VEC announces expanded summer activity school programme
Co. Louth VEC Youth Officer, Ian Walker, has this week announced details of the VECs expanded week-long budget busting summer activity schools for 2012. The extremely positive feedback from parents, and from participants of previous activity schools, has prompted the youth service to expand its activity programme which this year will run all through the month of August.
Some firm favourites are to remain on the ticket including Hip-Hop Dance, Creative Writing and Cookery. However, a whole new range of schools are also being added including Hair and Beauty, Archaeology, Arts and Crafts, Soccer and Outdoor Adventure. The Youth Officer said, “there’s something for everybody this year and places are expected to fill up quite quickly”.
Drogheda Institute of Further Education (DIFE) will host a make-up, skincare and hair school for 12-16 year olds which will be based in their dedicated beauty rooms at the college. The archaeology school is being aimed at 8 -13 year olds and will utilise facilities in the County Museum in Dundalk, and will incorporate a fact finding trip to Newgrange on its final day. The arts and crafts school plans to provide participants with a variety of experiences including puppet-making and 3-D wire and clay modelling, whilst plans are afoot to utilise the facilities of the Neptune Outdoor Education Centre in Clogherhead to run an outdoor adventure school which will take in activities such as raft building, kayaking, surf boarding, hill walking and mountain/wall-climbing. All schools will run for one week.
Ian Walker said, “most of the courses this August will run in both Dundalk and Drogheda and will take place in a number of the VECs schools in the towns. Our schools are kitted out to the highest of standards which make ideal bases for our summer schools”.
Application forms and programme details are now available on the Co. Louth VEC website at www.louthvec.ie. Places will be allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis. The VEC has indicated that it is open to suggestions for other innovative summer schools from members of the public.
For further information regarding the above please contact:
Mr. Ian Walker
Youth Officer
Co. Louth VEC
Chapel St.
Dundalk
Co. Louth
Email: ian.walker@louthvec.ie
Tel.: 042 9334047
- Published in Visual Arts, Drogheda Borough Council, News, Dundalk Town Council, Drama, Youth Drama, Crafts, Louth County Arts, Dance
Louth Contemporary Music Society Presents John Zorn The Holy Visions
John Zorn The Holy Visions
featuring the Irish Debut of iconic composer and instrumentalist John Zorn.
Thursday 4 October and Friday 5 October Dundalk, Louth Ireland
Mr. Zorn is a towering pillar of a new-music universe he has worked tirelessly to foster and enrich. The New York Times
Louth Contemporary Music Society celebrates the first Irish visit of New York based iconic composer and instrumentalist John Zorn in a mini-festival entitled John Zorn The Holy Visions on 4 and 5 October 2012. The Holy Visions features three performances including two world premieres of Zorn’s music.
John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Drawing on his experience in a variety of genres including jazz, rock, classical, klezmer, film, cartoon, popular and improvised music, John Zorn has created an influential body of work that defies academic categories.
“My musical world is like a little prism. You look through it and it goes off in a million different directions. Since every genre is the same, all musicians should be equally respected. It doesn’t matter if it’s jazz, blues, or classical. They’re all the same.” John Zorn.
Zorn’s long time collaborator, the world-renowned Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista and his group Banquet of the Spirits, will perform music from their latest cd Caym: The Book of Angels which interprets Zorn’s sublime Masada songbook dedicated to the Jewish diaspora with a Brazilian and middle eastern twist. Banquet of the Spirits’ concert takes place on Thursday 4 October 2012 at 8pm in An Tain Theatre Dundalk.
The following evening at 8pm on Friday 5 October 2012, Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart will perform an astonishingly beautiful new Zorn vocal work The Holy Visions —a mystery play in eleven strophes — concerning the life, work and philosophy of Hildegard von Bingen for five female voices (2012) in St.Nicholas’ Church of Ireland Dundalk. The EQ Ensemble conducted by Gavin Moloney will open Friday’s concert with a world premiere performance of Zorn’s work Missa Sine Voces (2012),a beautiful instrumental miniature for five players written in the form of a Requiem Mass.
Performed as an encore to the Holy Visions concert earlier in the evening ( Friday 5 October 2012), Zorn returns to his first instrument for a very rare event—his first solo organ concert in Ireland when he will bring his compositional mind and improvisation skills to the beautiful Willis organ at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dundalk. The organ recital will take place in St. Patrick’s Cathedral Dundalk at 10.00 pm on Friday 5 October 2012. This organ recital is a FREE event to those who have purchased tickets for one or more of the Zorn concerts in Dundalk on 4 or 5 October 2012. Please retain your paid for Zorn concert ticket as it will be required to gain admission to this free event. One paid ticket provides you with one free admission. Seating is unallocated. Contact Eamonn Quinn eamonn@louthcms.org to confirm your place and also to allow us to estimate numbers who will attend. Please direct any queries to Eamonn Quinn eamonn@louthcms.org
John Zorn The Holy Visions is presented by Louth Contemporary Music Society. Louth Contemporary Music Society is financially supported by the Arts Council and Create Louth.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Cyro Baptista’s Banquet of the Spirits plays John Zorn’s Book of Angels
8pm on Thursday 4 October 2012
An Tain Theatre, The Town Hall, Dundalk
Tickets: €20/Concessions €15
Tel: 00 353 42 939 2919.
