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So excited about the upcoming concert of the newly formed Ivernia Orchestra as part of Manchester Irish Festival 2012. We will be performing music by Elaine Agnew, Ailis Ni Riain, John Kinsella and Micheal O’Suilleabhain. Delighted that Michael McGoldrick will be working with us as flute soloist.

We have now confirmed that Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin will be flying over to be at the concert. This is so exciting for us, I grew up listening to Mícheál’s music, and he was always an inspirational figure.

Tickets are now available from Quay Tickets: http://tinyurl.com/Ivernia-McGoldrick-March-11th

Don’t miss this!!!

The flyer for the concert is at www.facebook.com/IverniaOrchestra

Sometimes in life, the sublime and the almost ridiculous merge into one surreal, but fulfilling whole! So it was that I found myself, at 9:30am, sitting in Media City discussing the phrase direction of the opening of Bruckner’s Sixth Symphony with the mercurial Juanjo Mena, before a BBC Philharmonic rehearsal (I was observing – not conducting!) What an orchestra they are, the perfection of the wind  and brass intonation almost brought a tear to my eye, and the orchestra’s ability to turn a musical corner as one was just breathtaking. Mena has that thing, that indefinable something that makes this orchestra want to play for him, an elusive melding of charisma, musicianship, technique and unwavering self belief that every conductor hopes will surface at some point in their career (preferably early!). It was inspiring to watch the Mena/Phil partnership let the Bruckner breathe and come to life.

Fast forward a few hours to a primary school in Trafford where I was covering some large group beginner violin teaching. I must admit that when Gemma suggested I warm up with that classic of the canon, ‘Rubber Chicken’ I was a bit mystified. Some frantic internet searching, followed by a few test runs in my sitting room later, I felt confident enough to stand in front of eleven year 2/3 violinists, shake arms and legs 8,4,2 and 1 times, and triumphantly shout ‘RUBBER CHICKEN’ all in the name of music education. The youngsters joined in with gusto and, as a musical experience that gets the blood flowing, I have to say, it’s right up there with Bruckner 6!

After a truly epic Mozart Requiem with my lovely choir Bury Choral Society I’m looking forward to a very busy few months! I’ve been invited to the Orkney conducting course in June where I’ll work with Martyn Brabbins and Charles Peebles. It will be fantastic to have the chance to work with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, London Sinfonietta and the St. Magnus Festival Chorus (with a few familiar faces from Bury CS!). Then it’s back to rehearsals with Stockport Youth Orchestra for our performance of the Elgar Cello Concerto on 3rd July in Stockport Town Hall. Then straight into rehearsals with the Amaretti Chamber orchestra for our concert in the Buxton Festival on Sunday 17th July. On 18th July I start work as assistant conductor for British Youth Opera’s summer production of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. I will conduct the understudy cast and the Southbank Sinfonia in performance on 10th September – so looking forward to it! Then back to Manchester to start rehearsals for two concerts with my darling Amaretti orchestra on 24th and 25th September – good times!!

I am delighted to have been invited as a conducting participant in the first Ruhr Academy for Voice and Orchestra with the Bochumer Symphoniker, Germany. In this ten day masterclass, which takes place from 13th – 23rd of October,  I will work with music director Steven Sloane and the Bochumer Symphoniker, and have the opportunity to work in masterclass with Sir Roger Norrington and Sylvain Cambreling. Repertoire includes excerpts from Le Nozze di Figaro, Der Rosenkavalier, Strauss: Four Last Songs, Mahler: Lieder eines Fahrenden Gesellen, and Bizet’s Carmen, in cooperation with the Essener Aalto Theatre. I’m also looking forward to returning to Sheffield during the course, for my concert with Sheffield Symphony Orchestra!

Last night the first of four episodes in a new Channel 4 series Orchestra United was broadcast. The documentary follows the  Halle Harmony Youth Orchestra from its creation to its final performance in the Bridgewater Hall. I was delighted to be associate conductor of this fabulous group of young musicians, working with music director James Lowe and orchestra manager Sally Whittle,  to help the youngsters begin to realise their musical potential and to discover the joy and power of classical music along the way. The four, hour long, programmes capture the exhuberance and excitement, the triumphs and tribulations and, ultimately, the success of these young musicians in their journey to become a unified instrument capable of scaling the musical heights of Sibelius, Holst and Khachaturian.

It is gripping television and shows what can be achieved when young people are freed of the boundaries imposed by low expectations. As each goal was achieved (for example playing together with some descernible pitch centre!) the goalposts were moved. We never allowed the point we had reached to be the final destination – there was always further to go, always room to ‘make it better’.

Every youth orchestra in the country, no matter how few the membership, has the potential to produce thrilling committed performances – whatever music they choose to perform. A Beatles Medley has just as much potential to reach out and touch the souls of audience members as the last movement of Mahler’s Ninth Symphony – it’s a question of conviction and unity of purpose among the performers. As conductors we have the opportunity to engage young people with music – to teach them how to connect with it, and express that connection in performance, no matter what their technical level. If every child who scratches away at Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on a hired music service violin could do so in the pursuit of a connection to the music,  a quest for an essence, a truth, then surely a fundamental change in society’s attitude to art and classical music could begin to be wrought.

These may seem like lofty ambitions, but it is through projects like the Halle Harmony Youth Orchestra  that young peoples’ life directions, ambitions and attitudes are altered. This is essential if we are to ensure that classical music is to retain its relevance in the Britain of the future.

Make sure you watch next week’s episode!