This article is from page 12 of the 2014-04-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
MEMBERS of a children’s choir sang a new verse in Clare music history last week when they became the first group from the Banner County to perform at a U2-funded Music Generation event.
The newly-formed Burren Children’s Choir joined 400 young people from around Ireland to perform at the inaugural Big Sing event in Dublin’s Mansion House.
The event was led by acclaimed US choral conductor Dr Doreen Rao.
This was the first time that Music Generation participants from across Ireland performed together on a national stage and marks the culmination of the Choral Music Education Programme, run in association with Association of Irish Choirs and the Choral Music Experience Institute.
Clare was represented by 10 members of the Burren Children’s Choir. The choir first performed together at Christmas. Parent Diane Hayes says the children thoroughly enjoyed the experience of singing in Dublin.
“It was absolutely lovely. It was a brilliant experience for them. You had about 400 other children performing. It was amazing,” she said.
Music Generation National Director Rosaleen Molloy said, “The Big Sing is the very first time that we have been able to bring so many young people involved in Music Generation together to perform and we are very lucky to have had Dr Doreen Rao here lead us on this momentous occasion.”
The Big Sing was organised by Music Generation, a national music education programme supported by Irish rockers U2 and the Ireland Fund. It was set up in 2009 to increase access to music education.
In January Clare secured € 400,000 in funding from Music Generation.
It is anticipated the programme will see music teachers employed to work in school and out of school settings, teaching music to children and young adults around the county. The overall aim is to provide the first countywide music education service in Clare.
Clare Music Education Partnership will receive close to € 435,000 in seed funding which will enable high quality, accessible music education programmes to be provided for children and young people in their local communities. Clare / Limerick Education and Training Board (formerly Clare VEC) is the lead statutory agency for the programme.
Among the aims for the programme are the establishment of a Clare County Orchestra and Clare Children’s Choir.
It is hoped the funding will create employment opportunities for Clare singers and musicians. It is expected that the programme will start to roll out towards the latter half of 2014.