Email: antaintheatre@dundalktown.ie
The Holy Visions
Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart
EQ Ensemble
8pm on Friday 5 October 2012
St. Nicholas Church of Ireland Dundalk
Tickets €20/Concessions €15
www.centralticketbureau.com
ROI: 0818 205 205
UK: 0870 850 2896
Also available from An Tain Theatre Box Office: 00 353 42 9392919
Solo Organ Recital
John Zorn
10pm on Friday 5 October 2012
St. Patrick’s Cathedral Dundalk
This organ recital is a FREE event to those who have purchased tickets for one or more of the Zorn concerts in Dundalk on 4 or 5 October 2012. Please retain your paid for Zorn concert ticket as it will be required to gain admission to this free event. One paid ticket provides you with one free admission. Seating is unallocated. Contact Eamonn Quinn eamonn@louthcms.org to confirm your place and also to allow us to estimate numbers who will attend. Please direct any queries to Eamonn Quinn eamonn@louthcms.org
Cyro Baptista will also give a percussion workshop for Music Generation Louth on Friday 5 October 2012. Details of Cyro Baptista’s workshop are available soon from www.musicgenerationlouth.ie
- Published in Music, News, Dundalk Town Council, Classical, Forthcoming Events
Book Launch Invite to Once Upon Reflection
You are invited to attend the Book Launch of
Once Upon Reflection
by Swedish artist Petra Berntsson
The Basement Gallery
Town Hall, Crowe St, Dundalk
All Welcome
Wednesday the 20th of June at 6pm.
‘‘Once Upon Reflection’ is a collection of new paintings reflecting upon my 16 years living in Ireland.
Each piece is accompanied by poetry and short stories by Sarah Edwards, Roisin Duffy and Elaine Feeney, to name but a few contributors. It contains a recipe by pastry chef Jacqueline Rothfork Wogan and a song by Jim McKee. The paintings interweave both personal and historic events with my own reflections on Irish life and culture.’
Join us for a special summer evening of poetry readings and art! All welcome – including children.
Supported by Create Louth.
petraberntsson@gmail.com 083 3599715 www.petraberntsson.com
Nice things people said…
‘This highly well produced publication displays visual and literary merit, well worth having ……’ Cormac O’Leary Artist
‘Keep the light in our lives – your colours are just what Ireland needs now…’ Suzanne O’Connell
‘The creation of something beautiful is a peculiar thing: the ability is gifted only to the few. Exhibition is something else: it demands bravery. And?oddly enough?this too is restricted to the few. I saw both at Sol… ‘
Mark Mulholland CEO iartisan
(Following the Exhibition of paintings in Sol Art Gallery, Dublin May/June ’12)
‘Once Upon Reflection’ is currently available at the special launch price of € 15.00 on the night
and via the website. The blog will be kept updated with retail outlets.
www.petraberntsson.com
- Published in Visual Arts, News, Dundalk Town Council
Comhaltas’Traditional Music Session at Proleek Dolmen
To celebrate National Music Day, CCÉ Dhún Dealgan will host a commencing at 7.00PM. The magnificent Proleek Tomb, is situated in the grounds of Ballymascanlon Hotel on the legendary Cooley Peninsula and is one of the finest examples of its kind in Ireland.If the weather turns out to be unsuitable, we will re-locate the music to the Ballymascanlon Hotel. Come along and help us celebrate our event in style!
- Published in Music, Irish traditional, News, Dundalk Town Council
Music on the Square as part of Love Live Music Day
Music Generation Louth is set to celebrate Love Live Music, Ireland’s National Music Day, on Thursday, 21st June with ‘Music on the Square’, a free outdoor lunchtime concert taking place in the recently rennovated Market Square in Dundalk town centre.
The concert, which is being organised in association with Create Louth, kicks off at 1:00pm with a performance by the Louth Local Authorities Choir for Malawi followed by an array of musical acts provided by some of Dundalk’s finest young musical talent.
Music Generation Louth Coordinator, Gemma Murray who is based at the Co. Louth VEC offices in the town, explains, “we are delighted to participate in this national celebration of music and to have so many talented musicians keen to take to the stage. The recently renovated square is an ideal setting for the concert and we hope as many people as possible will pop along during lunch time and get a chance to enjoy the wonderful mix of music on offer”. Gemma confirmed that there was still some room left for one or two more acts, “we would be delighted to hear from other musicians and groups who have not yet been in touch with us, but would like to get involved in the concert”.
Music Generation Louth is a new music service for the county that aims to provide children and young people up to 18 years with access to high quality vocal and instrumental tuition. The service is running a range of music summer schools for young people across the county throughout July and August, while classes in a range of musical instruments and singing are planned to commence in September. Full details can be found at www.musicgenerationlouth.ie.The service is led by Co. Louth VEC and is part of Music Generation, a national programme for music education.
