President Higgins Visits the School, December
In December the newly elected president of Ireland visited the school. Earlier in the year orchestra members met president Mary McAlleese, and there were visits from The RTÉ Concert Orchestra, DEIS school principal and the RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet. The Musical Society put on it’s first production and there was no shortage of performances throughout the year.
Distinguished visitors to St Agnes' Tue Feb 8th
On Tuesday February 8th several groups of visitors converged on St Agnes' and attended rehearsals of the Parents String Orchestra, St Agnes' CYO and performances by small groups of children from Junior Infants, 1st Class, 2nd Clashallpin cookes, 4th class and 6th class. Among the visitors were Mr Jim Mulkerrins, Head of Social Inclusion and DEIS, Dept of Education, Athlone, Dr William Halpin, Head of DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, Mr Tommy Cooke, DIT Director of Community Links and Dr Cliona Doris, Head of DIT Conservatory Orchestral Studies and Terry Clancy, conductor of Sounds Ensemble. Sister Bernadette Sweeney, Principal, St Agnes' Primary School and Claire Ni Chianain, Principal of Scoil Colm, accompanied the visitors.
The Plucked Quartet meets the President February 12th
The Plucked Quartet (Jassjot Pal Kaur, 1st violinl, Kelsie Jones 2nd violinl replacing Melissa Deans, Kellie O'Neill, viola, Kelsey McCabe, cello) were invited to perform at the launch of European Volunteering Year.
The Cello Ensemble - -Jordean O'Brien, Emma Lynch, Rebecca Ross, Kelsey McCabe, Alaia Murphy, Laura Darragh - took part in the Dublin Youth Orchestras Chamber Music Day at Sancta Maria College Ballyroan, tutored by Adrian Gallagher.
Irish Association of Youth Orchestras Festival February 12th - Rebecca Ross, cellist, performed at the 3 pm concert of the 2011 IAYO Festival of Youth Orchestras in the National Concert Hall on Saturday 12th February with Fingal County Youth Orchestra.
Saturday February 26th - HAITI Benefit Concert
St Agnes Parents String Orchestra with Sounds Ensemble raised €1088 for Haiti at their concert on 26th February in the School Hall at St Agnes. Their programme "Beatles to Beethoven" concluded with "Thank You for the Music".
Inter-Schools Music Festival Saturday March 5th - St Agnes/Scoil Colm Primary School Orchestra were runners up in the MILLER CUP (Primary School Orchestra competition) at the Inter-Schools Music Festival hosted by Wesley College on Saturday March 5th. Conducted by Seamus Doyle, they played "The March of the Meistersingers" in an arrangement by Sandra Dackow.
MarchWednesday March 9th - Cor Fhéile na Scoileanna
All three of St Agnes' 1st classes go to Cor Fheile in the National Basketball Arena on Wednesday 9th March where they demonstrate their skills and talents in an inter school non competitive event.
Friday March 25th - DEIS School Principals visit St Agnes
More than 50 schools were represented at a presentation of work by pupils from Junior Infants to the 6th Class Quartet, St Agnes/Scoil Colm Primary School Orchestra and St Agnes Parents String Orchestra.
More than 80 visitors came to St Agnes for the demonstration of the music programme in the school. Fifty of the visitors were school principals, coming from Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Ennis, Sligo, Drogheda. They watched a presentation of work by Ms Eithne Brennan's Junior Infant Class, Ms Doherty's 1st Class, Ms Thimb's 2nd Class boys from Scoil Colm and a sixth class quartet from St Agnes. They then went upstairs to the "cookery room" to hear St Agnes/Scoil Colm Primary School Orchestra and St Agnes' Parents String Orchestra upstairs. Thanks to all the parents who came in on a Friday morning especially for the presentation!
April
Thursday April 7th - String Quartets play at KPMG Central Remedial Clinic Concert at Hotel Conrad
Three string quartets from St Agnes performed at the concert in the Ballroom of Hotel Conrad on April 7th 2011. They enjoyed the exciting lighting and the performances by students from the CRC school.
Plucked Quartet (6th Class) : Jassjot Pal Kaur, 1st violin, Melissa Deans, 2nd violin, Kellie O'Neill, viola, and Emma Lynch, cello
MJ Quartet (4th Class) Kirsty Nolan, 1st violin, Shannon McGrath, 2nd violin, Jessica McDonald, viola, Kelsey McCabe, cello
The Star Quartet (4th Class) Claire Kiernan, 1st violin, Kiva Byrne, 1st violin, Sophie Fahey, 2nd violin, Olivia Roche, 2nd violin, Alanah Caschera, viola, Ellen Donohoe, viola, Rebecca Ross, cello, Michaela Pantoja, cello
Friday April 8th - National love:live music Day - RTE Concert Orchestra visit St Agnes
Students from Rosary College, Crumlin Youthreach and Scoil Colm joined St Agnes' Primary School pupils from 2nd to 6th class and members of St Agnes' Parents String Orchestra for a unique event on Friday April 8th. RTE Concert Orchestra gave a concert in the School Hall, and played two pieces with St Agnes/Scoil Colm Primary School Orchestra.
