This article is from page 31 of the 2008-02-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 31 JPG
STUDENTS from Colaiste Muire will head next week to Dublin to take part in the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras Festival.
Rehersals are already well under- way at Harmony Row, Ennis for the event which takes place on Febru- ary 9 at the National Concert Hall in Dublin.
The also get the rare opportunity to receive one on one specialist tuition from the renowned American con- ductor and arranger Sandra Dackow.
An annual American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
(ASCAP), award winning arranger, Dr Dackow has generated over sev- enty published works for orchestras and is an author of the Orchestra Ex- pressions curriculum.
She is active as a guest conduc- tor, adjudicator and clinician across the nation and Canada, in England, Hong Kong, Singapore, Ukraine, South Africa and throughout Aus- tralia and Ireland
The event is part of the annual youth orchestra festival that features the best ensembles in the state. In a unique collaboration, Colaiste Muire will play with two schools from Lein- ster in an all Mozart programme.
The orchestra has a busy time in February as they will host a visit by guest conductor, Malcolm Greene, director of Limerick Choral Union and cellist with the Dolmen String Quartet for an afternoon workshop at Colaiste Muire
The Colaiste Muire’s orchestra is growing rapidly. Its ranks were boosted this year with the addition of a bank of cellos and double basses as part of the Board of Management’s and principal Jean Pound’s policy of investment in music.
Orchestra director Cathy Des- mond has initiated a novel cello & double bass programme to enhance
the orchestra and to encourage more students to experience ensemble playing.
The orchestra members range from prize-winning music students to be- ginners. It is open to students of all Ao ise
The orchestra plays at a range of events in the school and recently received an enthusiastic reception from residents and staff at Carigoran House nursing home in Newmar- ket-on-Fergus. Future plans include a chamber music workshop to en- courage ensemble playing in smaller eroups and a collaboration with the school choir.