For further information regarding the above please contact:
Ms. Gemma Murray
Coordinator
Music Generation Louth
Co. Louth VEC
Chapel St.
Dundalk
Co Louth
Tel 042 93 64635
Email: musicgeneration@louthvec.ie
- Published in Music, News, Dundalk Town Council
Dance Kids celebrate 10th anniversary
Freda Hearty and the Dance Kids are back and ready to take over An Táin Theatre on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th of June with their spectacular 10 year anniversary show ‘Haven’t Stopped Dancing yet’.
Never one’s to sit still, the Dance Kids have been rehearsing for ‘Haven’t Stopped Dancing yet’ since January, under the watchful eye of Freda, choreographers Karen Doherty and Amy Kerley and singing coaches Katie Halligan and Kathryn O’Hara. They are eagerly anticipating a big performance that is sure to make their tenth anniversary an unforgettable one.
“It’s hard to believe that this will be our tenth anniversary show”, said Freda Hearty, founder and director, Dance Kids Stage School. “We started off doing small shows and money raising events, notably our Danceathons which raised thousands for charities locally and abroad. The Dance Kids just kept growing and growing and before we knew it we were selling out the town hall. It feels amazing to have come so far.”
‘Haven’t Stopped Dancing yet’ is a perfect night out for all the family, with performances to suit all ages. The talented dancers aged from just 4 years of age to 24 years are promising to stage a “show-stopping performance” of the popular musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Their tenth anniversary line up also includes many favourites such as One Direction, excerpts from West Side Story, Toy Story and many more.
“We pride ourselves on giving many young people their first taste of show business”, said Freda. “Over the years we have seen many of our members enter the professional dance world, with a lot of our younger members aspiring to follow in their footsteps. Others have also progressed into television and modelling. One of our members, Lisa Rose McMahon recently won the all-Ireland under 14 singing competition, which is an amazing achievement.”
The night of entertainment will also include excerpts from the hit Broadway musical Sister Act. This will see the Dance Kids seniors and the famous Dance Kids Daddies and mummies take to the stage to showcase their singing, dancing and acting talents. If that wasn’t enough there will be a spectacular ‘Sound of Music’ performance, which is sure to bring the house down.
“We literally ‘Haven’t Stopped Dancing yet’,” laughed Freda. “After ten years, we’re still going strong and loving every minute of it. We have been so busy the last few months preparing for this show. All the Dance Kids and their families have been great and so supportive. All the hard work has really paid off and it’s going to be a fantastic show.”
Over the past number of years, Freda Hearty and the Dance Kids have raised an amazing €127,000 for charity both locally and abroad. This year, proceeds from ‘Haven’t Stopped Dancing Yet’ will be going to local charities.
‘Haven’t Stopped Dancing yet’ takes place in An Táin Theatre, Dundalk, at 7:30pm on Friday 22nd of June, 3:00pm on Saturday 23rd of June and 7:30pm on Sunday 24th of June. Book your tickets today at An Táin Theatre’s box office on 042 9392919. After the huge success of last year’s ‘Can’t Stop Movin’, ‘Haven’t Stopped Dancing Yet’ promises to be the show of the year and is not to be missed. Book your tickets early to avoid disappointment.
- Published in News, Dundalk Town Council, Dance
Music and Creative Media Summer Workshops 2012
The Atlantic Academy of the Arts in Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT) will once again be running the very successful and popular Music and Creative Media Workshops this summer July 23rd to 27th and July 30th to August 3rd.
The workshops are designed for anyone over 16 years old with an interest in Music and Creative Media or considering a possible career path in this area.
Based in the new PJ Carroll Building, DKIT and their Music and Creative Media Department have successfully established a proven track record of offering high quality courses and excellent service where students can work with the best and latest equipment and facilities.
Students on the practical based Music and Creative Media Summer Workshops can look forward to subjects such as photo shop, Flash animation, Video editing, Dreamweaver – web design, Audio recording techniques and DJ-ing.
Tommy Fegan, Atlantic Academy of the Arts said, “This is a great opportunity for anybody with an interest and a flair for Music and Creative Media. Last year was our first year running the programme that was a great success. This year we have decided to organise two weeks and give people more opportunities to attend.”
“The Music and Creative Media Summer Workshops will be staffed by our expert tutors who are graduates of DKIT in Creative media, film and music and are being employed under our Graduate Employment & Mentoring programme (GEM) which provides valuable work experience to unemployed graduates,” said Tommy.
For further information on Atlantic Academy of the Arts/Dundalk Institute of Technology – Music and Creative Media Summer Workshops, Contact: James Callaghan 087-6798679; Declan Power 086-2705873; 042-9370200 (ext) 2121; www.atlanticacademy.ie
Creative Media & Music Summer Workshops
• Week 1: July 23rd – July 27th
• Week 2: July 30th – August 3rd
• Monday – Friday; 9.30am to 4.00pm
• Venue: DKIT – Dept of Music & Creative Media
• Price €150 Per week
• Age 16+
- Published in News, Dundalk Town Council
Guitarist Pat Goldrick at Anaverna
- Published in News, Dundalk Town Council, Classical