2012 Waltons Music
for Schools Competition
A National Competition and Celebration
of Music in Irish Schools
This page includes:
- Entry videos and information about the twelve Finalist schools selected for the 2012 Competition.
- Lists of Commended and Highly Commended schools.
- Videos of the Finalists Concert on 16 April 2012 in the National Concert Hall, Dublin.
- A list of the prizewinning schools.
- A gallery of the Finalist groups performing, as well as prize presentations.
Primary School Finalists
The six Primary School Finalists, as well as Highly Commended schools, selected in the 2012 Waltons Music for Schools Competition. Schools are listed in alphabetical order, and Finalist school entry videos and profiles are below these.
Finalists
- Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan, Co. Tipperary
- Holy Family Senior Primary School, Ennis, Co. Clare
- Kilbrittain National School, Co. Cork
- Kilcoe National School, Skibbereen, Co. Cork
- Knockanean National School, Co. Clare
- Ss. Peter & Paul’s CBS, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
Highly Commended
- Danescastle National School, Carrig on Bannow, Co. Wexford
- Gaelscoil an Tslí Dála, Borris-in-Ossory, Co. Laois
- St. Pius X Girls National School, Dublin 6w
- St. Canice’s Co-Educational School, Kilkenny
Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan
Aonach Urmhumhan, Co. Tipperary
Entry
Title ‘Sult ‘is Spraoi’
Group Grúpa Ceoil Gaelscoil Aonach • 54 members
• Inez Uí Éanáin, School Principal/Conductor
About the School
Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhuman has a broad and vibrant music programme that includes tuition in a range of traditional and orchestral instruments, sean-nós singing, two choirs, a marching band and a Grúpa Ceoil. Instruments are provided by the school, some students have their own, and others are lent by other students. Both teachers and parents donate a huge amount of voluntary time to developing music education at the school. Music at Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhuman is a central focus of the entire curriculum. The school plans to develop an orchestra and would use a Waltons Music for Schools Prize for more instruments to loan to children as well as a digital piano.
Holy Family Senior Primary School
Ennis, Co. Clare
Entry
Title ‘One Small Voice’ from Sesame Street
Group Holy Family Chamber Choir • 77 members
• Jillian Bridge, Teacher/Accompanist
About the School
In addition to a 120-strong choir and an 80-strong chamber choir, tuition in several instruments and a newly introduced violin teaching programme, Holy Family Senior Primary School has taken highly creative approaches to developing music in the school. These include: 1) a daily listening programme in which two children speak through their PA system and announce their featured ‘composer of the week’, each day telling the school a little more about the composer, after which a piece is played; and 2) a ‘mobile singing squad’ of children who visit each class to help lead/teach new songs. Holy Family is a DEIS school with children of 30 different nationalities represented, most of whose circumstances would not allow for private tuition outside of the school. The school would use a Waltons Music for Schools Prize to get a range of instruments and replace their keyboard, which has ‘been through the wars’.
Kilbrittain National School
Kilbrittain, Co. Cork
Entry
Title ‘Music in Our World’ (an arrangement of popular songs with original lyrics)
Group Kilbrittain Musical Group • 39 members
• Orla Fogarty, Teacher/Accompanist
About the School
Each year Kilbrittain National School produces a Christmas concert in which all students participate, and this year the school presented its first ‘whole-school musical’. There is a great volunteer ethos in the school, and teachers provide music tuition at no cost during lunch time. Kilbrittain NS would us a Waltons Music for Schools Prize to get guitars and a range of percussion instruments for the school, as well as a PA system for the musicals, if possible.
Kilcoe National School
Skibbereen, Co. Cork
Entry
Title ‘Medley of Traditional Tunes and Airs’
Group All Students in the School • 54 members
About the School
A small Rural Disadvantaged School, Kilcoe National School provides every single student with the opportunity to make music. Tin whistle is taught to all classes, and there is an after-school programme of tuition in other traditional instruments, paid for by parents and the Board of Management. The school plans to develop a choir and expose children to other music genres, and it would use a Waltons Music for Schools Prize to get a range of instruments that could be lent/rented to children to see if they enjoyed them, after which children would return the instruments and purchase their own.
Knockanean National School
Ennis, Co. Clare
Entry
Title ‘Unfinished Seasons’ (an original composition by 5th class students and traditional airs)
Group Cnoc An Éin • 56 members
• Joan McNamara, Teacher/Accompanist
About the School
Knockanean National School has a vibrant 85-member ‘Music Club’, for students from 2nd to 6th Class, that takes place during an extended lunchtime session once a week. Students participate in the Music Club at no cost, and the only requirement is full attendance of all sessions. The Music Club explores all genres of music, which is simplified and arranged to suit a wide range of musical abilities. The Music Club has a clearly developed philosophy of inclusiveness and participation that could be a model for other schools. Knockanean NS would use a Waltons Music for Schools prize to get a digital piano as well as other instruments that none of the children would otherwise have the opportunity to experience.
