Kildare and Wicklow ETB Newsletter Issue 7 | Page 9

MUSIC GENERATION WICKLOW NEWS:

The Wicklow Ways by Composer Vincent Kennedy commissioned by Wicklow County Council under the Per Cent for Art Scheme on behalf of Music Generation Wicklow was premiered in the Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray on 22 March 2015.

Wicklow County Council under the Per Cent for Art Scheme and on behalf of Music Generation Wicklow commissioned composer Vincent Kennedy to engage with four schools across County Wicklow, resulting in The Wicklow Ways - a newly written work for Orchestra comprising 73 young Wicklow musicians performing on violin, recorder, ukulele, guitar, piano and a whole host of drums and tuned percussion instruments.

Vincent Kennedy first visited the four schools: Scoil Chaoimhin Naofa, Gleann da Loch, Co. Chill Mhantain; St Laurences National School, Kindlestown, Greystones, Co. Wicklow; Lacken National School, Blessington, Co.Wicklow; St Cronans National School, Vevay Road, Bray, Co.Wicklow, in May 2014 and carried out 4 workshops in each school since September 2014. The workshop process engaged the young musicians in fun and challenging ways inspiring them to perform to the best of their abilities and reach new heights in their musical development.

The 73 strong group of young musicians performed the work twice on the 22nd to a full house in the Mermaid Theatre. Music Generation Wicklow would like to thank all the participants for their enthusiasm and hard work and also the teachers, musicians, school principals and parents who were there to support them all along the way from first rehearsals to the premiere of the suite of music.

The Wicklow Ways is interspersed with moments where the professional tutors of the young musicians perform specially composed solos that demonstrate their individual virtuosity and put a context to what can be achieved from a music education. The Orchestra comprised of violins, recorders, ukuleles, guitar, piano and a whole host of drums and tuned percussion instruments with Eamon Sweeney (Classical Guitar, ukulele, Bass Guitar), Aisling Seery (recorders), Sinéad Finegan (violin), Terry Clancy (Saxophone, Clarinet, recorder), Rama Block (percussion), James Dunne (percussion) and Svetlana Rudenko (piano).

News from Around the Schools & Centres

September 2015 9