St Agnes’ CCMA’s  Annual String Summer camp was a fantastic  success.  It took place on-line over a five day period from the 28th June and culminated with the annual end of year concert on the 2nd of July. Cormac O’hAodáin was the conductor.
This year's Summer String Camp was  a camp with a difference in so many ways. Seven string players from St Agnes’ Community Late Starter Orchestra (LSO) played the repertoire.   Musicians Cillian O’Breacháin, Aisling Drury Byrne and Shane Cavanagh also joined the group in the CCMA.    The rehearsals were live-streamed to almost sixty players including to a player who zoomed in from New York.  Players from Galway, Wicklow, Wexford, Dublin, Louth, Donegal, Kildare, Meath  also attended the rehearsals.  Darby Carroll, bass player and sound engineer ensured the sound from the  CCMA was perfect for all to hear.
There was an opportunity for Summer Camp participants and the wider community to zoom in and listen to topics related to music and the arts by attending the  Explore Lunchtime Series.
On Monday from Switzerland Clíodhna Ní Aodáin gave an inspiring workshop, "Discover Your Own Inner Music". On Tuesday, not to be outdone, her brother Cormac gave us a history of his own professional instrument the horn, emphasising the historical background of the horn in Ireland, and concluding his talk with a live performance of the final Movement of Mozart's quintet for horn, violin, two violas and cello.
On Wednesday Denise Ní Dhuibhir, gave us an insight into the visual arts in the lifetime of one of the composers of the week, Ralph Vaughan Williams. She paid particular attention to Jack Butler Yeats, brother of the poet William Butler Yeats, and encouraged us all to go to the galleries and see some of the painting she discussed in the weeks ahead.  On Thursday Cillian O’Breacháin, string tutor for the week, delivered an inspirational lecture accompanied by wonderful excerpts on the life and work of Ralph Vaughan Williams, and concluded his talk by performing part of Vaughan Williams' most famous work for solo violin, The Lark Ascending.
On Friday we were joined by Peter Whelan, artistic director of the Irish Baroque Orchestra, to give a talk with the intriguing title Mr Handel’s  Adventures in Dublin.

Roll on next year!