!