Primary School Finalists

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The six Primary School Finalists, as well as Highly Commended and Commended schools, selected in the 2020 Waltons Music for Schools Competition. Schools are listed in alphabetical order, and Finalist school entry videos, as well as how they addressed the 2020 Competition theme, Where words fail, music speaks (Hans Christian Andersen), are below these.

Finalists

• Bunscoil Loreto, Gorey, Co. Wexford
• Carnaross National School, Kells, Co. Meath
• Gaelscoil Adhamhnáin, Leitir Ceanainn, Co. Dhύn Na nGall
• Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan, Co. Thiobraid Árann
• St. Fintan’s National School, Dublin 13
• St. Paul’s Primary School, Navan, Co. Meath

Highly Commended

• Danescastle National School, Danescastle, Co. Wexford
• Gaelscoil Shlí Dála, Buiríos Mór Osraí, Co. Laois
• Scoil Íosagáin, Farranree, Co. Cork

Commended

• Ballymacarbry National School, Co. Waterford
• Scoil Iosaf Naofa, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary
• St. Annin’s National School, Rosscahill, Co. Galway
• St. Joseph’s National School, Aglish, Co. Tipperary
• St. Patrick’s National School, Rathvilly, Co. Carlow
• St. Ultan’s National School, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10

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Bunscoil Loreto
Gorey, Co. Wexford

Entry

Title ‘School of Sanctuary’
Group Bunscoil Loreto School Ensemble • 38 members, Junior Infants – Sixth Class
• Aileen Kennedy, Conductor

Addressing the Theme

Bunscoil Loreto’s entry was discussed with students, staff, Student Council and Board of Management, and a lot of ideas were proposed. This year the school signed a pledge to become a School of Sanctuary and welcome young people from war torn countries, and the school community unanimously decided that their response to the 2020 Competition theme had to reflect their School of Sanctuary experience. In speaking with students about the entry, it was agreed they would demonstrate that where words fail, music speaks through the journey of an immigrant. In order to show the fear of immigrants prior to their travel, some of the students suggested the Michael Jackson classic ‘Thriller’. And to reflect the calm contrast on their arrival in Ireland, and more specifically in Wexford, it was difficult to find a tune more apt than ‘Boolavogue’. Some of the sixth-class students then composed a script to be read over ‘Boolavogue’ and provide context to the entry. ‘Boolavogue’ is followed by the song ‘Happiness’, reflecting the integration of the immigrant into a new society and using both Hip Hop and traditional Irish dancing to demonstrate the diversity of that society. Their entry finishes with ‘All Are Welcome, All Belong’, and they decided to use the flags of all nations in their school (Bunscoil Loreto has students of 40 different nationalities), all made by their caretaker and secretary, to demonstrate their own diversity.

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Carnaross National School
Kells, Co. Meath

Entry

Title ‘Music Makes Words Fly’
Group Carnaross National School Ensemble • 40 members, Fifth – Sixth Class
• Helen Sherlock, Conductor • James Quinn, Piano

Addressing the Theme

Carnaross National School approached the 2020 Competition theme by giving the children ‘uninfluenced’ time (by teachers or peers) to consider the theme and jot down their thoughts in private as part of their homework. The following day they shared, compared and compiled ideas in school. They listened to a range of instrumental pieces and imagined what messages they were trying to convey to the listener. They read random song lyrics and imagined if the accompanying music would be fast, slow, loud or soft. And they watched clips from movies, both with and without music. All agreed that although words are powerful, it’s often music that makes words fly! The idea of using a teacher struggling to convey an idea or a feeling to her young students arose. Maybe some music would help? ‘The Butterfly’, arranged by the children with a counter melody by the teacher, was chosen as students were learning the tune at the time and had mentioned many times how it put them in good form and made them feel like dancing. They then decided to add ‘The Caterpillar’ to convey the stunning transformation from slow and lumbering to light and playful – the miracle of metamorphosis. This is followed by Glen Ballard and David A. Stewart’s ‘Ordinary Miracle’, chosen because it describes miracles (like the life cycle of a butterfly) happening around us every day. Although they used an existing arrangement of the song, the children chose to break it up into sections in order to emphasise the climax of their ‘ordinary miracle’.

