Music Generation Cork City

Music Generation Cork City

Launch - 5pm Tuesday, September 25, The Atrium, Cork City Council, Civic Offices

Cork Music Education Partnership is delighted to announce an exciting new music education programme - Music Generation Cork City. Part of Music Generation, Ireland's new national music education programme, initiated by Music Network and funded by U2 and The Ireland Funds, Music Generation Cork City is currently one of six partnerships to receive funding nationwide which will allow wider access to music tuition throughout Cork City.

Working in tandem with existing community-based education providers, Music Generation Cork City will target the city’s four RAPID (Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development) areas with a wide range of performance music education opportunities for young children up to the age of 18.

“This is entirely down to the generosity and vision of the co-funders of Music Generation Cork City, namely; City of Cork VEC, Cork City Council, Cork City Partnership, Cork Institute of Technology, University College Cork and the HSE,” says Margaret O’Sullivan, Coordinator Music Generation Cork City.

“Involvement in music has been shown to have long-lasting positive effects for those who have the chance to learn and take part. With the wide range of partners supporting this programme, we hope that Music Generation Cork City will have a huge impact on the culture of Cork city, enhancing the lives of its youngest citizens.”

The amount committed by these bodies will be matched by the programme's national donors U2 and The Ireland Funds and over the course of the initial three year project, approximately €1.2million will be invested in a diverse programme of performance music education opportunities for children throughout Cork city.

A series of new initiatives delivering music education in school and community settings throughout the city are currently in development for commencement during the academic year 2012/13.

Three of those programmes will have commenced by the end of September, engaging at least 500 children in music learning; including learning instruments, theory classes, choirs, and the use of music technology across nine different Cork city schools. These initiatives, delivered by community-based music providers, are the first wave of school-based music programmes, and will be followed by further Vocal, Instrumental, Early Years and Choral programmes in January 2013.

In addition to school- and community-based programmes, Music Generation Cork City will provide lots of opportunities for performance, creative music-making and all kinds of fun musical activities for children to discover and nurture their own musical talent and share the joy of music-making with other musicians of all ages.

Director of Music Generation, Rosaleen Molloy concludes, “We are very excited to have the opportunity to work with a range of partners involved in Music Generation Cork City and the success of this programme is dependent upon committed partnerships – local and national – coming together to get behind better access to music education for all children and young people. Music Generation is now established in six areas of the country and has been made possible by a €7m donation - €5m from U2 and a further €2m which is currently being raised by the Ireland Funds, which represents the largest ever single philanthropic donation to music education in the history of the state.”

For further information please contact linda@bluemonkeypr.com (086 1971953) or Michael Carr (087 9335033)

ENDS