St. Agnes' Violin Project, St. Agnes Community Youth Orchestra, Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland.

21 are already signed up for it! Let's see the number grow and grow! Check all the details re the bus from St Agnes, the t-shirts, sponsor cards and TRAINING WALKS here

SUMMER CAMP 2013 - Spring has come at last, summer is on the way. Check the details for this year's summer camp June 28th to July 5th here

ST AGNES/SCOIL COLM PRIMARY SCHOOL ORCHESTRA performed with the RTE Concert Orchestra on Tuesday 16th April at RTE Radio Centre, an event during Children's Week at RTE, helping to launch the new RTE children's channel. There was an invited audience present including children from St. Agnes' school, and visiting children from Spain and Cyprus, in Ireland through the COMENIUS project. The event was featured on News2day at 16:25 on Tuesday 16th April - see if you can join the fun here. Watch the RTÉ Concert Orchestra youtube video below

claire

ST AGNES/SCOIL COLM PRIMARY SCHOOL ORCHESTRA received 1st Class Honours at Inter-Schools Music Festival in the Primary School Orchestra competition on Saturday 2nd March at Wesley College, Dublin. Leader Claire Kiernan receives the certificate from adjudicator Mark Armstrongs. Read more
King and Kate

WONDERFUL AUDIENCES enjoyed St Agnes' Musical Society's 2013 production of "THE KING AND I" conducted by Eimear O'Grady, with Gerry Noonan as King Mongkut, Veronica Rock as Anna and Rachel Mungra as Tuptim.

Enjoy this clip of the FINALE on Friday 22nd March here, the opening scene here with "Whistle a Happy Tune" or the play-within-the-play "Small House of Uncle Thomas" here ; Click here to for a photogallery.

The 2014 production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC is already in preparation. Audition details will be available soon here. Auditions for adult roles will take place in late June/first week of July. Auditions for children's roles will take place in September.

2013 Flora Women's Mini-Marathon - watch out for the notices in the papers as entries can be submitted very soon. You can make your own page to support St Agnes School Violin & Orchestra project by goind directly to www.mycharity.ie

Yasmine Byrne meets violinist Nicola Benedetti following

this amazing superstar's sell-out concert at the National Concert Hall on January 24th 2013. Thank you RTE Concert Orchestra!

SUMMER CAMP 2013
Fri June 28th - Fri July 5th
NEWSFLASH
Dr Sandra Dackow who has arranged many of the pieces played by our orchestras will comes from the United States of America as guest conductor of the 2013 Summer Camp. There will be another lunchtime concert in Christ Church Cathedral on Thursday July 4th. Read about Sandra Dackow here. Details of St Agnes' 2013 Summer Strings Camp here

CHRISTMAS MARKET The Christmas Market on Saturday 1st December 2012 raised just over €5,000 thanks to all the volunteers who put in so much effort. Enjoy the photo gallery here of a fantastic market. The Market was opened by Miriam O'Callaghan who was presented with a cheque for €533 raised with the raffle at the NAVAN concert on November 18th in aid of the HOPE FOUNDATION VIOLIN PROJECT in Kolkata, India, where Eimear O'Grady has been out with Larissa O'Grady teaching children and training teaches.

"THE KING AND I" Rehearsals will be in full swing for the March production of "The King and I" with three evening performances on March 22nd, 23rd and 24th and one matinee on Saturday March 23rd. Ticket sales will open on February 1st - read more

ST AGNES PARENTS' STRING ORCHESTRA Next concert on Sunday 24th February at 4 pm in St Agnes' Primary School Hall in aid of Crumlin 44th/93rd Scout Troop (Den in Crumlin Village)

TALLAGHT STADIUM "Eight to Eighty" concert - Saturday 10th November marking 2012 European Year for Intergenerational Solidarity - This concert organised by the Sounds Ensemble raised more than €400 for the Jack and Jill charity.