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Gaelscoil Adhamhnáin
Leitir Ceanainn, Co. Dhύn Na nGall

Entry

Title ‘Comhrá an Cheoil’ – When Music Speaks
Group Meitheal • 40 members, Fifth – Sixth Class
• Gráinne Ni Dhomhnaill, Piano

Addressing the Theme

Gaelscoil Adhamhnáin approached the 2020 Competition theme by asking the students to provide different ideas and examples of when they had experienced the power of music over words. They thought about what they wanted to express in the piece and eventually settled on the emotions of sadness, loneliness and extreme happiness. Participants then wrote the lyrics and an original melody for a song, ‘Music Speaks to Me’ that became the central element of their piece. They also looked at existing melodies and songs that matched these emotions and expressed them better than any words, selecting ‘Hushabye Mountain’ from the musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and ‘You Are the music in Me’ from High School Musical 2, translating some of the lyrics into Irish and interlinking them with the melody of ‘Music Speaks to Me’. Finally, the students were eager to incorporate Irish traditional music into the song and decided on ‘Saddle the Pony’, a jig that acts as both an introduction and a metaphor of where they begin their musical journey in Gaelscoil Adhamhnáin.

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Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan
Aonach Urmhumhan, Co. Thiobraid Árann

Entry

Title ‘Scéal na Beatha’ – The Story of Life
Group Ceolfhoireann na Gaelscoile • 31 members, First – Sixth Class
• Orla McNamara, Conductor • Lisa Dufy, Violin

Addressing the Theme

In approaching the 2020 Competition theme, teachers and students at Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan decided to focus on how music provides a backdrop or ‘soundtrack’ to our lives – from birth through all of life’s major milestones. They also decided to keep their entry entirely instrumental and allow their pieces to ‘speak for themselves’ as instantly recognisable melodies. The opening of their piece portrays the new life of a musician with Brahms’ ‘Lullaby’. ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ then provides an opportunity for the youngest musicians to shine as they embark on their musical journeys. ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ depicts childhood hopes, dreams, imagination and fantasy. ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ is an anthem of adolescent rebellion that has everyone rocking. ‘The Diamond Waltz’ changes the tone to portray the now grown-up child leaving the nest and heading to college, tinged with sadness, loneliness and insecurity. And ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ finishes the piece with an anthem for optimism, self-belief, hope and opportunity.

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St. Fintan’s National School
Dublin 13

Entry

Title ‘A Real Life Story: Homelessness’
Group St. Fintan’s Fusion Orchestra • 39 members, Second – Sixth Class
• Jennifer Reilly, Piano

Addressing the Theme

In approaching the 2020 Competition theme, members of St. Fintan’s Fusion Orchestra were encouraged to think about how music can be used to create a picture in our minds and doesn’t necessarily need words to communicate its message. They listened to excerpts of Saint-Saëns’ The Carnival of the Animals to help make the theme more relatable, particularly for younger members. They then discussed some of the most pressing problems in our society and following a vote decided on the topic of ‘homelessness’ as the issue they would address through music and performance. As the Fusion Orchestra includes young musicians interested in different genres, a wide range of music was suggested, and they eventually decided on a series of pieces whose messages would be supported dramatically. ‘Streets of London’ – a homeless person, isolated and alone. ‘I Have a Dream’ – the person is asleep on the street and dreaming of a family in their home at Christmas. ‘Carol of the Bells’ – the hardships faced by those who are homeless. ‘You’re Welcome’ – the person meets workers from an organisation that works with and supports the homeless. ‘You’ve Got a Friend in Me – the person meets a new family. And finally, ‘Beautiful Day’ – everyone comes together to celebrate a new family member and friendship.

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St. Paul’s Primary School
Navan, Co. Meath

Entry

Title ‘There Is No Planet B’
Group The Climate Changers • 40 members, Fifth – Sixth Class
• Sarah McLoughlin, Conductor • Maria Mason, Piano

Addressing the Theme

Teachers and students of St. Paul’s Primary School decided that the 2020 Competition theme was an ideal way to deliver a message that world leaders are not always listening or understanding what children are saying about climate change. To do this, the children were divided into four groups of ten, each group representing a different season. Since they would be in uniform, there was much discussion about how to represent the seasons, and they eventually voted that Spring would wear flower crowns, Summer sunglasses and lei garlands, Autumn leafy head pieces and winter hats and scarves. As part of their music homework, the students researched songs they felt suited the piece’s overall vision and settled on ‘Colors of the Wind’ to reflect Spring, ‘Walking on Sunshine’ to show the joy of Summer, ‘California Dreamin’’ with a lyrical twist to depict Autumn and Madonna’s dramatic ‘Frozen’ for Winter. Throughout the piece, the seasons slowly unravel and reform as defined seasons again. The final song, ‘What About Us’, demands answers from our leaders and demonstrates the determination to continue their fight to secure our future on this planet.

Post-Primary School Finalists

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The six Post-Primary School Finalists, as well as Highly Commended and Commended schools, selected in the 2020 Waltons Music for Schools Competition. Schools are listed in alphabetical order, and Finalist school entry videos, as well as how they addressed the 2020 Competition theme, Where words fail, music speaks (Hans Christian Andersen), are below these.

