The much-anticipated return of live music events is finally here, just in time for what’s tipped to be a spectacular national celebration for St. Patrick’s Festival 2022! Music Generation partnerships across Ireland are of course preparing to take the spotlight this year as they host a number of fantastic performances for music lovers to enjoy this St. Patrick’s Day.
The instruments are well and truly dusted off, the green jumpers are at the ready and our young performers are buzzing to get back on stage next week come rain, hail or shine!
Here’s a taster of just some of the musical extravaganzas taking place in 2022 celebrating Irish music and culture!
Summoning a Harp Revival – Music Generation
Over one hundred young musicians from Music Generation will come together at St. Patrick's Festival Quarter in Collins Barracks from 1pm on Saturday 19th March. Music Generation’s young community of harpers, rappers, classical, folk and traditional musicians unite to mark the premier of new Irish works and celebrate Ireland’s national emblem – The Harp.
Event: Summoning a Harp Revival
Location: Mainstage at St Patrick's Festival Quarter, Collins Barracks
Date: 1pm on Saturday 19th March 2022.
Summoning a Harp Revival features The Harp Collective, a cross-county initiative made up of 52 young musicians aged 10 - 17, from Music Generation Mayo, Music Generation Louth and Music Generation Laois. The collective will premier new work from prolific composer Michael Rooney. The young harpers have been preparing for an opportunity to showcase the premier since July 2020 and are thrilled to finally return to rehearsing together ‘in-person’ and perform a new piece for a global audience.
"It’s been stressful to get on top of everything but it’s so much fun when we get together. The final outcome of listening to all your hard work being played is so nice." Grace, Young Musician, Music Generation Louth
The programme will also include arrangements of previous works composed by Michael Rooney, performed by the Laois Trad Orchestra while Music Generation Mayo’s Harp Collective will take audiences on a thrilling journey of unique traditional arrangements.
Nós Nua, Louth’s Youth Folk Orchestra, will perform “Causeway”, a suite of new music from Mohsen Amini. This exciting premier, funded by the Arts Council Young Ensemble Scheme and supported by Oriel Centre, Dundalk Gaol and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann sees over forty young musicians from across Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Armagh join the Scottish concertinist for this special collaboration.
Music Generation Cork City’s The Kabin will also travel to the capital to dedicate original music to the harp. This unique performance piece was initiated by Harp Ireland for Lá na Cruite, Harp Day 2021. The Kabin’s young rap artists in collaboration with harper Donnchadh MacAodha, will bring their urban, meaningful and ‘pure daycent’ energy to performances of new and traditional Irish music.
A look back at Access Artistry and Advocacy - Music Generation's National Conference which spotlighted the importance of access to music.
On 2nd March 2024 over 1,000 music makers from all over Ireland attended 'We are Music Generation' at the Convention Centre.
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