Laois school children star in 'Fiddle Fiesta'

A fleet of young Laois musicans from Rathdowney and Tomahoe have performed as party of the inaugural Midlands Fiddle Fiesta.

A total of 55 violinists from Scoil Bhríde Rathdowney and 11 violin players from Scoil Mhuire Fatima Timahoe, travelled to TUS Athlone on Friday, May 16, to take part in a workshop day called 'Fiddle Fiesta' with children from school programmes in Music Generations across Offaly, Westmeath and Longford.

Under the direction of Veronica Urrego, a violinist based in Scotland, and originally from Venezuela, 170 young violinists took part, alongside a live band.

John Davidson of Music Generation Laois teaches violin in Rathdowney each week whhile Irene Ramos of Music Generation Laois teaches violin in Timahoe each week. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

John and Irene travelled to Athlone and worked along-side Veronica to create a large-scale string orchestra. Fiddle Fiesta is part of a new project called Building Orchestral Pathways (BOP), which seeks to develop string and orchestral playing in the midlands, supported by the Music Generation/Arts Council Partnership Creativity and Collaboration Fund.

Most recently, young musicians and adult musicians from Laois formed a BOP Orchestra along with musicians from Music Generations Offaly and Westmeath. BOP Orchestra had their debut performance in Music at the Malthouse on Sunday, 11 May, presented by Music Generation Laois, conducted by Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra).

Rosa Flannery Music Development Officer with Music Generation Laois spoke at the Fiddle Fiesta in a statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

'We are having a wonderful day with our young violin players in TUS Athlone. A large-scale performance of Coldplay's Viva La Vida has been the highlight for many of the children involved. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

"It's really exciting for our young players to meet other musicians from neighbouring counties, play music, have fun and get the opportunity to work with Veronica Urrego. Veronica works with El Sistema Scotland and she also conducts the National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain. We are really excited about how our BOP project, led by Music Generation Westmeath in partnership with ourselves, Music Generation Laois, and with Music Generation Offaly, will create lots of inspirational opportunities for musicians in the midlands," she said.

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Music Generation Laois and Laois School of Music's Annual Open Evening will take place on Tuesday 17 June in Laois Music Centre in Portlaoise from 6-8pm.

All are welcome to come and meet the team of Musician Educators and try out lots of musical instruments.
Music Generation Laois is part of Music Generation, Ireland's national music education programme, co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds and The Department of Education. Locally Music Generation Laois is part of Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board and supported by Laois County Council. 

www.musicgenerationlaois.ie