Finalists

• Coláiste Chill Mhantáin, Burkeen, Co. Wicklow
• De La Salle College, Dundalk, Co. Louth
• Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin
• Our Lady’s Secondary School, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan
• St. Fergal’s College, Rathdowney, Co. Laois
• St. Mary’s Secondary School, Macroom, Co. Cork

Highly Commended

• Boyne Community School, Trim, Co. Meath
• Cnoc Mhuire Secondary School, Granard, Co. Longford
• Gortnor Abbey, Crossmolina, Co. Mayo
• Presentation Secondary School, Tralee, Co. Kerry
• St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochtfortbridge, Co. Westmeath
• St. Mary’s Secondary School, Edenderry, Co. Offaly

Commended

• CBS Ennistymon, Co. Clare
• Gairmscoil Chú Uladh, An Clochan, Co. Dhύn Na nGall
• Loreto College, Drumkeen, Co. Cavan (Entry 1)
• Loreto College, Drumkeen, Co. Cavan (Entry 2)
• Mean Scoil Mhuire, Longford Town, Co. Longford
• Our Lady’s School, Terenure, Dublin 6W
• Rockwell College, Cashel, Co. Tipperary
• St. Benildus College, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin
• St. Leo’s College, Carlow, Co. Carlow
• St. Paul’s College, Raheny, Dublin 5
• The Green CBS, Tralee, Co. Kerry

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Coláiste Chill Mhantáin
Burkeen, Co. Wicklow

Entry

Title ‘Music Is the Literature of the Heart’
Group Coláiste Chill Mhantáin Ensemble • 33 members, First – Sixth Year
• Shauna Mannion, Conductor

Addressing the Theme

Coláiste Chill Mhantáin created an Edmodo group that allowed interested students to share their thoughts, ideas, video links to song suggestions and dance videos responding to the 2020 Competition theme. After many suggestions and a lot of thought, they then came together and decided that they wanted to portray through music the different emotions people – particularly teenagers – experience in a developing relationship and subsequent breakup. They then began to ‘map out’ the journey of this relationship and decide on songs that suited its different emotions. In the end, the emotions they decided to focus were: love/admiration (‘Love Story’), sadness/confusion (‘Lose You to Love Me’ and ‘Rise Up’), happiness/excitement (‘Walking on Sunshine’) and confidence/independence (‘I Feel Good’ and ‘Good as Hell’). Students and teachers worked both in separate groups and together to develop their piece. The band worked around simple chord progressions and used their musical knowledge to compose and arrange riffs, countermelodies and links between the songs. The choir worked on producing strong melodies. And senior students shared their knowledge of arranging and singing harmonies. Overall, the students loved having their opinions heard and used to create the final piece.

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De La Salle College
Dundalk, Co. Louth

Entry

Title ‘Unstoppable’
Group De La Salle College Music Group • 33 members, First – Sixth Year
• Pamela Campbell, Conductor

Addressing the Theme

In responding to the 2020 Competition theme, participating students at De La Salle College initially created a mind map of ideas, after which they spoke with fellow classmates about what the theme meant to them. The responses and feedback they received were eye-opening, and they decided that their approach to the theme would be to look at the world through the eyes of a non-verbal child with autism. As the school is currently preparing to open its own autism unit and has a number of students with autism, they decided to imagine what life would be like without words. They spoke to families and children with autism to gain a better understanding of their daily experiences and obstacles. Donnachadh Hughes, one of the students, then composed an opening piano piece to capture this experience. Phil Coulter’s ‘Scorn Not His Simplicity’ was chosen to represent the challenges faced by parents of children with special needs. With help from school’s trad groups Faoi Gheasa and Spleodar, Donnachadh also composed an upbeat reel to suggest the lively personality that often shines through. And finally, the song ‘Unstoppable’ was chosen to show the inner superhero.

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Loreto Secondary School
Balbriggan, Co. Dublin

Entry

Title ‘Soundscape’
Group Lorbal • 32 members, Second – Sixth Year

Addressing the Theme

Loreto Secondary School’s approach to the 2020 Competition theme was very much student-led. In fact, it was a small group of students who had participated in previous Waltons Music for Schools Competitions who approached their teachers to discuss entering the Competition this year. After agreeing to do so and discussing the theme together, they then talked about what songs and pieces would best represent it. In the end, they used a mixture of existing arrangements and collaborativelycreated new arrangements of ‘Words Fail’ by Ben Platt, ‘Una mattina’ by Ludovico Einaudi, ‘She’d Say’ by Andy Grammar and ‘Sing’ by Gary Barlow.

