A national competition and celebration of music in Irish schools. BREADTH
The Competition is not restricted to a genre of music or type of performing group.
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Founded in 2012, the Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition is a non-profit initiative intended both to incentivise and to celebrate music making in Irish schools. Interest in the Competition – which provides a unique opportunity for teachers and students to work together in the development of a creative and original music project, with no restrictions as to genre or type of group – ha
s grown over the years, and to date schools from all 26 counties have participated. ELIGIBILITY
All primary and post-primary schools in the Republic of Ireland are eligible to enter the Music for Schools Competition. We welcome all genres and mixed genres, and performing groups have included choirs, instrumental groups, combined instrumental and vocal ensembles, traditional groups, rock bands and mixtures of all of these. This offers teachers and schools the opportunity to think and work creatively with any combination of students to develop an original music project that has learning potential at every stage of the process. COLLABORATION
Meaningful collaboration – among students and between teachers and students – is encouraged and rewarded. Competition entry forms ask how the entry piece or song was developed, and those developed collaboratively, with significant input from students, have invariably been the most successful. INCLUSIVENESS
Groups that include participants of different ages and skill levels are also favoured, and past groups have included participants from Senior Infants to Sixth Class in the primary category and First to Sixth Year in the post-primary category. A Music for Schools project is not only an opportunity to develop a unique and exciting piece and to perform it in public, it should also be an opportunity for diverse group of young people to work together in a meaningful way, as well as an opportunity for older participants to mentor younger ones. THEME
Each year’s Competition has a theme, and while entries should address the theme, groups are encouraged to interpret the theme in any way they see fit. Previous years’ themes include ‘When Words Fail, Music Speaks’ (Hans Christian Andersen), ‘Music = ‘, and Music Has No Borders’. PRIZES
Each year, the Competition awards a total of €7,000 worth of vouchers for musical instruments and accessories from Waltons Music, to be divided among six winning primary and post-primary schools, including two First Prizes of €2,000 vouchers. BEYOND WINNERS AND PRIZES
Although only twelve of the many entries we receive each year are chosen as Finalists, we recognise, with Commended and Highly Commended certificates, those groups not selected that have nevertheless achieved something special. In any case, the project doesn’t need to end there; the song/piece can be performed for the school, and the entry video is a record of the group’s achievements as well. Likewise, while six of the twelve Finalist groups win prizes each year, all Finalist groups have achieved something extraordinary and all Finalist performers receive individual certificates. ADJUDICATORS
Each Finalists Concert is adjudicated by two renowned Irish musicians and/or music educators, as well as a representative of Waltons. Our previous adjudicators have included • David Brophy • Carl Corcoran • Ellen Cranitch • Julie Feeney • Deborah Kelleher • Dónal Lunny • Gwen Moore • Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin • Bill Whelan. PRESENTED BY
The Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition is produced by Waltons New School of Music and supported by RTÉ lyric fm and Waltons Music Ireland.
FINALISTS CONCERT PHOTO GALLERIES
St. Mary’s Secondary School, Macroom, Co. Cork
Piece: ‘Music Connects Our Minds, Bodies and Souls’
Group: Ceol le Chéile
Here’s a photo gallery of the thirteenth and final performing group in our 2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Finalists Concert on Monday, 8 April.
All photographs by Eoin O’Mahony.
FINALISTS CONCERT PHOTO GALLERIES
Knockanean National School, Ennis, Co. Clare
Piece: ‘Stepping Through the River of Sound’
Group: Knockanean Choir and Music Club
Here’s a photo gallery of the twelfth performing group – and winner of First Prize, Primary Schools – in our 2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Finalists Concert on Monday, 8 April.
All photographs by Eoin O’Mahony.
FINALISTS CONCERT PHOTO GALLERIES
Lucan Community College, Lucan, Co. Dublin
Piece: ‘Last One Stepping’
Group: & Co.
Here’s a photo gallery of the eleventh performing group in our 2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Finalists Concert on Monday, 8 April.
All photographs by Eoin O’Mahony.
FINALISTS CONCERT PHOTO GALLERIES
St. Teresa’s National School, Killoe, Co. Longford
Piece: ‘Music Moving Us in Many Ways’
Group: St. Teresa’s Killoe Performing Group
Here’s a photo gallery of the tenth performing group – and winner of Second Prize, Primary Schools – in our 2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Finalists Concert on Monday, 8 April.
