Irish Midlands Youth Orchestra 20th Anniversary Gala Concert

The Irish Midlands Youth Orchestra (IMYO) celebrate their 20 years with a gala concert at Esker Arts, Tullamore on May 3 (6pm).

Special guest performers at the event are Vltava String Quartet, soprano Erin Dollard, Mullingar Harp School directed by Jennifer Leahy, and Tullamore Stage School Choir with musical director Regina McCarthy.

Conducted by Matt Rafter, the concert will feature a varied programme from classical gems to movie soundtrack favourites.

The IMYO WERE founded by Vincent Hunt in 2006, and began as a collaborative project involving several smaller orchestras for a performance in Ireland’s National Concert Hall.

The musicians are aged between 12-20, primarily from the midland counties.

They meet once a month for rehearsals and give two or three performances a year.

They have toured to Germany, Dubai, Spain and most recently to The World Orchestra Festival in Vienna in July 2025. Highlights of that trip included a performance in the famous Musikverien Golden Hall, home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

Tickets for the gala concert are selling fast at eskerarts.ie.

Auditions are held annually in August. Contact irishmidlandsyo@gmail.com, call 087 20151967 and see their website at www.imyo.ie for more information.

IMYO are supported by Westmeath County Council, Offaly County Council, Tullamore Credit Union and the Music Capital Scheme.