RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra looks to nurture the next generation of professional musicians.
A group of young musicians will perform for the first time with a professional orchestra tonight at the National Concert Hall. The event is part of a mentorship scheme run by the RTE National Symphony Orchestra.
Rehearsals at the National Concert Hall are a regular occurrence for the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. Today they are joined by young musicians as part of the mentorship scheme. The initiative will culminate tonight with a performance by the orchestra and the mentees of an all-Russian programme to a packed audience.
Declan McGovern the general manager of the National Symphony Orchestra explains how a call went out to third level students interested in performing with the orchestra. Forty students were auditioned with eleven being selected. Declan McGovern believes,
It's a good learning experience for these advanced students.
Two of the talented musicians selected are Ed Creedon from Cork School of Music and Miriam Kaczor originally from Poland and now living in Dublin. Miriam Kaczor started playing the recorder at the age of six before taking up the flute. Aged twelve, she moved to Dublin and is studying at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. She is a second year student in the BA in Music Performance course. The experience of playing alongside a professional orchestra she describes as amazing if a bit nerve-wracking. Her mentor, Catriona Ryan describes the experience as very rewarding.
Ed Creedon started playing violin at the age of four and viola at the age of 11. He says the experience of playing with a professional orchestra has been really valuable. His mentor Áine O'Neill has nothing but praise for the young musician.
He has it instinctively already.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 22 November 2013. The reporter is Aisling Riordan.