All photographs by Eoin O’Mahony.
FINALISTS CONCERT PHOTO GALLERIES
Scoil Mhuire, Trim, Co. Meath
Piece: ‘Home Is Where the Music Is’
Group: Scoil Mhuire Performing Group
Here’s a photo gallery of the ninth performing group – and winner of First Prize, Post-Primary Schools – in our 2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Finalists Concert on Monday, 8 April.
All photographs by Eoin O’Mahony.
FINALISTS CONCERT PHOTO GALLERIES
Corpus Christi Primary School, Moyross, Co. Limerick
Piece: ‘Music Moves Me’
Group: Corpus Christi Primary School Choir
Here’s a photo gallery of the eighth performing group in our 2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Finalists Concert on Monday, 8 April.
All photographs by Eoin O’Mahony.
FINALISTS CONCERT PHOTO GALLERIES
Scoil Bernadette, Montenotte, Co. Cork
Piece: ‘Bai Oh’
Group: Scoil Ber Samba Band
Here’s a photo gallery of the seventh performing group – and winner of our first Standout Award – in our 2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Finalists Concert on Monday, 8 April.
All photographs by Eoin O’Mahony.
FINALISTS CONCERT PHOTO GALLERIES
Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin
Piece: ‘The Joy of Movement’
Group: LorBal Performance Group
Here’s a photo gallery of the sixth performing group – and winner of Second Prize, Post-Primary Schools – in our 2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Finalists Concert on Monday, 8 April.
All photographs by Eoin O’Mahony.
FINALISTS CONCERT PHOTO GALLERIES
Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan, Co. Thiobraid Árann
Piece: ‘Imithe Uainn ach Fós Linn’ (A Musical Legacy)
Group: Ceolfhoireann na Gaelscoile
Here’s a photo gallery of the fifth performing group – and winner of Third Prize, Primary Schools – in our 2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Finalists Concert on Monday, 8 April.
All photographs by Eoin O’Mahony.
FINALISTS CONCERT PHOTO GALLERIES
St. Mary’s Secondary School, Edenderry, Co. Offaly
Piece: ‘Music Moves Us from Birth to Death in Times of Sadness and in Joy’
Group: SME
Here’s a photo gallery of the fourth performing group – and winner of Third Prize, Post-Primary Schools – in our 2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Finalists Concert on Monday, 8 April.
All photographs by Eoin O’Mahony.
FINALISTS CONCERT PHOTO GALLERIES
Carrig National School, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
Piece: ‘A Clap, a Hop, a Skip and a Jump!’
Group: Carrig National School Music Group
Here’s a photo gallery of the third performing group in our 2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Finalists Concert on Monday, 8 April.
All photographs by Eoin O’Mahony.
FINALISTS CONCERT PHOTO GALLERIES
East Glendalough School, Co. Wicklow
Piece: ‘Emotion in Motion’
Group: East Glendalough School Ensemble
Here’s the second performing group in our 2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Finalists Concert on Monday, 8 April.
All photographs by Eoin O’Mahony.
FINALISTS CONCERT PHOTO GALLERIES
Lurgybrack National School, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Piece: ‘Moving On’
Group: Midday Music Group
We are posting a selection of photos of each performing group that participated in the 2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Finalists Concert on Monday, 8 April. The galleries are in order of performance in the concert, and one gallery will be posted every day.
Each gallery consists of photographs of the group both in rehearsal and in performance.
All photographs by Eoin O'Mahony.
ANNOUNCING OUR 2024 MUSIC FOR SCHOOLS PRIZE WINNERS!
Taking place in the National Concert Hall on April 8th, the 2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Finalists Concert was a wonderful event with some extraordinary performances by all thirteen school groups involved.
