Music Exploration Programme at Slaney Manor

Wexford Mental Health Association recently hosted their first concert within their new Music Exploration Programme in Slaney Manor. ‘Come Together - A Music Concert to Celebrate and Collaborate’ was an opportunity for the Music Exploration Programme participants to perform alongside professional musicians for an invited audience of their families, friends and staff members.

The music programme is aimed at promoting music as a medium for facilitating well-being and recovery from mental health difficulties, but also looks to promote community integration among service users.

Seeing the participants perform shoulder to shoulder with professional and local musicians was powerful in itself, but to see the emergence of music talents and individual potential was a source of tremendous hope.

It was an opportunity for the performers and the audience to be reminded of the potential of music to facilitate a sense of well-being for all. ‘We had members of the County Wexford Youth Orchestra, Corner Boy, The Session Sisters, Eithne Corrigan, Jimi Cullen to name but a few involved in the night. ‘All of these guest artists have worked with the community groups and residential units over the last few months which has been very exciting for all participants leading up to the concert,’ said Alice Doyle, PR for the Wexford Mental Health Association.

Conductor and Musician Emily Redmond was appointed Music Exploration Officer (MEO) in November 2016 and in eight months has not only established the programme in two residential settings and two community settings but has succeeded in placing a second musician (Jimi Cullen) on the programme and the concert. Jimi, who is funded by the Artist in the Community Scheme at Wexford County Council, has shared the stage with both Spillane and Page on many occasions as well as the likes of Damian Dempsey, Paddy Casey, Aslan, David Kitt, Declan O’Rourke and many of Ireland’s other top performers.

The governance of the Music Exploration Programme is quite unique in terms of an Arts/ Health Project. The job description of the MEO includes responsibilities around session delivery but also includes a service development component and a community integration expectation.