DUBLIN CITY MARATHON - Conor Cavanagh and Edel Kearney ran the Dublin City Marathon on Monday 29th October for St Agnes School Violin & Orchestra project. Thanks to Conor and Edel! You can find their own personal funding pages for the Marathon on www.mycharity.ie

FUNDRAISING AT THE KALEIDOSCOPE CONCERT - thanks to Kaleidoscope. The interval raffle at the 30th Birthday Concert of Kaleidoscope on Thursday 20th October at the Sugar Club raised €825 for St Agnes School Violin & Orchestra project. Thanks to Kate Ellis, Clionadh Ryan and Ciara Cavangh for such an amazing result from all the musicians in Kaleidoscope. The next Kaleidoscope concert is on Wed 3rd October at the Odessa Club. Find out here

EIGHT TO EIGHTY CONCERT - an initiative of SOUNDS ENSEMBLE took place Sat 10th Nov 2012 in Tallaght Stadium 7:45 pm. Supported by South Dublin Co Council to mark 2012 European Year of Intergenerational Solidarity. All St Agnes musicians are invited to play in this concert. Read more here.

ST AGNES STRINGS SUMMER CAMP - CLICK HERE to reach the photo gallery

St Agnes musicians welcomed players from Project String Power, from TEXAS, USA, on Friday 27th July - read more
The TABLE QUIZ fundraiser for St Agnes Musical Society on Thursday 31st May in the Village Inn raised over €500. Thanks to everyone who came along and made it such a success.

2012 Women's Mini-Marathon on June Bank Holiday - a record 27 runners took part from St Agnes including three mother-and-daughter teams. Thank you, ladies! They are bringing in vital funds to sustain the School Violin & Orchestra project. Read more

June exam results - DISTINCTION for St Agnes/Scoil Colm Primary School Orchestra at the Royal Irish Academy of Music examination on Thursday 14th. Congratulations - to everyone who took an individual Grade exam this summer. It takes a lot of work to prepare properly for an exam. Lots of effort was well rewarded with Passes, Merits, Honours and Distinctions! Well done to everyone. The year ended with a concert on Friday 15th June, the eve of the IEC performance. Read more about the end-of-year concert here.

The International Eucharistic Congress performance on Saturday 16th June 2012 at 3:30 pm - this was a historic moment for everyone who played. Read more

Farmleigh, Phoenix Park, Sat May 5th (Arts in Action weekend organised by OPW and Craft Council of Ireland) - St Agnes/Scoil Colm Primary School Orchestra with St Agnes' Parents Orchestra gave a concert in the Performance Tent from 2:30-3:30 on a beautifully sunny afternoon. All enjoyed a magician, an uilleann piper, explored craft tents and refreshments... read more

newb eimear

On Thursday 19th April a combined orchestra of St Agnes/Scoil Colm Primary School Orchestra and St Agnes Parents' String Orchestra performed at the NEWB Conference at Croke Park (National Education Welfare Board). Read more here
laurey curly

It was amazing! OKLAHOMA!
Here is a little reminder of the final curtain call on Sunday night from YouTube.
Enjoy the photo gallery HERE! The next production of the

Musical Society will be THE KING AND I in March 2013. Read more.

Royal Irish Academy of Music pre-Easter exam results - ten candidates took individual Grade exams before Easter, including some in secondary school who are taking music performance at Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate. There were three Distinctions, five Honours and two Merits in the group. Congratulations on all the hard work and time put into the preparation for the exams!

A combined orchestra of St Agnes/Scoil Colm Primary School Orchestra and St Agnes Parents' String Orchestra will play at the International Eucharistic Congress There will be tea/coffee and refreshments for the members of both orchestras and parents/guardians of the school orchestra at 5:30 in the school hall on return from the RDS to mark the occasion. Find the large group photo taken on Wednesday 7th March for the programme at the Congress here

MAHLER'S 2nd SYMPHONY "THE RESURRECTION" is rehearsed in St Agnes' Hall on Sat Mar 3rd and Sun March 4th prior to a performance on Monday 5th March at the National Concert Hall at 8 pm - Read more

St Agnes' Community Music Centre - CHECK OUT WHAT'S ON here!
Look back at the Christmas Market here and all 2011 Christmas Events here.

