Primary School Finalists

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The six Primary School Finalists, as well as Highly Commended schools, selected in the 2013 Waltons Music for Schools Competition. Schools are listed in alphabetical order, and Finalist school entry videos and profiles are below these.

Finalists

• Barefield National School, Ennis, Co. Clare
• Gaelscoil an tSlí Dála, Borris-in-Ossory, Co. Laois
• John Scottus Primary School, Donnybrook, Dublin 4
• Kilbrittain National School, Co. Cork
• Knockanean National School, Co. Clare

Highly Commended

• Bunscoil Loreto, Gorey, Co. Wexford
• Gaelscoil Admhamhnain, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
• Killocraun National School, Co. Mayo
• Rath National School, Portlaoise, Co. Laois
• St. Peter Apostle Junior School, Clondalkin, Co. Dublin

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Barefield National School
Ennis, Co. Clare

Entry

Title ‘Why We Sing’
Group Barefield National School Choir • 65 members
• Kate Corrigan, Teacher/Conductor

About the School

Barefield National School has a vibrant music programme that includes a choir and céilí and marching bands, along with guitar, fiddle, tin whistle, banjo, concertina, accordion, drums, harp and flute tuition. Instruments are provided by a combination of school and parents. They also incorporate music therapy for children with special needs into their programme, which is funded from the proceeds of their annual school concerts. Tuition and choir/band practices are run daily, either after school or during lunch breaks, and every child is actively encouraged to take part in musical activities. They plan to begin an orchestra and develop classical music within the school, while they would also like to expand their music therapy programme to involve whole class groups.

Gaelscoil an tSlí Dála
Borris-in-Ossory, Co. Laois

Entry

Title ‘Ceol Tradisúnta’
Group Na hArd Rí • 17 members

About the School

Gaelscoil an tSlí Dála is a small two-teacher school of just 30 students that provides their pupils with a strong grounding in Irish traditional music, with tuition in singing, fiddle, banjo, bodhrán, accordion, concertina, tin whistle and flute. The tuition is provided by a parent/music teacher and Comhaltas member and is funded by school fund-raising and parents’ provision of instruments. The school would like to give every child the opportunity to learn an instrument in addition to the tin whistle and plans on taking the children to concerts, exposing them to other music genres and showing them the possibilities of careers in music.

John Scottus Primary School
Donnybrook, Dublin 4

Entry

Title ‘The Peanut Vendor’ by Moisés Simons
Group John Scottus Primary Choir & Ensemble • 54 members
• Fran Dempsey, Teacher/Conductor

About the School

John Scottus Primary School has a strong music programme, and every child is encouraged to learn a musical instrument and engage in music, starting with singing as a daily assembly activity. They currently have an orchestra, choir and two string quartets. Violin, cello, guitar and recorder are taught in school, and students with advanced instrumental skills are encouraged to accompany the choir. They are ambitious in their performing targets, and this year their school musical is a new adaptation of Mozart’s The Magic Flute by Joe O’Donnell. They plan to expand their classical musical instrument collection for interested students to access.

Kilbrittain National School
Kilbrittain, Co. Cork

Entry

Title ‘Music, Music’
Group Kilbrittain Music Group • 72 members
• Orla Fogarty, Teacher/Conductor

About the School

Kilbrittain National School has a thriving Music Club, run at lunch breaks, which has doubled in size since they placed Third in last year’s Waltons Music for Schools Competition and now numbers 72! All music teaching is voluntary, and while students are encouraged to bring their own instruments, the school’s own selection of instruments is increasing through their success in competitions. (They chose to invest in a selection of percussion instruments with the proceeds of their prize from last year’s Music for Schools Competition.) They aim to enter two competitions a year, expand their creativity through more composition and experimentation with new instruments and hoped to invest in an electric piano and PA equipment if they won this year.

Knockanean National School
Ennis, Co. Clare

Entry

Title ‘Gladiator Fantasia’
Group Knockanean Music Club • 58 members
• Joan McNamara, Teacher/Accompanist

About the School

Knockanean National School placed Second in the 2012 Waltons Music for Schools Competition. Their Music Club, open to pupils from Second to Sixth Classes, is held once a week at lunchtime, when students are encouraged to bring their own instruments or avail of school instruments that consist chiefly of percussion, two keyboards and a digital piano (the fruit of last year’s success). The Music Club is based on their teacher’s philosophy of inclusivity, whereby ‘it is important for every child who wishes, to have a part in creating a pleasant, exciting and uplifting cacophony of sound, which we call music.’ They would like to add a resident double bass or cello to the school’s instruments, to be placed where children can pluck as they pass by and get a feel for the instrument.

St. Patrick’s Boys National School
Portarlington, Co. Laois

Entry

Title ‘Fáinne Geal an Lae’ Medley
Group St. Patrick’s BNS Marching Band • 42 members

About the School

St. Patrick’s BNS has a strong voluntary taught extra-curricular music programme with drums and accordion tuition weekly, a 56-member Marching Band and a 75-member Choir. The school purchases their instruments through fund-raising and lends them to the students whose parents may choose to buy them at the end of the Sixth Class. The school endeavours to have the children bring their music to the community through events or visits to the local nursing home. In keeping with their philosophy of making music accessible to all, they have just initiated Music Box – a music programme for children with special needs. They would like to expand their instrument store – including introducing the fife, which was part of the school’s music tradition in the past.

