Never too old to learn - Wicklow residents aged 55 and over are invited to take part in an exciting music project

Never too old to learn - Wicklow residents aged 55 and over are invited to take part in an exciting music project
Wicklow County Council and Music Network invite Wicklow residents aged 55 and over to take part in an exciting music project.
Rekindle your love of playing music with The Rossana Trio at the Wicklow Teaching Residency.

County Wicklow residents aged 55 and over are invited to pick up instruments they used to play and start playing again with the help of Making Music with The Rossana Trio: the Wicklow Teaching Residency, a partnership between Wicklow County Arts Office and Music Network.

The project is focused on helping participants return to playing an instrument and sharing the joy of group music-making. It provides participants with free tuition from professional musicians, access to instruments for the duration of the programme and opportunities to connect and learn with other budding musicians along the way.

This year’s participants will receive tuition on uilleann pipes, whistle, flute, violin/fiddle or bodhrán with The Rossana Trio, comprising renowned musicians Mark Redmond (uilleann pipes, whistles, flute), Lynda O’Connor (violin/fiddle) and Robbie Walsh (bodhrán).

The Rossana Trio Mark Redmond (uilleann pipes, whistles, flute), Robbie Walsh (bodhrán) and Lynda O’Connor (violin/fiddle) at the launch of the Wicklow Teaching Residency

Image: The Rossana Trio Mark Redmond (uilleann pipes, whistles, flute), Robbie Walsh (bodhrán) and Lynda O’Connor (violin/fiddle) at the launch of the Wicklow Teaching Residency

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The project will run from November 2023 to April 2024. Participants will receive eight one-to-one lessons and three group lessons with others playing the same instrument. The project will conclude with three large ensemble sessions, where all participants will join together with the professional musicians to play music learned during the project. As well as playing together, participants will meet for coffee sessions and chats on wide-ranging musical topics and more.

Mary Walsh, a previous participant in the project, spoke about her experience of returning to playing an instrument through the residency: "I really loved the course and am so glad that I took that first step of applying…I think after the ripe old age of 65, you tend to lose a lot of your confidence in your musical ability, and I can truly say this project has brought my love for music back to life again."

Applicants must be aged 55 or over, resident in County Wicklow, and have some previous experience of playing music. Some experience of reading music is welcomed but not essential. The project will be based at Wicklow County Campus, Clermont House, Newrath, Rathnew, Co. Wicklow.

Commenting on the announcement, CEO of Music Network Sharon Rollston said: “We are thrilled to announce the call out for this our third Wicklow Teaching Residency in partnership with Wicklow County Arts Office. Following on from the previous residencies, we’re delighted to be able to give even more people the opportunity to rekindle their love of learning and playing music. We warmly welcome Mark, Lynda and Robbie on board, who we know will guide and inspire participants with their vast musical knowledge and expertise.”

Never too old to learn - Wicklow residents aged 55 and over are invited to take part in an exciting music project

Wicklow County Arts Officer, Jenny Sherwin said: “Drawing on the musical backgrounds of ensemble-in-residence, The Rossana Trio, the tuition programme will offer participants the opportunity to explore music across the classical, folk, pop and world music genres.”

Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Aoife Flynn-Kennedy, said: “Wicklow County the Council’s County Development plan is committed to making provision for the county as an ‘Age Friendly’ region. This Music Residency is a good example of a series of actions the County Council will take to fulfil this commitment over the course of the Plan 2022 - 2028.”

While the preference is for in-person events wherever possible, individual lessons can take place via video call if necessary, in which case we will provide technical support to enable online learning.

Places on the residency are limited to 15 and priority will be given on a first come first served basis.

*For individual instrumental lessons 1-8, participants will each be allocated a 40-minute slot within the time frames set out below. Introductory session, group lessons, coffee sessions and ensemble sessions involve all participants for the full duration.

All events will take place at Wicklow County Campus, Clermont House, Newrath, Rathnew, Co. Wicklow.


