The Arts Council has announced the renewal of its partnership with Music Generation, investing a further €530,000 in the programme from November 2017 to December 2020. Building on the success of the first phase of the partnership (2013 – 2016), this funding will continue to deliver on the shared strategic priorities of both organisations. It will enable enriched experiences for children and young people, create opportunities to engage with high-calibre performing and creative musicians, and bring added value and new dimensions to existing core programmes. Music Generation will implement the partnership in close collaboration with its network of Local Music Education Partnerships.
Since 2013, 23 performance music education residencies and projects have been enabled through funding from the Music Generation/Arts Council Partnership. They have involved participation by some 3,500 children and young people in 12 different areas of the country, working alongside 160 creative and performing musicians as well as 30 other artists such as producers, sound artists and poets.
Just a small sample of the many initiatives undertaken by Music Generation partnerships include:
Singfest, a major choral residency directed by conductor Greg Beardsell, developed by Music Generation Offaly/Westmeath in partnership with the Association of Irish Choirs:
Soundwaves, a creative music-making project for young bands and musicians delivered by Wall2Wall Music on behalf of Donegal Music Education Partnership:
Bold as Brass, a large-scale musical event directed by UK saxophonist Jason Yarde for more than 100 brass, saxophone and percussion musicians of all ages, developed by Music Generation Cork City in partnership with Cork Midsummer Festival, Cork City Council and CIT Cork School of Music:
Laois New Works Series, through which three acclaimed composers working across three diverse genres were commissioned to compose new works together with young ensembles from Music Generation Laois: the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra (working with Martin Tourish); the Laois School of Music Youth Orchestra and Choir (working with Elaine Agnew); and the Music Generation Laois Harp Ensemble (working with Catriona McKay):
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