Covid Care Concerts prove a success

Following a successful series of concerts performed in 15 different counties, Blackwater Valley Opera Festival and Mobile Music Machine returned to community settings across Waterford last week, with a special concert in Dunabbey House and Dungarvan Community Hospital on Friday, 25th June, attended by Mary Butler T.D., Minister for Mental Health and Older People.

Covid Care Concerts is a project designed to bring classical music into the lives of those most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. In a first of its kind project in this country, Covid Care Concerts is one of the largest artist-led responses to the pandemic in Europe, with over 550 concerts performed by 55 of Ireland’s leading musicians. Funding support from Creative Ireland Waterford brings the latest series of concerts back to older communities across Waterford.

Since June 2020, Blackwater Valley Opera Festival have partnered with the renowned classical music ensemble Mobile Music Machine to safely deliver one-hour concerts in the grounds of care homes and community settings.

The Blackwater Valley Opera Festival is Ireland’s summer opera festival and the 2021 event will take place on the later dates of September 1-5 at Lismore Castle. Public booking for the Festival will open after 5 July.

(Pic: Sean Byrne) Attending the Covid Care Concert at Dungarvan Community Hospital on Friday were, seated l-r: Mary Butler TD, Minister for Mental Health and Older People and Paula French, Director of Nursing, Dungarvan Community Hospital; Standing l-r: Eamonn Carroll, Blackwater Valley Opera Festival Director; Sandra Oman, Carla Vedres and Gerald Peregrine, Mobile Music Machine.