Wednesday April 13th - Music Generation
At a meeting in the City Wall Space, Dublin Civic Offices, Seamus Doyle was elected to represent Dublin South Central on the Steering Committee of the CDVEC Dublin City Music Education Partnership.
MayTuesday May 3rd - Coffee morning for parents of "new" DYO players
An informal coffee morning took place in the cookery room where parents of players who have just got into th Dublin Youth Orchestras at the recent auditions could meet and chat with parents whose children had been members for a year or more and pass on a few tips - the big message was - "Don't miss rehearsals!"
Tuesday May 3rd - First meeting of the musical society - planning to do Oklahoma!
The performances of Oklahoma are planned for March 24th and 25th 2012. A group of more than 30 are involved. Auditions for the six big solo parts are scheduled for September 12th. Read more
Wednesday May 11th - RTE Vanbrugh String Quartet workshop at St Agnes
This was a memorable day when RTE Vanbrugh String Quartet came for a workshop and concert, playing works by Haydn, Mozart, Bartok, Borodin, Shostakovitch and Moeran.
May 29th - St Agnes' Parents String Orchestra with Sounds Ensemble - 2011 TEDDY BEARS CONCERT June
Sunday June 19th - 2011 SIDE BY SIDE CONCERT
More than 100 musicians took part in the 2011 Side by Side concert including guest players from the RTE National Symphony Orchestra, RTE Concert Orchestra and several Dublin amateur orchestras. Read more
Thursday June 30th - Thursday July 7th Summer camp
including a lunch time concert on Wednesday 6th July at Christ Church Cathedral. Read more here.
October
Saturday October 8th - Crumlin Mental Health Association concert
Members of the "Oklahoma!" chorus sang at the Crumlin Mental Health Association concert on Saturday 8th October in St Agnes Parish Centre, Crumlin Village. Their programme was accompanied by Pauline Cooper, piano, and conducted by Joanna Crooks, deputising for Eimear O'Grady. A string quartet from the Parents Orchestra led by John Whelan also performed at the concert.
November
Presidential Inauguration
Friday November 11th - Sister Bernadette attends the evening reception at Dublin Castle following the Inauguration of Ireland's 9th President, President Michael D Higgins
Parents Orchestra in Navan
Saturday November 20th - St Agnes' Parents String Orchestra with SOUNDS Ensemble - family concert in Navan
December
Saturday December 3rd 12 noon to 3 pm - St Agnes' Christmas Market
The first annual Christmas Market took place on Saturday December 3rd and raised over €3000 for the School Violin & Orchestra project. Santa Claus arrived by fire engine and the Christmas Market was opened by Miriam O'Callaghan, who stayed to enjoy a cup of coffee in the Christmas Corner Cafe. Read more
Thursday December 8th - Christmas lights ceremony at Aras an Uachtarain
Fifteen children were chosen to sing at the Ceremony for the turning on of Christmas Lights at Aras an Uachtarain, escorted by Sister Bernadette Sweeney and Adrienne Ni Cheallaigh. A photograph appeared in Saturday's Irish Times Read more
Sunday December 11th - Dundrum Town Centre
Members of St Agnes Musical Society Chorus sang Christmas Carols from 4:00-5:30 at Dundrum Town Centre, raising funds for the School & Violin Project.
Monday December 12th - Visit of President Michael D Higgins
The School was excited and delighted to receive a phone call from the office of newly elected President Michael D Higgins, to announce that the President would like to visit the music project at St Agnes. A guard of honour from Scoil Colm, Rosary College and Crumlin Youthreach as well as from the Early Start and Infant Classes greeted the President on his arrival at St Agnes. All other children in the school were waiting for the President in the hall, along with St Agnes/Scoil Colm Primary School Orchestra, St Agnes' Parents String Orchestra and members of Sounds Ensemble.There was considerable media coverage. Read more. The President was greeted on arrival by School Principal, Sister Bernadette Sweeney, the Archbishop of Dublin and the Chairman of the Board of Management, John Mooney. Photogallery
Wednesday December 14th - Microsoft Lunch
On Wednesday December 14th a group of players from St Agnes' Scoil Colm Primary School Orchestra played at the Sandyford offices of Microsoft Ireland, for the staff Christmas lunch. In addition they were given tours in small groups. On departure Microsoft gave an XBox 360 with Kinect as a gift to the school.
Annual Christmas Concert Thursday December 15th 6 pm - St Agnes/Scoil Colm Primary School Orchestra with St Agnes' Parents String Orchestra ~
The Christmas Concert took place on Thursday 15th December at 6 pm under the baton of Seamus Doyle and was a very happy occasion.
Bank of Ireland Walkinstown - On Wednesday December 21st a group of players from St Agnes' Parents Orchestra played Christmas music in the Bank of Ireland, Walkinstown, who were collecting on behalf of the Make-a-Wish-Foundation.