School orchestra tuning up for major performance
THE members of Enniscorthy Vocational College’s school orchestra are busy preparing for what promises to be a great musical event scheduled to take place this coming weekend.
On Saturday, November 30, the orchestra, including the school choir, will link up with the Cavan Sinfonia Youth Orchestra for a performance in the Presentation Centre at 8 p.m.
The famed acoustics of the centre will provide an ideal setting for the collaborative concert.
The varied programme on the night will feature film music, jazz, traditional, classical and pop music.
There will be soloists from Enniscorthy Vocational College along with country singer Stacey Breen and flautist Serena Casey, who is attending Maynooth University.
The Cavan Sinfonia Youth Orchestra has strong links with Enniscorthy as it’s led by Susan Donohoe, who is from the Slaneyside town.
The Cavan orchestra is an innovative new group of talented musicians who are aged between 8 and 16.
The members are very enthusiastic and play music from genres such as classical, popular and jazz.
They rehearse weekly in Killygarry Community Centre and have enjoyed collaborations with the senior Cavan Sinfonia Orchestra which has been performing since 2010.
The youth orchestra, under Ms Donohoe, was delighted to be a part of the Cavan Arts Festival in Con Smith park last May and the members are thrilled to be getting the opportunity to perform in Ms Donohoe’s native, Enniscorthy.
Enniscorthy Vocational College has a school instrument scheme which offers instrumental tuition, during the school day, from three professional teachers in violin, viola flute, clarinet, cello and double bass.
Pupils who make progress may go on to take exams with the Royal Irish Academy of Music or the London Associated Board of Music.
Past pupils of the school’s Music Department have gone on to study music in college including attaining a choral scholarship to UCD.
Orchestra rehearsals, under conductor Brídín Kelly, take place every Wednesday at lunchtime in the college music room.
The students also perform at the school annual open night in addition to other events during the academic year.
The orchestra members have travelled to the Prague Festival of Youth Orchestras and performed in the National Opera House.
‘ The group play a range of different styles of music from classical [and] Irish music to popular, and enjoy welcoming new student players,’ said a school spokesperson.
‘Membership is open to all [students] who can already play an instrument or are making good progress as beginners,’ he added.
PLC students can also continue to play with the group if they have already joined the orchestra and about the upcoming concert the spokesperson said: ‘ They are really looking forward to playing in the beautiful surroundings of the Presentation Centre and are very excited to meet and perform with Cavan Sinfonia Youth Orchestra.’
Tickets for the concert, priced €10 (adults) and €5 (children), are available at the Presentation Centre on 053 9233000.