Post-Primary School Finalists

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The six Post-Primary School Finalists, as well as Highly Commended schools, selected in the 2013 Waltons Music for Schools Competition. Schools are listed in alphabetical order, and Finalist school entry videos and profiles are below these.

Finalists

• Castleknock College, Dublin 15
• Coláiste Raithín, Bray, Co. Wicklow
• Crescent College Comprehensive School, Dooradoyle, Co. Limerick
• Our Lady’s Secondary School, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan
• Pobalscoil Iosolde, Palmerstown, Co. Dublin
• Presentation College, Headford, Co. Galway

Highly Commended

• Belevedere College, Dublin 1
• Colaiste an Craoibhinn, Fermoy, Co. Cork
• Colaiste Eanna, Ballyroan, Co. Dublin
• Mercy Heights, Skibereen, Co. Cork
• Ursuline College, Co. Sligo

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Castleknock College
Dublin 15

Entry

Title ‘Somebody to Love’ by Queen
Group Castleknock College Soul Band & Choir • 47 members
• Fearghus Fallon, Teacher/Conductor

About the School

Castleknock College has a strong tradition of extra-curricular music with both private lessons and group courses in many instruments. The school subsidises special cases by fundraising through concerts and sales of a school CD. While many students have their own instruments, the school also has a ‘rent-to-buy’ scheme with older instruments lent free of charge. Extra-curricular hours from teachers are voluntary, and they have numerous music groups including a School Choir, Barbershop Choir, Vocal Quartet, Soul Band, Concert Orchestra, Junior Band, First Year Band and Ukulele Ensemble, which perform on many and varied occasions. They would like to invest in instruments for beginner First Year students, improve their PA equipment and initiate an African Drumming programme for Transition Year students.

Coláiste Raithín
Bray, Co. Wicklow

Entry

Title ‘Creep’ by Radiohead
Group Coláiste Raithín Group • 30 members
• Rónán Ó Múrchú, Teacher/Conductor

About the School

Music makers at Coláiste Raithín have a busy schedule throughout their year, holding concerts on at least four occasions. They work with Comhaltas Bré and their local music centre. Their music-making is very much led by the students, and as well as having a number of rock groups going, their traditional group has been invited to support Kíla for their upcoming 25th anniversary gig. Their music room is in use every day at lunchtimes for rehearsals, and the music teacher hopes to increase the numbers of students taking music as a subject by making it more accessible and providing as many performance opportunities as possible for the students. They hope to offer orchestral instruments and tuition at minimal cost in the future.

Crescent College Comprehensive School
Dooradoyle, Co. Limerick

Entry

Title ‘Rule the World’ by Take That
Group Crescent College Comprehensive Choir & Orchestra • 95 members
• Róisín Lavery, Teacher/Conductor

About the School

Crescent College makes music in earnest, with a 30-member orchestra, a 15-member traditional group and a 70-member choir. Their instruments are a combination of student-owned instruments and school rentals. Lunchtimes are orchestral practice times, while choir takes place in all music classes. They perform at all school events and religious ceremonies and hold a yearly Talent Show to showcase student talent. Their long-term plan includes buying a grand piano and increasing the numbers of students involved in music, while under their school’s strategic plan they would like to develop a music performing space. A Waltons Music for Schools prize would go towards purchasing more electric guitars, saxophones and a harp for the school.

Our Lady’s Secondary School
Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan

Entry

Title ‘Musical Fusion’
Group Our Lady’s Performing Arts Group • 79 members
• Cara Murray, Teacher/Conductor

About the School

Last year Our Lady’s Secondary School placed Second in last year’s Waltons Music for Schools Competition. Music is seen as more than a subject in Our Lady’s, with a busy extra-curricular programme that occupies lunchtimes and includes choir, traditional music and dance practice, as well as instrumental jam sessions. Their traditional musicians and dancers represented Ireland in the International Eisteddfod in Wales and placed first, with two fourth places. A number of senior students from their Performing Arts Group voluntarily help run a local community group called Fusion that offers tuition in singing, acting and dancing for local children. They would like to develop a guitar orchestra that would explore and perform various music genres and expand their traditional group’s repertoire by fusing it with other genres.

Pobalscoil Iosolde
Palmerstown, Co. Dublin

Entry

Title ‘Make You Feel My Love’ by Bob Dylan
Group Iosolde Singers with instrumental accompaniment • 27 members
• Fionnuala Morgan, Teacher/Accompanist

About the School

Music is at the heart of Pobalscoil Iosolde, where their choir, guitar club and school band make music both for themselves and for the greater community. They see bringing music and its joys to their community as a responsibility and perform at local nursing homes, hospitals, charity events and churches. All students from First to Sixth Year are welcome to join their activities, and their choir has over 70 members, rehearsing and performing a broad repertoire from all music genres. Guitar tuition comes from more proficient students helping beginners under teacher supervision. They rely on student-owned instruments but are currently fundraising for new instruments. A Waltons Music for Schools prize would go towards starting a ukulele band involving both students and teachers and improving their music room facilities.