Ss. Peter & Paul’s CBS
Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
Entry
Title ‘Raider’s March’
Group Sts. Peter & Paul CBS Brass Band • 44 members
• Yvonne Moran, Teacher/Conductor • Peter Taylor, Teacher/Assistant Conductor
About the School
A DEIS school with students of several different nationalities, Ss. Peter & Paul’s CBS has a very active after-school music programme that includes a junior band, intermediate band, senior band and choir. The bands’ musical director, a teacher at the school, is also an ex-member of Banna Chluan Meala, a local youth concert and marching band, and many ‘graduates’ of the school’s bands have gone on to play and tutor with Banna. The bands also have a strong tradition of peer mentoring, and many of the senior students assist with tutoring younger members. The school supplies band instruments from a bank they have accumulated over the years. Ss. Peter & Paul’s would use a Waltons Music for Schools Prize to get percussion instruments and music technology equipment.
Post-Primary School Finalists
The six Post-Primary School Finalists, as well as Highly Commended schools, selected in the 2012 Waltons Music for Schools Competition. Schools are listed in alphabetical order, and Finalist school entry videos and profiles are below these.
Finalists
- Cashel Community School, Co. Tipperary
- John Scottus Secondary School, Dublin 4
- Our Lady’s College, Drogheda, Co. Louth
- Our Lady’s Secondary School, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan
- St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath
- Ursuline College, Finisklin, Co. Sligo
Highly Commended
- Castleknock College, Dublin
- Portmarnock Community School, Co. Dublin
- St. Louis Secondary School, Dundalk, Co. Louth
Cashel Community School
Cashel, Co. Tipperary
Entry
Title ‘Winter Fire & Snow’
Group Cashel Community School Chamber Choir and Guitarists • 30 members
• John Murray, Conductor • Helen Colbert, Accompanist
About the School
In addition to curricular music to Leaving Cert. level, Cashel Community School offers a wide range of music-making opportunities for its students, including three choirs and trad, percussion, brass and string ensembles. Regular music making is encouraged through such activities as a ‘Buskers Concert’ outside the music room at lunchtimes. The school has recently started a brass band, for which instruments are supplied by the school and has plans for a variety show as well. Cashel Community School would use a Waltons Music for Schools Prize to acquire additional instruments for brass/wind tuition, as well as music technology equipment.
John Scottus Secondary School
Dublin 4
Entry
Title ‘Chili con Carne’
Group John Scottus Senior Choir and Ensemble • 34 members
• Fran Dempsey, Teacher/Conductor
About the School
In addition to curricular music to Leaving Cert. level, John Scottus Secondary School offers a very wide range of tuition and music-making opportunities to its students, including lessons in various instruments as well as choirs and an orchestra. John Scottus would use a Waltons Music for Schools Prize to get a range of orchestral instruments that it could then rent out to students who show an interest in them.
Our Lady’s College
Drogheda, Co. Louth
Entry
Title ‘Africa’
Group Our Lady’s College Choir • 74 members
• Gráinne Diskin, Teacher/Conductor
About the School
In addition to curricular music to Leaving Cert. level, Our Lady’s College offers tuition in violin, cello, bass and choir, funded by parents and the board of management. The school has a range of music-making opportunities available for students, including an orchestra, choir, traditional group and two bands. The school would use a Waltons Music for Schools Prize to get ukuleles for students who wish to set up a ukulele band, as well as mandolins to introduce participants in their string programme to traditional music, and music recording equipment.
Our Lady’s Secondary School
Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan
Entry
Title ‘Medley of Popular Songs and Traditional Airs’
Group OLSS Performing Arts Group • 85 members
• Cara Murray, Teacher/Conductor
About the School
In addition to curricular music to Leaving Cert. level, Our Lady’s Secondary School offers extensive extra-curricular music tuition and has a choir, traditional group and bands that meet at lunchtime or after school. The school also plans to set up guitar and percussion ensembles, as well as a dance troupe to accompany the trad group. Our Lady’s Secondary School would use a Waltons Music for Schools Prize to get recording equipment, as well as instruments for those students who can’t otherwise afford them.
St. Joseph’s Secondary School
Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath
Entry
Title ‘Awake My Soul’
Group Sixth Year Ensemble • 9 members
About the School
In addition to curricular music to Leaving Cert. level, St. Joseph’s Secondary School offers a range of extra-curricular music activities, including junior and senior after-school choirs, a traditional music group, biannual school musical and rock bands, which together provide a range of music-making opportunities for students. Junior music students have the opportunity to learn recorder while a module in guitar lessons is offered to TY students. The school raises money for charities with a ‘band night’ fund-raiser and carol singing by transition year students for Goal. An annual end-of-year school concert helps to fund the music department. St. Joseph’s Secondary School would use a Waltons Music for Schools Prize to get music technology equipment and orchestral instruments.