After the concert, adjudicators Zoë Conway, Liam Ó Maonlaí and Aideen Walton selected the six 2024 Music for Schools Competition Prize Winners:
PRIMARY SCHOOLS
First Prize
Knockanean National School, Ennis, Co. Clare
Piece: ‘Stepping Through the River of Sound’
Group: Knockanean Choir and Music Club
Second Prize
St. Teresa’s National School, Killoe, Co. Longford
Piece: ‘Music Moving Us in Many Ways’
Group: St. Teresa’s Killoe Performing Group
Third Prize
Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan, Aonach Urmhumhan, Co. Thiobraid Árann
Piece: ‘Imithe Uainn ach Fós Linn’ (A Musical Legacy)
Group: Ceolfhoireann na Gaelscoile
POST-PRIMARY SCHOOLS
First Prize
Scoil Mhuire, Trim, Co. Meath
Piece: ‘Home Is Where the Music Is’
Group: Scoil Mhuire Performing Group
Second Prize
Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin
Piece: ‘The Joy of Movement’
Group: LorBal Performance Group
Third Prize
St. Mary’s Secondary School, Edenderry, Co. Offaly
Piece: ‘Music Moves Us from Birth to Death in Times of Sadness and in Joy’
Group: SME
Another school won Music for Schools’ inaugural Standout Award:
STANDOUT AWARD
Scoil Bernadette, Montenotte, Co. Cork
Piece: ‘Bai Oh’
Group: Scoil Ber Samba Band
The prize-winning schools each received a trophy, a prize certificate and vouchers for musical instruments and equipment for their schools from Waltons Music:
First Prize: €2,000
Second Prize: €1,000
Third Prize: €500
Standout Award: €500
In addition, we are delighted to announce that Waltons Music has generously offered to reward the other Finalist schools with €200 vouchers!
Congratulations both to this year’s Prize Winners and to all of the Finalist schools!
John Mardirosian and Aideen Walton, Co-Directors
Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools
MUSIC FOR SCHOOLS COMPETITION FINALISTS CONCERT LIVE WEBCAST
We are delighted to announce that our 2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition Finalists Concert on Monday, April 8th at 1 pm in the National Concert Hall will be LIVE WEBCAST by RTÉ lyric fm and can be viewed on the RTÉ lyric fm website at the link below.
Finalists Concerts are the culmination of each year's Music for Schools Competition, when twelve school music groups (six primary and six post-primary) perform before their peers and distinguished adjudicators. Six prize-winning schools (three primary and three post-primary) are announced at the end of the concert.
Prizes consist of trophies and certificate vouchers totalling €7,000 worth of musical instruments and equipment from Waltons Music Ireland, including two First Prizes of €2,000 each.
Although only limited number of guests can attend the 2024 Finalists Concert in person, this live webcast by RTÉ lyric fm, using the National Concert Hall’s state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, can be viewed from anywhere in Ireland or around the world.
2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition - Gala Finalists Concert
2024 WALTONS RTÉ LYRIC FM MUSIC FOR SCHOOLS COMPETITION FINALIST VIDEOS NOW AVAILABLE
The twelve Finalist performing group videos (six primary and six post-primary), as well as our first Standout Entry video, are now available to view on the 2024 Competition web page and the Competition YouTube channel.
The web page also includes lists of Commended, Highly Commended and Very Highly Commended schools. (We received an unprecedented number of excellent entries in 2024, which led us to create a new Very Highly Commended category for performing groups that displayed exceptional promise.)
2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition A National Competition and Celebration of Music in Irish Schools This page includes: Entry videos and information about the twelve Finalist schools selected for the 2024 Competition. An entry video that won our first Standout Award. Lists of C...
2024 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
There was a huge response from schools around the country when this year’s Competition was announced last December, and the closing date last Friday saw a deluge of primary, post-primary and special school entries flooding in from 19 different counties. Our first-round adjudicators were enormously impressed by the high standard of entries this year and the imagination, musicality and effort evident in each of them, and they had their work cut out for them in selecting just twelve groups (six primary and six post-primary) to perform in the Finalists Concert in the National Concert Hall on Monday, April 8th.
We thank all of the performers, teachers, principals and schools who worked so hard to put together some truly extraordinary Competition entries. You can all be very proud of your musical achievements, and if your school wasn’t selected as a Finalist this year, we do hope that the process has been a rewarding one and you will enter again next year.
