Finalists (in alphabetical order)
Special Commendation
- Danescastle National School, Carrig on Bannow, Co. Wexford
- Gaelscoil an Tslí Dála, Borris-in-Ossory, Co. Laois
- St. Pius X Girls National School, Dublin 6w
- St. Canice’s Co-Educational School, Kilkenny
Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan, Co. Tipperary
Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhuman has a broad and vibrant music programme that includes tuition in a range of traditional and orchestral instruments, sean-nós singing, two choirs, a marching band and a Grúpa Ceoil. Instruments are provided by the school, some students have their own, and others are lent by other students. Both teachers and parents donate a huge amount of voluntary time to developing music education at the school. Music at Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhuman is a central focus of the entire curriculum. The school plans to develop an orchestra and would use a Waltons Music for Schools Prize for more instruments to loan to children as well as a digital piano.
Their entry is ‘Sult ‘is Spraoi’, an arrangement of songs and traditional airs and songs performed by Grúpa Ceoil Gaelscoil Aonach, a 54-strong group of instrumentalists and singers.
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Holy Family Senior Primary School, Ennis, Co. Clare
In addition to a 120-strong choir and an 80-strong chamber choir, tuition in several instruments and a newly introduced violin teaching programme, Holy Family Senior Primary School has taken highly creative approaches to developing music in the school. These include: 1) a daily listening programme in which two children speak through their PA system and announce their featured ‘composer of the week’, each day telling the school a little more about the composer, after which a piece is played; and 2) a ‘mobile singing squad’ of children who visit each class to help lead/teach new songs. Holy Family is a DEIS school with children of 30 different nationalities represented, most of whose circumstances would not allow for private tuition outside of the school. The school would use a Waltons Music for Schools Prize to get a range of instruments and replace their keyboard, which has ‘been through the wars’.
Their entry is ‘One Small Voice’ from Sesame Street, performed by the 80-strong Holy Family Chamber Choir.
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Kilbrittain National School, Co. Cork
Each year Kilbrittain National School produces a Christmas concert in which all students participate, and this year the school presented its first ‘whole-school musical’. There is a great volunteer ethos in the school, and teachers provide music tuition at no cost during lunch time. Kilbrittain NS would us a Waltons Music for Schools Prize to get guitars and a range of percussion instruments for the school, as well as a PA system for the musicals, if possible.
Their entry is ‘Music in Our World’, an arrangement of popular songs with original lyrics, performed by the Kilbrittain Musical Group, a 39-strong group of singers and dancers with accompanying band.
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Kilcoe National School, Skibbereen, Co. Cork
A small Rural Disadvantaged School, Kilcoe National School provides every single student with the opportunity to make music. Tin whistle is taught to all classes, and there is an after-school programme of tuition in other traditional instruments, paid for by parents and the Board of Management. The school plans to develop a choir and expose children to other music genres, and it would use a Waltons Music for Schools Prize to get a range of instruments that could be lent/rented to children to see if they enjoyed them, after which children would return the instruments and purchase their own.
Their entry is a medley of traditional tunes and airs, performed by all 54 students of this 54-student school!
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Knockanean National School, Co. Clare
Knockanean National School has a vibrant 85-member ‘Music Club’, for students from 2nd to 6th Class, that takes place during an extended lunchtime session once a week. Students participate in the Music Club at no cost, and the only requirement is full attendance of all sessions. The Music Club explores all genres of music, which is simplified and arranged to suit a wide range of musical abilities. The Music Club has a clearly developed philosophy of inclusiveness and participation that could be a model for other schools. Knockanean NS would use a Waltons Music for Schools prize to get a digital piano as well as other instruments that none of the children would otherwise have the opportunity to experience.
Their entry is ‘Unfinished Seasons’, made up of an original composition by 5th class students and traditional airs and performed by Cnoc An Éin, a 56-strong group of instrumentalists and singers.
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Ss. Peter & Paul’s CBS, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
A DEIS school with students of several different nationalities, Ss. Peter & Paul’s CBS has a very active after-school music programme that includes a junior band, intermediate band, senior band and choir. The bands’ musical director, a teacher at the school, is also an ex-member of Banna Chluan Meala, a local youth concert and marching band, and many ‘graduates’ of the school’s bands have gone on to play and tutor with Banna. The bands also have a strong tradition of peer mentoring, and many of the senior students assist with tutoring younger members. The school supplies band instruments from a bank they have accumulated over the years. Ss. Peter & Paul’s would use a Waltons Music for Schools Prize to get percussion instruments and music technology equipment.
Their entry is the ‘Raider’s March’ by John Williams, performed by the 42-strong Sts. Peter & Paul CBS Brass Band.
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We would also like to single out the following schools for special commendation:
Danescastle National School, Carrig on Bannow, Co. Wexford
Gaelscoil an Tslí Dála, Borris-in-Ossory, Co. Laois
St. Pius X Girls National School, Dublin 6w
St. Canice’s Co-Educational School, Kilkenny
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