Ursuline College
Finisklin, Co. Sligo
Entry
Title ‘The Shining / Her Lovely Hair Flowed Down Her Back’
Group Rí-Rá • 12 members
• Emer Prendergast, Teacher/Conductor
About the School
In addition to offering curricular music to Leaving Cert. level, Ursuline College requires all junior student to participate in the choir (for senior students it is optional). Students can also avail of harp or piano lessons in the school, and music-making opportunities include two traditional groups, a harp ensemble and orchestra. The school encourages peer tutoring of students in the junior trad group by their senior peers. Ursuline College would use a Waltons Music for Schools Prize to expand the number and range of instruments available to students, particularly traditional and string instruments.
Finalists Concert
Videos, in concert order, of the twelve school music groups performing in the Waltons Music for Schools Competition 2012 Finalists Concert in the National Concert Hall, Dublin on 16 April 2012.
Introduction
Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan
Aonach Urmhumhan, Co. Tipperary
Title ‘Sult ‘is Spraoi’
Group Grúpa Ceoil Gaelscoil Aonach • 54 members
• Inez Uí Éanáin, School Principal/Conductor
Cashel Community School
Cashel, Co. Tipperary
Title ‘Winter Fire & Snow’
Group Cashel Community School Chamber Choir and Guitarists • 30 members
• John Murray, Conductor • Helen Colbert, Accompanist
Holy Family Senior Primary School
Ennis, Co. Clare
Title ‘One Small Voice’ from Sesame Street
Group Holy Family Chamber Choir • 77 members
• Jillian Bridge, Teacher/Accompanist
Ursuline College
Finisklin, Co. Sligo
Title ‘The Shining / Her Lovely Hair Flowed Down Her Back’
Group Rí-Rá • 12 members
• Emer Prendergast, Teacher/Conductor
Kilcoe National School
Skibbereen, Co. Cork
Title ‘Medley of Traditional Tunes and Airs’
Group All Students in the School • 54 members
Our Lady’s College
Drogheda, Co. Louth
Title ‘Africa’
Group Our Lady’s College Choir • 74 members
• Gráinne Diskin, Teacher/Conductor
Kilbrittain National School
Kilbrittain, Co. Cork
Title ‘Music in Our World’
Group Kilbrittain Musical Group • 39 members
• Orla Fogarty, Teacher/Accompanist
Our Lady’s Secondary School
Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan
Title ‘Medley of Popular Songs and Traditional Airs’
Group OLSS Performing Arts Group • 85 members
• Cara Murray, Teacher/Conductor
Ss. Peter & Paul’s CBS
Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
Title ‘Raider’s March’
Group Sts. Peter & Paul CBS Brass Band • 44 members
• Yvonne Moran, Teacher/Conductor • Peter Taylor, Teacher/Assistant Conductor
St. Joseph’s Secondary School
Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath
Title ‘Awake My Soul’
Group Sixth Year Ensemble • 9 members
Knockanean National School
Ennis, Co. Clare
Title ‘Unfinished Seasons’
Group Cnoc An Éin • 56 members
• Joan McNamara, Teacher/Accompanist
John Scottus Secondary School
Dublin 4
Title ‘Chili con Carne’
Group John Scottus Senior Choir and Ensemble • 34 members
• Fran Dempsey, Teacher/Conductor
Prize Winners Announced
Prize Winners
The six school music groups – three primary and three post-primary – selected by the 2012 Finalists Concert adjudicators Carl Corcoran and Deborah Kelleher.
Primary Schools
First Prize
Holy Family Senior Primary School, Ennis, Co. Clare
Title ‘One Small Voice’ from Sesame Street
Group Holy Family Chamber Choir
Second Prize
Knockanean National School, Ennis, Co. Clare
Title ‘Unfinished Seasons’
Group Cnoc An Éin
Third Prize
Kilbrittain National School, Kilbrittain, Co. Cork
Title ‘Music in Our World’
Group Kilbrittain Musical Group
Post-Primary Schools
First Prize
Our Lady’s College, Drogheda, Co. Louth
Title ‘Africa’
Group Our Lady’s College Choir
Second Prize
Our Lady’s Secondary School, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan
Title ‘Medley of Popular Songs and Traditional Airs’
Group OLSS Performing Arts Group
Third Prize
John Scottus Secondary School, Dublin 4
Title ‘Chili con Carne’
Group John Scottus Senior Choir and Ensemble
Performance photographs, in concert order, of the twelve school music groups performing in the 2012 Finalists Concert, as well as photographs of prize presentations for the six winning schools.
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