PRIMARY SCHOOL FINALISTS
• Carrig National School, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
• Corpus Christi Primary School, Moyross, Co. Limerick
• Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan, Aonach Urmhumhan, Co. Thiobraid Árann
• Knockanean National School, Ennis, Co. Clare
• LurgyBrack National School, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
• St. Teresa's National School, Killoe, Co. Longford
POST-PRIMARY SCHOOL FINALISTS
• East Glendalough School, Wicklow, Co. Wicklow
• Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin
• Lucan Community College, Lucan, Co. Dublin
• Scoil Mhuire, Trim, Co. Meath
• St. Mary's Secondary School, Edenderry, Co. Offaly
• St. Mary’s Secondary School, Macroom, Co. Cork
The first-round adjudicators have also selected a standout entry to perform in the Finalist Concert – a group from Scoil Bernadette Special School, Montenotte, Co. Cork
In addition to the Finalists, the adjudicators have also singled out groups that were not selected but of particular merit as either Commended or Highly Commended. A list of these schools will be available on the Competition web page soon, and they will receive commendation certificates for all participants in acknowledgement of their achievements.
We are delighted to announce the 2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition Finalist schools!
We are delighted to announce our 2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition Finalists Concert Adjudicators, ZOË CONWAY and LIAM Ó MAONLAÍ!
Zoë is a renowned Irish fiddle / violin player and composer, equally at home in both traditional and classical styles. She has recorded several albums, performed around the world and collaborated with a diverse range of artists and groups, including Nick Cave, Dónal Lunny, Lisa Hannigan, Máirtín O’Connor, Lou Reed, Damien Rice, Rodrigo y Gabriela and Bill Whelan, among others.
Liam has been a musician all his life and performed and recorded both solo and in collaboration with numerous Irish and international musicians, including Bobby McFerrin, Toumani Diabaté, Tim Finn, Andy White and traditional musicians in America, Australia, Europe, India, Japan, Morocco and Scandinavia. With Fiachna Ó Braonáin, he formed The Hothouse Flowers in 1984, and they went on to record People, the most successful debut album in Irish history, as well touring and performing all over the world and recording five more albums.
Zoë and Liam will be joined as adjudicators on April 8th by Aideen Walton, Co-Director of the Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition.
We’re delighted to announce our 2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition Finalists Concert adjudicators – Zoë Conway and Liam Ó Maonlaí!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Primary and post-primary schools around the country still have seven weeks to prepare their entries for the 2024 Music for Schools Competition by 23 February. We look forward to seeing the results of all your creative work!
Entry Deadline
Friday, 23 February 2024, 5 pm
Announcement of Finalists
Friday, 1 March 2024
Finalists Concert
Monday, 8 April 2024
The annual Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition is a non-profit national initiative celebrating and supporting music-making in Irish schools.
IMPORTANT UPDATE!
In order to give all schools more time to prepare their entries this year, we have moved both the Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition entry deadline and the announcement of Finalists two weeks later. The new 2024 Competition dates are:
Entry Deadline:
Friday, 23 February 2024, 5 pm
Announcement of Finalists:
Friday, 1 March 2024
Finalists Concert:
Monday, 8 April 2024
WALTONS RTÉ LYRIC FM MUSIC FOR SCHOOLS COMPETITION
We are delighted to announce that after four long years, the Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition is back this year!
Primary and post-primary school music groups from around the country can compete for the chance to perform on stage in the National Concert Hall, in a gala Finalists Concert that will be streamed live by RTÉ Lyric fm. And six winning groups will receive awards totalling €7,000 worth of vouchers for musical instruments and equipment from Waltons Music Ireland for their schools.
Since the Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition was founded in 2012, this nationwide event has been supporting young musicians and music education in Irish schools; celebrating music as a cornerstone of Irish education; and promoting confidence, creativity and collaboration from an early age.
All primary and post-primary schools in the Republic of Ireland are eligible to enter the Competition, and schools from all 26 counties have participated in previous years.
The annual Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition is a non-profit national initiative celebrating and supporting music-making in Irish schools.
A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
I am writing with the disappointing news that the Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition will not take place in 2023. This is simply because the National Concert Hall was unable to provide us with a date for the 2023 Finalists Concert, as all of the other elements were in place for this year’s Competition.
I know that many students and teachers all over Ireland were looking forwarding to participating in the Music for Schools Competition this year, and I am sorry that we were unable to make it happen. But please be assured that the Competition will take place in 2024!
