Secondary school students across the County are being given the opportunity to take part in ensemble performances as part of The Clare Trazz Experience aswell as the Pop and Rock Orchestra.
Aimed at twelve to fifteen year old musicians, The Pop and Rock Orchestra is led by Ennis man Graham Keane. An experienced guitar tutor and well known for his work with Guitarchestra, Graham has played with numerous bands including ‘Korazoncito’, worked with many internationally renowned musicians and studied composition and arrangement in The Academy of Contemporary Music in Surrey, England. He will bring all this collective experience to bear as leader of this not to be missed ensemble with a difference.
Meetings for young musicians will take place on alternate Sundays commencing September 18th from 11am to 1pm in the Halla of the Holy Family School, Station Road, Ennis. The musicians will get to work with all kinds of repertoire ranging from The Black Keys to Adele and everything in between.
Described as the “meeting of traditional with jazz”, The Clare Trazz Experience, is now also accepting enrolments from interested secondary school students for the new academic year. The Clare Trazz Experience is led by Pádraig Rynne. Known for experimenting with diverse genres, performer, producer, composer, recording and mixing, Pádraig holds a Masters in Music Technology explores the Irish Tradition and beyond.
His band work includes that with Guidewires, and is a current member of TRIAD with Dónal Lunny and Sylvian Barou. He will be assisted by UCC BA and BMus graduate and twelve time All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil winner Eddie McMahon, whose array of instruments include bodhrán, cajon, drumkit, banjo, fiddle, and piano. For the new academic year, weekly rehearsals have been extended to three new venues in Scariff, Kilrush and Ennis, respectively, with Ennistymon rehearsals continuing in An Teach Ceoil on a fortnightly basis.
In addition to weekly rehearsals, where participants actively partake in music arrangement, the young musicians also have numerous opportunities to attend workshops and live performances throughout the year. Since the formation of The Clare Trazz Experience in January 2016, members have workshopped with Le Vent du Nord, from Canada, performed at Aos Óg as part of An Fhleadh Nua, glór, 2016, played at the opening of the Supermac’s gig rig at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2016 and performed with over one hundred musicians from Music Generation areas programmes across Ireland with acclaimed Irish folk music group Beoga.
The opportunity to be part of these exciting ensemble experiences is open to secondary school musicians of all genres and all instruments. Please note places are limited, and the closing date for receipt of expression of interest forms is Friday, September 16th.
Music Generation Clare is also currently fundraising for it’s county instrument bank, the aim of which is to enable access to children and young people to their instrument of choice without the financial burden of purchase. Fundraising cards are available in outlets throughout the following locations in Clare; Clarecastle, Crusheen, Ennis, Inagh, Kilmaley, Kilrush, Lissycasey, Newmarket on Fergus, Scariff, Shannon and Sixmilebridge. Entry to the draw costs €2 and will take place live on air on Friday, September 23rd on The West Wind on Clare FM with Eoin O’Neill, with prizes of a concertina and fiddle.
Further information may be obtained from www.musicgeneration.ie