Friday 24th Nov 7-8.30pm Introductory Session


Tuesday 28th Nov 10am-1.40pm Bodhrán lesson 1


Wednesday 29th Nov 10am – 1.40pm Pipes/flute/whistle lesson 1


Monday 4th December 9.30am-1pm Violin lesson 1


Tuesday 5th December 10am – 1.40pm Bodhrán lesson 2


Wednesday 6th Dec 10am – 1.40pm Pipes/flute/whistle lesson 2


Sunday 10th Dec 11am-12.30 pm Group lesson 1


Sunday 10th Dec 12.30-2pm Coffee session 1


Tuesday 12th Dec 11am-4pm Violin lesson 2


Tuesday 9th Jan 11am-12.30 pm Group lesson 2


Tuesday 9th Jan 12.30-2pm Coffee session 2


Wednesday 10th Jan 10am – 1.40pm Pipes/flute/whistle lesson 3


Wednesday 10th Jan 10am-1.40pm Bodhrán lesson 3


Wednesday 10th Jan 11am-4pm Violin lesson 3


Tuesday 16th Jan 10am-1.40pm Bodhrán lesson 4


Tuesday 16th Jan 11am-4pm Violin lesson 4


Wednesday 17th Jan 10am – 1.40pm Pipes/flute/whistle lesson 4


Tuesday 23rd Jan 10am-1.40pm Bodhrán lesson 5


Tuesday 23rd Jan 11am-4pm Violin lesson 4


Wednesday 24th Jan 10am – 1.40pm Pipes/flute/whistle lesson 5


Tuesday 30th Jan 10am-1.40pm Bodhrán lesson 6


Tuesday 30th Jan 11am-4pm Violin lesson 5


Wednesday 31st Jan 10am – 1.40pm Pipes/flute/whistle lesson 6


Tuesday 6th Feb 10am-1.40pm Bodhrán lesson 7


Tuesday 6th Feb 11am-4pm Violin lesson 6


Tuesday 13th Feb 10am – 1.40pm Bodhrán lesson 8


Tuesday 13th Feb 11am-4pm Violin lesson 7


Wednesday 14th Feb 10am – 1.40pm Pipes/flute/whistle lesson 7


Tuesday 20th Feb 11am-12.30 pm Group lesson 3


Tuesday 20th Feb 12.30-2pm Coffee session 3


Wednesday 21st Feb 10am – 1.40pm Pipes/flute/whistle lesson 8


Wednesday 21st Feb 11am-4pm Violin lesson 8


Tuesday 5th Mar 11am-12.30pm Group Activity


Tuesday 19th Mar 6-9pm Ensemble Session 1


Tuesday 26th Mar 11am-2pm Ensemble Session 2


Tuesday 2nd Apr 11am-2pm Ensemble Session 3

*Please note, dates may be subject to change, with the agreement of artists and participants. Participants must be available on all project dates.

The closing date for applications for Making Music with The Rossana Trio: the Wicklow Teaching Residency is Wednesday 1 November 2023 at 2pm.
Never too old to learn - Wicklow residents aged 55 and over are invited to take part in an exciting music project
APPLY NOW

Apply to take part online or by calling by calling Sarah Ledwidge on 01 475 0224.

The Wicklow Teaching Residency is presented by Wicklow County Council Arts Office and Music Network. This initiative is funded by Creative Ireland.

Lynda O Connor is one of the finest violinists of her generation. She made her début appearance at the National Concert Hall, Dublin when she was just four years old. Subsequently, Lynda has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral musician throughout Ireland, Europe Asia and the USA.

With a keen interest in education, Lynda is a member of the National Concert Hall ECO band who perform education workshops regularly for children of all ages. She also performs with Mobile Music Machine, the brain child of cellist Gerald Peregrine, who travel around the country performing in schools educating classes about string instruments, classical music and the elements of performing in an ensemble. Lynda has a private Suzuki teaching studio at home and also holds a teaching position in the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin, where she teaches both second and third level violin students.

Lynda’s soloist career features many memorable performances including Mozart Sinfonie Concertante with Nobuko Imai and Bach Double Violin Concerto with Chee Yun Kim alongside Camerata Ireland. In 2016 she performed as a soloist with Giles Apape and the International Mahler Orchestra at a Menhuin Tribute concert in Frankfurt. More recent performances include Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saens, Beethoven, Bruch and Mozart Violin Concertos with Camerata Ireland, Sinfonua, Dublin Orchestral Players, Greystones Orchestra and the Orchestra of Ireland.