On a positive note, RTÉ lyric fm has supported the Music for Schools Competition since it began over a decade ago, and we are delighted to acknowledge this ongoing support by changing the name of the Competition this year.
If you would like to be notified when the 2024 Competition is announced, please subscribe to our mailing list. (Go to the Music for Schools Competition web page to do so.)
John Mardirosian
Director
The annual Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition is a non-profit national initiative celebrating and supporting music-making in Irish schools.
2020 FINALISTS CONCERT CANCELLED
The 2020 Waltons Music for Schools Competition Finalists Concert, scheduled to take place in the National Concert Hall on Monday, March 23rd, must regrettably be cancelled.
The government announced yesterday that not only are all schools, colleges, childcare facilities and cultural institutions in Ireland closed until March 29th, but all indoor gatherings of over 100 people are banned. So the National Concert Hall has cancelled all events until at least March 29th, including our Finalists Concert.
We know how disappointing this is for the nearly 500 young people who've put their hearts and souls into this project and were due to perform on the 23rd. Rest assured that we will develop an alternative plan for this year’s twelve Finalist schools.
In the meantime, we wish everyone continued good health.
FINALISTS CONCERT GUEST TICKETS
We have received several enquiries about tickets for the 2020 Waltons Music for Schools Competition Finalists Concert, which takes place in the National Concert Hall on Monday, March 23rd. (See http://www.nch.ie/Online/article/Waltons-Music-for-Schools-23Mar20.)
There are only a limited number of guest tickets available for Music for Schools Competition Finalists Concerts, and these are not on sale directly. Instead, they are divided evenly among the twelve Finalist schools, for them to sell or distribute.
Unfortunately, we simply cannot accommodate everyone who would like to attend the Finalists Concert, but all performances will be recorded on video for the Competition YouTube channel, and (subject to available RTÉ facilities), the entire concert may be live webcast by RTÉ lyric fm. (Please like our page to receive updates on the webcast closer to the concert date.)
2020 WALTONS MUSIC FOR SCHOOLS COMPETITION FINALISTS CONCERT ADJUDICATORS
We’re delighted to announce the two adjudicators of our 2020 Waltons Music for Schools Competition Finalists Concert – Kathleen Turner and John Spillane.
Dr Kathleen Turner is a singer, songwriter, community musician and Director of the MA in Community Music at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick.
And John Spillane is an acclaimed singer/songwriter and two-time Meteor award winner who has recorded several solo albums and whose songs have been performed and recorded by a number of prominent Irish artists.
The Finalists Concert will take place in the National Concert Hall on Monday, 23 March.
Produced by Waltons New School of Music and generously supported by RTÉ lyric fm, the Waltons Music for Schools Competition is a non-profit annual national event celebrating and supporting music in Irish schools.
We’re delighted to announce the two adjudicators of our 2020 Waltons Music for Schools Competition Finalists Concert – Kathleen Turner and John Spillane.
ANNOUNCING THE 2020 WALTONS MUSIC FOR SCHOOLS COMPETITION FINALISTS!
Primary and post-primary schools from nineteen counties, as well as several Dublin-city schools, entered the Waltons Music for Schools Competition this year.
The standard was very high indeed, and our first-round adjudicators were enormously impressed by the imagination, musicality and effort that went into each entry. They had a very difficult time selecting just twelve Finalist groups (six primary and six post-primary) and could easily have selected several more of a standard to perform in the 2020 Music for Schools Competition Finalists Concert, which takes place in the National Concert Hall on Monday, 23 March 2020.
At the Finalists Concert, two distinguished adjudicators will select six of these groups – three primary and three post-primary – to win First, Second and Third prizes, as well as €2,000, €1,000 and €500 vouchers for musical instruments and equipment from Waltons Music Ireland for their schools.
The Finalists were selected based on several criteria, including musicality, originality, inclusiveness and how effectively and creatively they addressed this year’ s Competition theme, ‘Where words fail, music speaks’ (Hans Christian Andersen).
We thank each and every performer, teacher, principal and school who worked so hard to put together some truly extraordinary Competition entries. You can all be very proud of your musical achievements, and if your school wasn’t selected as a Finalist this year, we do hope that the process has been a rewarding one and that you will enter again next year.
