Knocklyon School of Music and Concert Bands
The Knocklyon School of Music and Concert Bands (rebranded in 2009 from the The Knocklyon Concert Band Society and Music School) is a voluntary community-based music education resource located in the Knocklyon area on the southwest side of Dublin City, Ireland.
Foundation and Music Programme
The School was founded in late 1998 by current MusicAL Director Robert P. Chester, as a means of providing a musical instrument education to the ever increasing population of young people living in the greater Knocklyon area. In addition, the School also caters for 'mature' students through its Adult Education Programme.
The School currently (2010) provides a comprehensive programme of tuition to approximately 200 students on most wind INSTRUMENTS including Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Euphonium and Tuba, as well as Percussion instruments, Piano and Guitar.
Bands and Achievements
The School has produced two multi award winning Concert Bands at Junior and Senior level, securing two National Band Championship titles at Open Level in 2005 and 2006, as well as a vibrant Jazz Orchestra, which has won the National Dance Band competition (Irish Association of Brass and Concert Bands) in 2006 and 2007. In addition, the Senior Concert Band gained a First Place at the European Music Festival for Young People (EMJ) in Neerpelt, Belgium in 2009.
In early 2009 the School hosted its 10th Anniversary Concert in the National Concert Hall, Dublin. The concert featured one of the largest performances ever held at the venue with over 300 musicians and vocalists. The School was also invited in its Anniversary year to perform for Uachtaráin na hÉireann (President) Mary McAleese in Áras an Uachtaráin the President's residence.
Location
The School is based in St. Colmcille's Community School on the Scholarstown Road and operates on Monday to Thursday evenings during the school year (September to May).
See also
- Knocklyon for a description of the area
- National Concert Hall for details of one of Ireland's premier Concert Venues