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Our Lady’s Secondary School
Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan

Entry

Title ‘No Place to Call Home’
Group OLSS Performing Arts Group • 40 members, First – Sixth Year

Addressing the Theme

Participating students at Our Lady’s Secondary School together decided to use the 2020 Competition theme to focus attention on children who are homeless or in emergency accommodation – and how difficult life can be for them. The school has done much for Ireland’s homeless, including raising money for Inner City Helping Homeless, making Christmas cakes for the RDS Christmas Day Dinner and travelling to the RDS on Christmas Eve to help hand out thousands of goodie bags on the day. Together they choose what they felt was the most suitable music for this theme, arguing that since words have failed to make a difference to this crisis, perhaps music can open people’s ears, hearts and minds. Their music and arrangements – including ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon, ‘They Don’t Really Care About Us’ by Michael Jackson, ‘Rise Up’ by Andra Day, ‘The Merry Blacksmith’, a traditional reel, and ‘You’re the Voice by John Farnham – came from a variety of sources. Some of it was found online and modified with new harmonies and instrumentals; and some of it they developed themselves, working to fuse Irish traditional with popular music in unusual keys.

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St. Fergal’s College
Rathdowney, Co. Laois

Entry

Title ‘Music Speaks’
Group St. Fergal’s College Choir • 39 members, First – Sixth Year

Addressing the Theme

In responding to the 2020 Competition theme – ‘Where words fail, music speaks’ – the teacher and students of St. Fergal’s College decided to develop a medley of different songs. ‘Caledonia’, a much-loved song about missing home, was the first to be selected. Words were simply not enough to express to family and friends how the songwriter was feeling. This is followed by ‘Music Speaks’, a lively jig composed especially for their entry by one of the 6th-year students. The jig is followed by ‘Faded’, an emotional song with a powerful melody about searching for something lost, to which the group added their own harmonies. Their medley finishes with ‘Dance Monkey’, a fast-paced song, the lyrics of which would simply be incomprehensible without music.

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St. Mary’s Secondary School
Macroom, Co. Cork

Entry

Title ‘Home’
Group Fite Fuaite • 38 members, First – Sixth Year
• Aoife Donovan, Piano

Addressing the Theme

In responding to the 2020 Competition theme, members of the school choir and trad group were invited to meet at lunch time and brainstorm ideas. They quickly related the theme to the opening of a direct provision centre in Macroom last August. A number of young people living in the centre had entered the school and joined either the choir or trad group, and all felt that music, as a ‘common ground’ had helped them to overcome language barriers and differences in culture, feel safe and secure and allow them to build new friendships and settle into their new lives in Ireland. The selection and arrangements of material for the group’s performance was very much student led. Harmonies were added to ‘Half the World Away’, ‘True Colours’ and ‘From Now On’, as well as harmony lines for the various instruments. The choreography was a new aspect that their dancers explored together, combining both gymnastics and Irish dance.

Finalists Concert Adjudicators

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Kathleen Turner

Dr Kathleen Turner is a singer, songwriter, community musician and Director of the MA in Community Music at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick. She is also an experienced community choral leader and has directed a number of significant performances. Kathleen holds a PhD in Arts Practice (her dissertation explored the role of the community musician in the process of social regeneration), as well as Masters degrees in both Community Music and Ritual Chant and Song. In 2008 she was invited by the Irish Chamber Orchestra to pilot Sing Out with Strings, a community music initiative in Limerick City, which now provides hundreds of children with free access to singing, songwriting and instrumental tuition. From 2008 to 2014, she continued as Community Engagement Manager for the Irish Chamber Orchestra, implementing a number of projects bringing live music into the classroom and community. Kathleen combines her educational work with a busy career as singer and songwriter, which included the release of her debut album, Like a Lion, in December 2019.

John Spillane

A native of Cork, which he lovingly calls ‘the centre of the universe’, John Spillane is an acclaimed singer/songwriter and two-time Meteor award winner who has recorded several solo albums and whose songs have been performed and recorded by a number of prominent Irish artists, including Christy Moore, Sharon Shannon, Seán Keane, Karan Casey and Sinéad Lohan. (Christy Moore remarked, ‘I sing John Spillane songs everywhere I go. John has been my favourite songwriter for the past ten years.’) John performed with several bands in his early music career, including The Stargazers, a jazz group, and the renowned trad group Nomos, with which he recorded two acclaimed albums and toured worldwide before leaving to pursue a solo career, beginning with the 1997 album The Wells of the World. He is a strong advocate of the Irish language and has released three albums in Irish, including the double platinum selling Irish Songs We Learned at School. Recently, he has worked with Music Generation to introduce, rehearse and perform songs from the album with students at a number of different schools.