Longford Music Festival set to present Irish Midlands Youth Orchestra featuring the Lynn Singers

As the programme for the third Camlin Keys Festival is coming together, we are delighted to announce our closing event in The Backstage Theatre, as the Irish Midlands Youth Orchestra join us on Sunday 4th May. Fresh off a performance in the National Concert Hall, the orchestra will play a varied programme from Brahms and Tchaikovsky, through to John Powell's soundtrack to How to Train Your Dragon and a new commission by Irish composer Tim Doyle.

The concert will also feature award-winning guest performers the Lynn Singers, and feature a collaboration between both groups not to be missed.

The IMYO, formed in 2006, provides high-quality orchestral experiences for young musicians from all over the Midlands, including Longford.  Members have the opportunity, not only to develop their musical skills, but to experience playing together as part of an orchestra.  Under the baton of Musical Director, Matt Rafter, the IMYO has taken part in many of the opportunities available to young orchestral musicians through the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras, including performing in the National Concert Hall, Dublin in February as part of the IAYO’s 20th Festival of Youth Orchestras.

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Their schedule has included collaboration with Julianstown Youth Orchestra and the Limerick School of Music, with a final performance in Limerick, April 2024. In recent years, they have also enjoyed workshops with composers Tim Doyle and Michael Rooney.Internationally, IMYO most recently teamed up with La Fantastica Banda and the Orquesta Escuela del Barrio for workshops and a concert in Madrid in 2023, and this Summer they are to attend the World Festival of Orchestras in Vienna.

Playing in the Backstage Theatre to close the Camlin Keys Festival, Matt Rafter said, "We are very excited to perform in the wonderful Backstage Theatre, as part of Camlin Keys Music Festival. With a steady stream of talented young musicians coming out of Longford, this is the perfect opportunity to present high quality orchestral music, played by young musicians from all over the Midlands."

Matt, who first took the baton of the IMYO in 2015, is a talented cellist who plays with both the Vltava and Belenus String Quartets. He also works as Programme Manager in the Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge. He recorded and performed as cellist with many Irish artists. He has previously conducted Trinity Orchestra, Fingal Youth Orchestra, as well as Téada Orchestra which he co-founded in 2013.  The IMYO regularly auditions new members, further information please visit imyo.ie.

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