Saturday March 3rd - St Agnes/Scoil Colmm Primary School Orchestra got a Highly Commended Certificate in the Inter-Schools Music Festival (Competition No 24 for Primary School Orchestras) at Wesley College. Read more

Sunday February 26th - The CHARITY CONCERT for PIETÀ HOUSE in St Agnes School Hall given by St Agnes' Parents String Orchestra and SOUNDS Ensemble raised €460 for Pieta House Read more.

DYO Auditions took place on Sunday March 4th
There were quite a few candidates for this year's DYO auditions including percussion and double bass! Let's hope they do well. See www.dyo.ie to find out more about Dublin Youth Orchestras.

PRESIDENT MICHAEL D HIGGINS VISITS ST AGNES
RTE Radio 1's "Morning Ireland" programme reported on the President's visit. Listen to the radio report on RTE Playback here .
President Michael D Higgins visited St Agnes' Primary School and its music project on Monday December 12th at 11 am. Students from Rosary College and Scoil Colm joined pupils from St Agnes to form a guard of honour to welcome the President. There was a special concert with choir and orchestras for the President, in the presence of an audience of invited guests. Photo gallery here. At the end of the previous week, a choir of fifteen girls from St Agnes went to Áras an Uachtaráin at the invitation of President Michael D Higgins, accompanied by Sister Bernadette Sweeney and Adrienne Ni Cheallaigh to sing at the ceremony for the turning on of Christmas lights. Read more here including press coverage.

What a wonderful day at the Christmas Market!
hamper

An amount of €4200 was raised as well. Thanks to everyone who came and everyone who helped prepare and manned the stalls, and in particular Santa and the firemen at Dolphin's Barn Fire station who brought him the last leg of his journey from the North Pole
Read more

TURNING ON THE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS IN CRUMLIN Wednesday 7th December A large group from St Agnes joined Sister Bernadette for the turning on of the Christmas Tree lights in Crumlin village, followed by refreshments in the Parish Centre.

DUNDRUM TOWN CENTRE Sunday 11th December 4:00 to 5:30 pm Members of St Agnes Musical Society will be singing carols in a charity spot in aid of St Agnes Music Crumlin
Read more in Christmas events.

LUNCH TIME CONCERT AT MICROSOFT Wednesday 14th December A group of musicians from St Agnes/Scoil Colm Primary School Orchestra visited Microsoft Ireland in Leopardstown and performed from 12 noon to 2 pm during the Microsoft Christmas lunch. The players were given a tour and visited a laboratory before their performance. Microsoft made a donation to the music fund for the violin and orchestra project in the school and also gave a present of a XBox with Kinect to the school. Read more in Christmas events.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT Thursday 15th December at 6:00 pm
St Agnes/Scoil Colm Primary School Orchestra, St Agnes Junior Orchestra and St Agnes Parents' Orchestra join forces for the annual Christmas Concert, with well-known and much loved carols, and other pieces with a seasonal touch. Free admission. Note the start time at 6 pm so younger members of the audience can be home and tucked up in bed before it's too late. do come and join them all! Read more in Christmas events.

ST JAMES' HOSPITAL CONCOURSE - Monday 19th December 1:30-2:30
Members of the Parents' Orchestra will play in the Concourse at St James Hospital for an hour at lunchtime on Monday 19th December.Read more in Christmas events.

CARITAS NURSING HOME and the SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND, Merrion, Tuesday December 20th 2011
Ms Kavanagh's 3rd Class will make the annual trip to Caritas Nursing Home, Blackrock, and then on to the School for the Blind. They will tell the Christmas story in words and music, sing carols and present at Christmas nativity tableau for patients, some of whom will be spending Christmas in hospital. Read more in Christmas events.