Presentation College
Headford, Co. Galway

Entry

Title ‘Beyond the Sea’, ‘The Voyage’, ‘The Lonesome Boatman’ and ‘Rathlin Island’
Group Go Beyond the Sea group • 41 members
• Ita Cunningham, Teacher/Conductor

About the School

The lively extra-curricular music programme at Presentation College includes an annual musical, numerous recitals and performances for Culture Day, Clifden Arts Festival and Our School’s Got Talent. Their Big Band ensemble incorporates orchestra, choir, traditional and pop/rock members, blending and accommodating all musical styles within the school. With limited resources and relying chiefly on student-owned instruments, they would like to expand their their stock of instruments and music technology to offer music to the wider student body, especially to younger students. They feel exposure to music enriches school life and engenders confidence in students. A Waltons Music for Schools prize would go towards purchasing amplifiers, adding to a partial drum kit and introducing music technology into the classroom.

Finalists Concert

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Videos, in concert order, of the twelve school music groups performing in the Waltons Music for Schools Competition 2013 Finalists Concert in the National Concert Hall, Dublin on 8 April 2013.

Introduction

Barefield National School
Ennis, Co. Clare

Title ‘Why We Sing’
Group Barefield National School Choir • 65 members
• Kate Corrigan, Teacher/Conductor

Castleknock College
Dublin 15

Title ‘Somebody to Love’ by Queen
Group Castleknock College Soul Band & Choir • 47 members
• Fearghus Fallon, Teacher/Conductor

Gaelscoil an tSlí Dála
Borris-in-Ossory, Co. Laois

Title ‘Ceol Tradisúnta’
Group Na hArd Rí • 17 members

Coláiste Raithín
Bray, Co. Wicklow

Title ‘Creep’ by Radiohead
Group Coláiste Raithín Group • 30 members
• Rónán Ó Múrchú, Teacher/Conductor

John Scottus Primary School
Donnybrook, Dublin 4

Title ‘The Peanut Vendor’ by Moisés Simons
Group John Scottus Primary Choir & Ensemble • 54 members
• Fran Dempsey, Teacher/Conductor

Crescent College Comprehensive School
Dooradoyle, Co. Limerick

Title ‘Rule the World’ by Take That
Group Crescent College Comprehensive Choir & Orchestra • 95 members
• Róisín Lavery, Teacher/Conductor

Kilbrittain National School
Kilbrittain, Co. Cork

Title ‘Music, Music’
Group Kilbrittain Music Group • 72 members
• Orla Fogarty, Teacher/Conductor

Our Lady’s Secondary School
Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan

Title ‘Musical Fusion’
Group Our Lady’s Performing Arts Group • 79 members
• Cara Murray, Teacher/Conductor

Knockanean National School
Ennis, Co. Clare

Title ‘Gladiator Fantasia’
Group Knockanean Music Club • 58 members
• Joan McNamara, Teacher/Accompanist

Pobalscoil Iosolde
Palmerstown, Co. Dublin

Title ‘Make You Feel My Love’ by Bob Dylan
Group Iosolde Singers with instrumental accompaniment • 27 members
• Fionnuala Morgan, Teacher/Accompanist

St. Patrick’s Boys National School
Portarlington, Co. Laois

Title ‘Fáinne Geal an Lae’ Medley
Group St. Patrick’s BNS Marching Band • 42 members

Presentation College
Headford, Co. Galway

Title ‘Beyond the Sea’, ‘The Voyage’, ‘The Lonesome Boatman’ and ‘Rathlin Island’
Group Go Beyond the Sea group • 41 members
• Ita Cunningham, Teacher/Conductor

Prize Winners Announced

Prize Winners

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The six school music groups – three primary and three post-primary – selected by the 2013 Finalists Concert adjudicators Ellen Cranitch and Dónal Lunny.

Primary Schools

First Prize

Kilbrittain National School, Kilbrittain, Co. Cork
Title ‘Music, Music’
Group Kilbrittain Music Group

Second Prize

Gaelscoil an tSlí Dála, Borris-in-Ossory, Co. Laois
Title ‘Ceol Tradisúnta’
Group Na hArd Rí

Third Prize

Knockanean National School, Ennis, Co. Clare
Title ‘Gladiator Fantasia’
Group Knockanean Music Club

Post-Primary Schools

First Prize

Presentation College, Headford, Co. Galway
Title ‘Beyond the Sea’, ‘The Voyage’, ‘The Lonesome Boatman’ and ‘Rathlin Island’
Group Go Beyond the Sea group

Second Prize

Crescent College Comprehensive School, Dooradoyle, Co. Limerick
Title ‘Rule the World’ by Take That
Group Crescent College Comprehensive Choir & Orchestra

Third Prize

Castleknock College, Dublin 15
Title ‘Somebody to Love’ by Queen
Group Castleknock College Soul Band & Choir