As a chamber musician, Lynda has collaborated with a dazzling array of artists including Barry Douglas, Nobuko Imai, John O’ Conor, Allesio Bax, Michael Collins, Chee Yun Kim, Celine Byrne, members of the Van Burgh string quartet, Gilles Apape, Mary Coughlan, Niamh Kavanagh, Frankie Gavin, Steve Cooney, Iarla O Lionaird and John Spillane . She enjoys performing on a regular basis with the Ficino chamber ensemble, Musici Ireland, The Wilde Trio, her traditional Irish group The Wild Turkeys and her traditional Irish crossover group Trio Elatha.

In demand as an Orchestral leader, Lynda has performed as a principal player with all major Orchestras throughout Ireland, International Mahler Orchestra, OneMusicOrchestra Plano Symphony Orchestra, Aalborg Symphony Orchestra and many other groups throughout Europe, Asia and the USA.

In 2023 Lynda made her debut album with a recording of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and a new composition by Irish composer Ailbhe McDonagh. This will be released in the Spring of 2024.

Mark Redmond has gained a reputation as a performer on the uilleann pipes in a wide range of genres. He performs and records regularly with both the National Symphony and RTÉ Concert Orchestras. In this context, he has been featured in multiple live television broadcasts for many historic occasions, including The Papal Mass, 2018; The State Commemoration for the centenary of the Easter Rising, 2016; The Eucharistic Congress, 2012, and the State Visit of Queen Elizabeth II, 2011.

His diverse career has included tours on the international circuit with Riverdance, Celtic Woman, and Music Network, and as guest soloist with Camerata Ireland at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington; the Nagoya University of Arts Wind Orchestra, Japan; the Savannah Philharmonic, Georgia, USA; and the Orchestre Symphonique de Bretagne, Rennes, France.

At home, he has performed and recorded with a host of artists including Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Westlife, Christy Moore, Glen Hansard, Imelda May, and Lyra. With David Bremner, he recorded L'Air Du Temps, an album that combines traditional repertoire with music of the French Classical Organ School.

Currently a lecturer in Irish traditional music at Technological University Dublin and the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Mark received a First-Class Honours Degree from the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, where he was awarded the Leo Rowsome Gold Medal for Performance in 2012, before completing an Honours Masters in Music Performance in 2013.

Robbie Walsh is a bodhrán player and founder of The Bodhrán Buzz education initiative. Brought up with a strong musical background, his style is the definition of diversity and power. Robbie began to learn the ropes from the great Noel Dowling of Kilkenny. Taking these skills to the vibrant, session culture of Dublin, Robbie began to shape his style.

In 2008 Robbie became the Dublin, Leinster and All Ireland Senior Bodhrán Champion. Throughout the years he has toured the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, U.A.E, South Africa and all across Europe. He has worked closely with dance show companies, including Celtic Céilí and Celtic Legends. Playing with various bands, he has worked with FullSet, The Temple Bar All Stars, The Dixiemicks and Ciorras. He is currently working and also a co-founding member of PerfectFriction, FourWinds, and The Daoirí Farrell Bands.

Robbie has worked on more than 25 albums with musicians from around the globe; such as Alan Doherty, Donal Lunny, Laoise Kelly, Gerry O’Donnell, Seamus Begley, Joe McKenna, Paul Kelly, Eleanor Shanley, Brendan Hayes, Colin Farrell, Frankie Lane and Michael McGoldrick. As a solo musician, he also performed on composer Damian Gallagher’s musical suite, Alanú at the NCH, Dublin and worked on it’s accompanying CD. He has also recorded on Daoirí Farrell’s album “True Born Irishman” which won the “Best Folk Track” for “Van Dieman’s land” at the BBC Folk Awards in the Royal Albert Hall. He has shared the stage with power-house musicians including Walis Bird, Andy Irvine, The Chieftans, Paul Brady, Damian O’ Rourke, Cathy Davey and many more.

Having gathered this broad experience throughout his musical career, Robbie set up The Bodhrán Buzz to further extend the knowledge of the bodhrán throughout the world; coaching many students to champion level. In 2016 he conducted a Guinness World Record attempt for the largest bodhrán ensemble which included 1,052 Bodhrán players.

Never too old to learn - Wicklow residents aged 55 and over are invited to take part in an exciting music project