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Music Generation at the SMEI Music Education Gathering Conference 2013

The third annual conference of the Society for Music Education in Ireland (SMEI): The Music Education Gathering 2013 takes place at St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin from 1st-3rd November.

The aims of this year’s conference are to look back at the Music Education National Debate (MEND) and other national and international initiatives, to reflect on current trends and to contemplate future aspirations and challenges for music education in Ireland and beyond.

The MEND report states: "If there is one significant piece in the jigsaw of Irish music education that is still missing, it is the provision of specialist vocal/instrumental training that is generally available, (on a countrywide basis) accessible and affordable". As part of the conference, Music Generation aims to address this in a symposium titled Filling in the Jigsaw – Learnings and Findings from an Evolving Infrastructure for Performance Music Education in Ireland. Presenting will be Rosaleen Molloy, Director of Music Generation, who will give an overview of the context for the symposium with Caitriona Fottrell of The Ireland Funds discussing philanthropic investment, Amanda Geary of the Department of Education and Skills discussing public-private partnership, Imelda Dervin of the Arts Council presenting on the role of the professional artist in performance music education and Mags O’Sullivan of Music Generation Cork City who will discuss the local Music Education Partnership dimension.

A number of musicians involved with Music Generation will be represented during the conference including Music Generation’s Research Fellow Thomas Johnston who will present on Saturday 2nd November on Transformation and Performance Music Education: The nature, purpose and power of an investigation’s design.

Performing at the Conference on Friday 1st of November will be young musical ambassadors from Music Generation Cork City and Music Generation Laois. Garry McCarthy and the rappers from Cork will perform the trad rap Music Generation at the conclusion of the opening address and young musicians from the recently established School of Rock and Pop in Laois will perform several numbers during the lunch break.

For more information visit www.smei.ie.