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The Ballymun Music Programme was founded nearly fifteen years ago by Ron Cooney. The aim was simple: to provide an introduction to music through free music lessons, in a community that had almost no access to music education. The Programme began with Ron teaching recorder in one school. Then as time went on more schools became involved, more music teachers came on board and the range of instruments being taught grew to include almost the full line-up of orchestral instruments. Today The Ballymun Music Programme is a non-profit organisation that provides an entry to instrumental music making for primary-school children in Ballymun through its Junior Wind Bands, Junior String Orchestra and choirs. These are run with the support of nine National schools in the area. At second level the Programme provides support to the Ballymun Trinity Comprehensive School in preparation for Junior and Leaving Certificate Music and maintains a scholarship programme in conjunction with the D.I.T Conservatory of Music and Drama for exceptionally talented children. At third level, contact is maintained with, and support provided for, students who are taking music as part of third level degree courses.
In 2008 The Ballymun Music Programme, in association with City Arts/Tower Songs, commissioned Daragh O’Toole to write an original suite for youth orchestra and choir to be performed by the children from Ballymun. This suite (originally titled A New Day) was a huge success, culminating in a sold-out performance at the Helix theatre on Feb 3rd 2009. An orchestra and choir of over two hundred children from The Ballymun Music Programme performed on the night, accompanied by RTE Cor Na Nog, and a number of players from both the RTE Concert and Symphony orchestras. The performance was conducted by David Brophy (the principal conductor of the RTE Concert Orchestra).
Track listing:
1.Ballymun Lullaby
2. The World Is Your Oyster
3. The Toys' Waltz
4. A New Day
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