BANK OF IRELAND WALKINSTOWN Wednesday 21st December - Musicians from the School Orchestra, Parents' Orchestra and St Agnes Musical Society (Oklahoma chorus) will sing in aid of the Make-a-Wish Foundation at this branch of Bank of Ireland, at the request of the bank. The bank will also make a donation to the school music project. Read more in Christmas events.

Brian McIntyre's SingSongCycle across the United States from West to East started on July 2nd and was interrupted due to a family illness. Brian hopes to complete his project in the summer of 2012,
Brian came to the concert on December 15th to talk briefly about his journey, and got a great welcome. He is looking forward to starting where he had to finish last summer. He reached Florence Oregon on July 3rd. The webpage to follow his trail is open here. You can support Brian's SingSongCycle online here and follow him on Twitter and Facebook! or just send him an email to keep him going at singsongcycle@gmail.com

SUMMER STRINGS MUSIC CAMP - a CD of the summer camp concert at 1:15 pm on Wednesday July 6th in Christ Church Cathedral is available for €5. Bring in €5 to the music room and give in your name. Thanks to Joe and Patricia Ryan. Check out the photo gallery here.

juniors

The 2011 SIDE BY SIDE CONCERT took place on Sunday 19th June at 6:30 pm conducted by Seamus Doyle with guest professional and amateur players from RTE National Symphony Orchestra, RTE Concert Orchestra and several Dublin amateur orchestras. Thanks to all the guest players! Check the photo gallery here.
Leader of St Agnes/Scoil Colm Primary School Orchestra in the school year Sept 2011-June 2012 is Shannon McGrath, co-leader Claire Kiernan. Congratulations, ladies!

SUMMER CAMP musicians to give LUNCHTIME concert at Christ Church Cathedral Wednesday 6th July. Find out more about summer camp here

ted hug

SUPERTED says hello to a little princess arriving at St Agnes' School Hall for the TEDDY BEARS' CONCERT on Sunday 29th May 2011! SuperTed and bubbles greeted the audience of teddies, children and adults as they arrived for the Teddy Bears' Concert. St Agnes Parents' String Orchestra joined forces with Sounds Wind Ensemble and St Agnes Parents String Orchestra, conducted by Terence Clancy and Eimear O'Grady. Photo gallery of the concert afternoon here.

van group

RTE VANBRUGH STRING QUARTET VISIT TO ST AGNES - A DAY TO REMEMBER Thanks to RTE Performing Groups and the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, on Tuesday May 10th, the RTE Vanbrugh String Quartet visited St Agnes' for a workshop and concert. Read more

NATIONAL 'LOVE LIVE MUSIC DAY' - FRIDAY APRIL 8th 2011
A UNIQUE EVENT - RTÉ CONCERT ORCHESTRA
RTÉ Concert orchestra with St. Agnes'/Scoil Colm orchestra

RTÉ Concert orchestra with St. Agnes'/Scoil Colm orchestra

The RTÉ Concert orchestra visited Crumlin to give a concert at 1 pm in St Agnes' School Hall. Students from Rosary College, Scoil Colm and Crumlin Youthreach joined pupils from St Agnes 2nd to 6th classes and players from St Agnes' Parents String Orchestra in the audience. St Agnes'/Scoil Colm Primary School Orchestra along with string players from Rosary College had a unique chance to play two pieces with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. If you missed it, Watch it at the RTÉ news website. Go the the final story in the menu underneath, or go to 44 min 50 sec. in the programme to see a short clip from the concert.

To see St Agnes/Scoil Colm Primary School Orchestra in rehearsal: Read more and visit our photo gallery.

QUARTETS at HOTEL CONRAD for KPMG CENTRAL REMEDIAL conrad

CLINIC CONCERT Three St Agnes' string quartets (Plucked Quartet from 6th class and the MJ Quartet and Star Quartet from 4th Class) performed on Thursday 7th April at Hotel Conrad at the KPMG Central Remedial Clinic Concert, with all kinds of exciting lighting all around them. They ended a lovely performance with Ob-la-di Ob-la-da and Thank You for the Music!

