Young Laois Musicians receive standing ovation from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Dublin, July 5, 2017: 30+ young musicians from the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra brought guests to their feet yesterday evening, Tuesday 4 July, following their inspiring ensemble performance at a dinner held in honour of visiting Canadian Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau and his wife Madame Gregoire Trudeau in Dublin Castle. The dinner, hosted by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as part of Mr Trudeau’s official State visit to Ireland, was attended by more than 150 guests, including Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald and Ministers Simon Harris, Eoghan Murphy, Paschal Donohoe, Richard Bruton and Heather Humphreys.

After dinner, the young musicians performed a sensational rendition of their very own contemporary traditional music led by distinguished Donegal-born musician and composer Martin Tourish (Altan), and by Orchestra Directors Paul Finn (accordion) and Siobhán Buckley (harp). Together the ensemble presented extracts from the spectacular suite ‘Visions and Voices’, which was created and composed by Martin in collaboration with members of the Orchestra to mark the Centenary of Easter 2016, and which was met with rapturous applause.

Take a look at a video of the performance, captured by Music Generation Laois:

Visions and Voices’ was inspired by the line in the Irish Proclamation: ‘Cherishing all the children of the nation equally’. Representing a truly 21st century interpretation of Irish music, the suite fuses multi-cultural influences, illustrates diversity and creativity, and conveys the young people’s own vision of their future Ireland. The original commission, which reflects on the events leading up to and including the 1916 Rising in Ireland, was funded by the Laois 2016 Community Fund, Per Cent for Art through the Laois Arts Office and the Music Generation/ Arts Council Partnership.

The Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra was established in January 2016, under the direction of Siobhán Buckley and Paul Finn. To date the ensemble has performed at major national events including Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Ennis, as part of the Music Generation Laois ‘Tionól’ for Harps and Pipes in November 2016, and most recently at the Gala Celebration of The Ireland Funds Worldwide Conference 2017 in Powerscourt Estate for Guests of Honour An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco. The members of the Orchestra are among 3,000 children and young people who last year attended weekly lessons with Music Generation Laois, which is part of Music Generation – Ireland’s national music education programme, initiated by Music Network, co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, the Department of Education and Skills and Local Music Education Partnerships.

Music Generation’s Young Ambassadors programme provides opportunities for young musicians throughout Ireland to perform at national and international events.

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Media contact: Aoife Lucey, Communications Manager, Music Generation
aoife@muiscgeneration.ie / +353 1 475 8454 / +353 85 741 5171

NOTES TO EDITORS

Music Generation Laois is a performance music education programme for children and young people in County Laois. It is part of Music Generation – Ireland’s National Music Education Programme, initiated by Music Network and co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, the Department of Education and Skills and Local Music Education Partnerships. Locally, Music Generation Laois is managed by Laois Music Education Partnership and co-funded by Laois County Council, Laois-Offaly Education and Training Board and Laois Partnership Company.

www.musicgeneration.ie / www.musicgenerationlaois.ie