Members of Roscommon County Youth Orchestra Woodwind Ensemble had their first performance last Saturday in King House in Boyle. The group was formed in April and they meet every Saturday in Abbey Community College where they receive paired tuition and an ensemble session with their tutor Steve Hanks. The Brass Ensemble of the Orchestra, who only formed in May of this year, were also celebrating Christmas by treating passers-by to Christmas carols in Castlerea on Saturday with their tutor Nathan Power. The brass ensemble meets on Saturdays in Castlerea VEC. Roscommon County Youth Orchestra is a partnership programme between Roscommon County Council Arts Office and the VEC. The aim of the youth orchestra is to provide access for young people to instrumental tuition and to give them the opportunity to play together at an affordable cost. Currently, there are three ensembles around the county; woodwind in Boyle, brass in Castlerea and the recently opened strings ensemble in Roscommon Town. RCYO also offers students an instrument loan service so that the expense of buying an instrument will not prevent prospective students from joining. This is particularly helpful for beginners who are unsure of which instrument they would like to play. All sections have made great progress since they began tuition and both the brass and woodwind ensembles and their audiences thoroughly enjoyed their first public performances last week. In the coming year the sections will be brought together for the first time as an orchestra. Membership is open to young people between the ages of 12 and 17 and we are currently looking for new members for all three sections. For further information on Roscommon County Youth Orchestra or to enquire about joining, contact Avril Carr, Arts Education & Development Co-ordinator on (090) 66 32541 or acarr@roscommoncoco.ie or check our website www.roscommonarts.com
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