AMP MUSIC EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP represents schools and organisations in Walkinstown, Crumlin, Kimmage and Drimnagh, who have made a collective proposal to Dublin City/CDVEC for funding through Music Generation Read more www.ampmusic.ie

SCHOOL PRINCIPALS FROM DEIS primary schools visit St Agnes Friday March 25th
Principals from 50 DEIS band schools came from round the country including Cork, Limerick, Ennis, Galway, Sligo, Drogheda and Dublin to see the work of the music project from Junior Infants to 6th Class and to listen to St Agnes/Scoil Colm Primary School Orchestra and St Agnes' Parents String Orchestra. Read more

PARENT ORCHESTRA PLAYERS ATTEND CONCERT AT NATIONAL CONCERT HALL at the invitation of the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Read more
ST AGNES/SCOIL COLM PRIMARY SCHOOL ORCHESTRA are runners up in the Miller Cup (Primary School Orchestra Competition) at the Inter-Schools Music Festival at Wesley College, Dublin. The Adjudicator Dr. Cliona Doris, Head of Orchestral Studies, DIT praised the orchestra for their warm tone, good sense of ensemble and rhythmic energy. Go to photo gallery page

SUCCESS AT CELLO FEIS Rebecca Ross was Highly Commended and Kelsey McCabe received a Bronze Medal and 3rd place on Sunday 13th March in the Under 11 Competition at the Cello Feis held at Ballyroan Boys National School.Congratulations!
SISTEMA SCOTLAND Read about a string project, called Sistema Scotland, located in Stirling, in which 388 children are involved (We have over 400 involved in St Agnes!)

ST AGNES' COMMUNITY MUSIC CENTRE For the time being, activities will take place in St Agnes' school, till all necessary repairs on the buildings to the rear are completed. Find out what is starting now! Read more

St. Agnes' CYO performed as guest artists the 2010 Drogheda Arts Festival ( www.droghedaartsfestival.ie ) in the fabulous new Barbican theatre. The orchestra played a selection of current favourite pieces and gave the audience a chance to get the feel of learning music throught audience particitpation numbers. The concert was shared with the choir of Our Lady's College Greenhills, Drogheda, and the Ballymun project Wind Ensemble.

School children talk to Principals, African schools

On Wednesday 24^th March school principals from 12 schools in several African countries visited St Agnes’ Primary School. They heard a performance of an Alleluia in canon from the St Agnes’ Cello Octet, two solos from 1^st pupils, Jenny Iljina and Janine Coleman, and listened to five spirited pieces including Tchaikovsky’s Trepak from “The Nutcracker”, a Ukrainian folk dance, and Haydn’s St Anthony’s Chorale.

A bass drum for St Agnes' CYO

Thanks to UCD and Ciaran Crilly - a bass drum arrived on Tuesday 13th April, and St Agnes' CYO has a new percussion section!

On February 1^st an international delegation from the European Council of Artists came to visit St. Agnes’ school, to observe the violin project as an example of an arts project in practice in a school environment. Representatives from Ireland, Denmark, Germay, Romania, Croatia, Malta and Latvia heard the orchestra play, and met afterwards with staff from the school and violin project. More...

RTÉ Morning Ireland appearance
Sr Bernadette Sweeney and Joanna Crooks were interviewed on Morning Ireland radio programme, RTÉ radio one, Tuesday 2nd February 2010. Cathal Mc Coille, interviewing was very enthusiastic about the violin project, while Joanna and Sr. Bernadette spoke of its positive effects and possibilities. If you missed the programme, you can listen online here.

BBC Radio Ulster - interview on Sounds Classical
Joanna Crooks was interviewed on Sounds Classical, BBC Radio Ulster, Sunday 7th February, in relation to St Agnes' Music Crumlin. Connect here to the BBC iplayer (39 minutes into the programme). The panel also discuss Barry Douglas's series Compose Yourself currently on BBC1 on Monday evenings in which eight young people are given the chance to learn an instrument and perform with Camerata Ireland.