Music Generation Musicians Join U2 for 50th Anniversary Performance at Mount Temple
32 young Music Generation musicians representing every county in Ireland took the stage with U2 to mark the band's 50th Anniversary on 25th September 2026.
Young musicians from Music Generation Offaly/Westmeath’s ‘Sinfonia’ will take to the stage in Westmeath County Council, County Westmeath and Maynooth University, County Kildare to mark the end of the programme with two very special performances.
‘Sinfonia’ is an orchestral residency that brings together professional musicians, current students of Maynooth University Department of Music and young musicians from the Midlands. The initiative, developed by Maynooth University Department of Music in partnership with Music Generation Offaly/Westmeath, is aimed at string, woodwind and brass instrumentalists and percussion, harp and piano players ages 11 to 19 from Counties Offaly and Westmeath. Through a series of intensive rehearsals in Athlone IT the musicians are challenged in their individual and group playing, building towards these finale performances which will take place on 6 and 7 April.
This is the second year of Sinfonia following a hugely successful first edition in 2017/2018, and this year’s residency takes a classical twist. Under the guidance of conductors Andrew Synnott and Karen Ní Bhroín, the orchestra will play a new piece written for them by Pádruig Morrison, winner of Maynooth University’s inaugural Composition Competition. The piece titled ‘Slán le Rí Thoraí’ is a tribute to the late King of Tory Island, which will bring together contemporary, traditional and classical sounds. ‘Slán le Rí Thoraí’ was chosen from among many entries submitted by students of composition in the Department of Music at Maynooth University. Pàdruig has worked closely with Sinfonia Artistic Director Andrew Synnott to develop the work in preparation for its premiere performances.
The ‘Sinfonia’ orchestral residency finale performances will take place on Saturday 6 April at 4pm (plus pre-performance concert at 3.30pm) in the County Buildings, Mullingar, County Westmeath and on Sunday 7 April at 4pm in Maynooth University, County Kildare.
To reserve tickets, email musicgen@offalycoco.ie
For further information about this and other projects and initiatives at Music Generation Offaly/Westmeath contact:
Margaret Broome, Development Officer
t: 057 9357400
e: mbroome@offalycoco.ie
musicgenerationoffalywestmeath.ie