In addition to the Finalists, the first-round adjudicators also singled out groups that were not selected but of particular merit as either Commended or Highly Commended. These schools will receive commendation certificates for all participants in acknowledgement of their achievements.
All schools are listed in alphabetical order.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Finalists
• Bunscoil Loreto, Gorey, Co. Wexford
• Carnaross National School, Kells, Co. Meath
• Gaelscoil Adhamhnain, Leitir Ceanainn, Co. Dhύn Na nGall
• Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan, Co. Thiobraid Árann
• St. Fintan’ s National School, Dublin 13
• St. Paul’ s Primary School, Navan, Co. Meath
Highly Commended
• Danescastle National School, Danescastle, Co. Wexford
• Gaelscoil Shlí Dála, Buiríos Mór Osraí, Co. Laois
• Scoil Íosagáin, Farranree, Co. Cork
Commended
• Ballymacarbry National School, Co. Waterford
• Scoil Iosaf Naofa, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary
• St. Annin’ s National School, Rosscahill, Co. Galway
• St. Joseph’ s National School, Aglish, Co. Tipperary
• St. Patrick's National School, Rathvilly, Co. Carlow
• St. Ultan’ s National School, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10
POST-PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Finalists
• Coláiste Chill Mhantáin, Burkeen, Co. Wicklow
• De La Salle College, Dundalk, Co. Louth
• Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin
• Our Lady’ s Secondary School, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan
• St. Fergal’ s College, Rathdowney, Co. Laois
• St. Mary’ s Secondary School, Macroom, Co. Cork
Highly Commended
• Boyne Community School, Trim, Co. Meath
• Cnoc Mhuire Secondary School, Granard, Co. Longford
• Gortnor Abbey, Crossmolina, Co. Mayo
• Presentation Secondary School, Tralee, Co. Kerry
• St. Joseph’ s Secondary School, Rochtfortbridge, Co. Westmeath
• St. Mary’ s Secondary School, Edenderry, Co. Offaly
Commended
• CBS Ennistymon, Co. Clare
• Gairmscoil Chú Uladh, An Clochan, Co. Dhύn Na nGall
• Loreto College, Drumkeen, Co. Cavan (Entry 1)
• Loreto College, Drumkeen, Co. Cavan (Entry 2)
• Mean Scoil Mhuire, Longford Town, Co. Longford
• Our Lady’ s School, Terenure, Dublin 6W
• Rockwell College, Cashel, Co. Tipperary
• St. Benildus College, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin
• St. Leo’ s College, Carlow, Co. Carlow
• St. Paul’ s College, Raheny, Dublin 5
• The Green CBS, Tralee, Co. Kerry
Produced by Waltons New School of Music and generously supported by RTÉ lyric fm, the Waltons Music for Schools Competition is a non-profit annual national event celebrating and supporting music in Irish schools.
The annual Waltons Music for Schools Competition is a non-profit national initiative celebrating and supporting music-making in Irish schools.
ANNOUNCING THE 2020
WALTONS MUSIC FOR SCHOOLS COMPETITION!
2020 COMPETITION THEME
‘Where words fail, music speaks’
– Hans Christian Andersen
IMPORTANT DATES
Friday, 24 January • 5 pm
Entry Deadline
Deadline for schools to submit their entries.
Friday, 7 February • 1 – 4 pm
Announcement of Finalists
The twelve Finalist schools are announced on RTÉ lyric fm.
Monday, 23 March
Finalists Concert • National Concert Hall
The twelve Finalist groups perform before their peers and two
distinguished adjudicators in the 2020 Finalists Concert.
Founded in 2012, the Waltons Music for Schools Competition is a non-profit national event celebrating music in Irish schools.
The Music for Schools Competition is run by Waltons New School of Music and is generously supported by RTÉ lyric fm.
All primary and post-primary schools in the Republic of Ireland are eligible to enter the Competition, and schools from all 26 counties have participated.
For more information, see link below.
The annual Waltons Music for Schools Competition is a non-profit national initiative celebrating and supporting music-making in Irish schools.
