News: The National Concert Hall Celebrates Finale of its Music Development Programme for School Children

Primary Ensemble Project Finale Concert Supported by the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Walkers Tuesday 28 March 12.45pm National Concert Hall, Dublin 2.   

Media Release 28th March 2023 

Today, Tuesday 28th March, young musicians and students from the year-long ‘Primary Ensemble Project’, which supports access to music development and performance, gather to collaborate and perform, showcasing their talent and musical skills on stage at the home of classical music in Ireland, the National Concert Hall.   

Presented by the National Concert Hall (NCH) in partnership with the Royal Irish Academy of Music and supported by Walkers, the Primary Ensemble Project is aimed at developing key areas of early ensemble playing in a vibrant and holistic programme with participating schools and students benefiting from a series of engaging and participative workshops led by specialist tutors from the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM).  During the course of those workshops young students were coached in developing aural and technical skills alongside ensemble performance and improvisation techniques.  

The finale of the Primary Ensemble Project will see students and participating schools come together at the National Concert Hall to play and meet with the other participating schools showcasing their talents and the musical skills, performing for family and friends.   

CEO of the National Concert Hall, Robert Read said:  

“Nurturing and supporting access and appreciation of music and the opportunity to perform for young musicians is a significant feature of our strategy. We are delighted to host this special performance day which will showcase the wealth of talent that exists amongst our aspiring musicians as part of the Primary Ensemble Project. We are also very grateful to Walkers, and the excellent tutors from the Royal Irish Academy of Music for their generous support of the project without whom the Primary Ensemble Project would not be possible”. 

Jonathan Sheehan, Managing Partner Walkers (Ireland) LLP and Fiona de Lacy Managing Director (Ireland) Walkers Professional Services commented:

“Walkers would like to congratulate all those who are participating in the finale performance of the Primary Ensemble Project.  After months of hard work and commitment from all involved, we are delighted to see the impact of this important music education programme that enables collaboration, creativity and musical discovery through guided ensemble participation. We hope the memory of performing on the stage of the National Concert Hall will endure for years to come and encourage participants to continue to develop their musical talent, performance and collaborative skills” 

The Primary Ensemble Project is presented in partnership with the Royal Irish Academy of Music and generously supported by Walkers, a leading financial services law firm and corporate services business, active in championing creativity and innovation in arts and education. The Primary Ensemble Project is making a welcome return post-pandemic to rekindle and support the revival of ensemble music making in classrooms.   

The Primary Ensemble Project is presented by NCH and The Royal Irish Academy of Music and generously supported by Walkers.  

ENDS    

Media Queries: Sinead Doyle, Marketing & PR Manager or Roisin Dwyer, PR & Publications Executive, National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2. (S. Doyle Tel: 087 1775334 / R. Dwyer 085 7129628).    

ABOUT THE NATIONAL CONCERT HALL      

The National Concert Hall (NCH) has an ambition to be one of the world’s great centres for music, a centre which will be a symbol of national pride for Irish people everywhere. But above all, a centre for music which will enable the NCH to best deliver on its statutory remit for music, the arts, for culture and for our nation.           
             
Based in the heart of Dublin City Centre, the NCH is Ireland’s National Cultural Institution for music hosting in excess of 1,000 events each year, pre-pandemic. World-class music and entertainment for all ages is at the heart of its offering, enriching people’s lives through music and the magic of live performance. It is the proud home to the National Symphony Orchestra, who perform their annual season of symphonic and classical music alongside more popular and lunchtime concerts throughout the year.  The NCH is also host to a number of Ireland’s music development bodies including: Music Network, Music Generation and NCH associate ensembles, Chamber Choir Ireland, Irish Baroque Orchestra and Crash Ensemble, who together with the National Symphony Orchestra secures the National Concert Hall’s position as a national centre for the performance, appreciation and enjoyment of music in Ireland.