Schools from across Westmeath and Offaly SingOUT! event

Some 175 pupils from seven Westmeath and Offaly secondary schools took part in Music Generation’s Offaly and Westmeath SingOUT! event in Esker Arts Centre, Tullamore last month.

Part of SingFest, a celebration of all things singing, SingOUT! is just for secondary schools and supports participating groups and choirs with everything they need to learn a number of selected songs, including providing workshops with Music Generation musician educators Tríona Walsh and Andrew Kin-yip Yau in the run-up to the event. On the SingOUT! day, the groups come together to form a single choir and perfect the music.

The SingOUT! day was led by Irish Youth Training Choir conductor Patrick Barrett and involved six of Music Generation Offaly and Westmeath’s professional musician educators who guided the participants through a number of workshops and went on to form the band.

This year the band were joined on stage by several ukulele players from participating schools for one of the songs.

Margaret Broome, development officer with Music Generation Westmeath, said: “We had a wonderful day! The highlight for me was hearing the singing, and then seeing the reaction of the young singers when they got to sing with the band. We’re looking forward to working with them all again soon.”

Participating schools included: Wilson’s Hospital School; Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan; Mullingar Community College; Athlone Community College; Killina Presentation Secondary School; Ardscoil Chiaráin Naofa, Clara; and Sacred Heart School, Tullamore.