THE FUTURE OF RTÉ LYRIC FM
Music Network has shared with us a letter expressing their deep concern about RTÉ possibly axing RTÉ lyric fm for budgetary reasons. RTÉ lyric fm has been a vital supporter of the Waltons Music for Schools Competition since it began in 2012, and we share their concern.
Here's what Music Network wrote:
‘Since the station first invigorated our airwaves more than 20 years ago, RTÉ lyric fm has established itself at the very heart of music and culture in Ireland. It plays a critical role in our national public service broadcasting, and its closure would result in a chasm that would irreparably weaken Ireland’s cultural landscape.
The station’s rich and varied programming incorporates the very best of orchestral, jazz, opera, contemporary, traditional, world and film music. With more than a quarter of a million weekly listeners it presents a unique and distinctive offering on Irish radio that brings enjoyment and inspiration to many.
RTÉ lyric fm operates on a minimal investment relative to the wealth of its output. Closing it is not the solution – any financial gains made would be fleeting and insignificant, but the loss felt would be long lasting and severe.’
If you care about this issue, please take a minute to sign an online petition that Music Network has also shared with us – and ask your friends to do the same!
I'm taking action to save Lyric FM. Will you join me by signing this petition?
Photographs and videos of the spectacular Waltons Music for Schools Competition 2019 Finalists Concert on Tuesday, May 7th can now be viewed on the 2019 Competition web page! The Finalists Concert videos are also available on the Competition YouTube channel.
Information, photos and videos about the 2019 Waltons Music for Schools Competition, a national competition and celebration of music in Irish schools.
Have a listen to RTÉ Radio 1’s Playback from Saturday, featuring a clip of the choir from St. Mochta’s National School in Clonsilla, Dublin 15, performing ‘Music = The Story of Life’, which won First Prize at this year’s Waltons Music for Schools Competition Finalists Concert at the NCH last Tuesday! The clip starts 15 minutes in.
69 South Great George's Street
Dublin
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Send a message to Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition:
Produced by Waltons New School of Music and generously supported by RTÉ lyric fm, the Waltons Music for Schools Competition is a non-profit national event celebrating and supporting music in Irish schools.
The Competition’s objective is to promote the enormous benefits of creative music making for young people. Its open nature offers schools the opportunity to think and work creatively in any genre (or genres) of music and with any combination of students, developing an original musical project that has learning potential at every stage of the process.
Breadth
The Music for Schools Competition is open to all genres of music, and performing groups have included choirs, instrumental groups, mixed instrumental and vocal ensembles, traditional groups and rock bands.
Eligibility
All primary and post-primary schools in the Republic of Ireland are eligible to enter this annual competition, and since it began in 2012 schools from all 26 counties have participated.
Finalists Concert
Each year’s Competition culminates in a gala Finalists Concert at the National Concert Hall, in which twelve Finalist school music groups (six primary and six post-primary) perform before their peers and two distinguished adjudicators.
Previous adjudicators include • David Brophy • Carl Corcoran • Ellen Cranitch • Julie Feeney • Evelyn Grant • Deborah Kelleher • Dónal Lunny • Gwen Moore • Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin • and Bill Whelan.
Prizes
At the end of the Finalists Concert, the adjudicators announce six winning primary and post-primary schools, which receive awards totalling €7,000 worth of vouchers for musical instruments and equipment from Waltons Music Ireland, including two First Prizes of €2,000 vouchers.
The Process
School music groups create an ensemble piece or song, based on the year’s Competition theme, and performed by an instrumental, vocal or mixed group from the school (maximum 40 performers). The piece or song can be performed by any combination of singers or instrumentalists you choose. The 2020 Competition theme comes from Hans Christian Andersen, ‘Where words fail, music speaks’.
Schools submit an online entry form, a video of the group’s performance and a jpeg photograph of the group.
The initial entries are judged by a team of first-round adjudicators, and twelve Finalist groups (six primary and six post-primary) are selected.
The Finalists are announced by Liz Nolan on RTÉ lyric fm.
The twelve school groups perform in the Finalists Concert at the National Concert Hall, and the six winning schools are announced at the end of the concert.
2020 Competition Calendar
Friday, 24 January, 5 pm • Entry Deadline
Friday, 7 February, 1 – 4 pm • Announcement of Finalists
Monday, 23 March, 1 pm • Finalists Concert, National Concert Hall
More Information
