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Youth arts participants performing at this year's National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) Youth Arts Showcase at the National Library, Dublin. National Youth Arts Showcase 2013 Highlights Importance of the Arts for Young People On the 3rd of July, arts”, he didn’t have any good news on the State The National Youth funding front. Council of Ireland, “Funding will not be demolished but it will be with the Irish reduced,” he warned, urging groups to look for Association of Youth alternative sources of income. Orchestras, Children's Books Ireland, National Association In a recent article printed in The Irish Times, the for Youth Drama and Young Irish Film Makers NYCI are credited with providing as much ran this year's Youth Arts Showcase. Officially access to the arts as possible. It is proven that opened by Minister for Arts, Heritage and creative pursuits offer teens solace and enduring Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan, the annual event pleasure, but access to the arts is patchy, and aims to showcase the exceptional quality of with the Minister's comments and our ongoing

3 youth arts activity happening throughout Ireland economic situation remaining downcast, 9 and celebrate the contribution of youth arts to the increasing this access will remain to be a 1

5 lives of young people and to Irish society. It also problem. 1

. gives young performers the opportunity to speak 2

d “The National Youth Arts Showcase allows us to 4 directly with politicians and policy makers on the n

a share and celebrate a small proportion of the 1

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. rich cultural heritage,” said Anne O'Gorman of , 5 o k 3 Although the Minister described all the

y the NYCI Youth Arts Programme, speaking at the r + a o

i performers at the showcase as “living proof of : event. . C x

, why young people should have access to the w a y F w a u w 5 Q : 8 e s t 1 ’ i s e 5 b p 1 e o 2 P W 4 0 1 5 e 2 i , . e 3 o s 5 y u 3 a o i d + H @ e : t t o i e f s n m n u i i o r L : h T l i p c O i a e l Y v i m e A I C T E Welcome members and friends to the September 2013 issue of IAYO Hugh Maguire: 1926 ­ 2013 Newsnotes. As always, there has been plenty of activity over the summer months and there seems to be a greater involvement in music activity by young people over the holidays than ever before. We have also seen lots of new activity with local summer camps held by Music Generation in six counties in a variety of genres this year. The big news in IAYO at the moment is that we are approaching twenty years since the foundation of the association. IAYO was founded on 17th April 1994 at an inaugural meeting in Ennis with Andrew Robinson as Chairman and at which Agnes O'Kane was elected as Honorary Secretary with regional representatives elected from Dublin and each province. Curiously, the way numbers work, the twentieth IAYO Festival of Youth Orchestras is due to be held in February 2015, within the birthday year of IAYO's 20th and we are beginning plans to make this into an extra­special event, a gathering of the tribes to represent all the great work that has happened in youth orchestras over the last twenty years in Ireland, the growing numbers of orchestras and young players and the growth in the level of achievements of those young people in taking on ever more challenging programming. We have set a date of Saturday 7th February for the 20th Anniversary Celebrations at the National Concert Hall with the potential of extra events over that weekend. We would really like to hear from all Hugh Maguire, honourary President of IAYO and the founder of members who would like to be part of this event and to hear how you the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland and ConCorda, passed think we should celebrate. Please do let us know. The official away recently aged 86. application window for the 20th Festival is now open until Friday 1st Hugh was a violinist of huge talent from an early age, growing up November 2013. in a musical Dublin family. Such was his potential that he was Looking forward to meeting many of you over the coming months. offered a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London in 1 944, making his Wigmore Hall debut three years later. The next Allin Gray. period of his life involved a trip to Paris for further study with Georges Enescu and a brief stint with the London Philharmonic Orchestra before becoming leader of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in 1 952. IAYO AGM 2013 After four years with the BSO, Hugh became the leader of the London Symphony Orchestra at a time of dissent, and played a The IAYO Annual General Meeting will be held in Galway this part in returning the reknowned ensemble to stability. He enjoyed year on Sunday 6th October 201 3, at St Mary's College. The 6 years as leader of this orchestra, nearly accepting but finally venue has been chosen because our own Chamber Music turning down numerous offers to become leader of the RTÉ Course will be taking place in the same venue that weekend. Symphony Orchestra before joining the BBC Symphony Orchestra, again as leader, in 1 962. Hugh left the orchestral scene in 1 968 to pursue chamber music, Causeway Youth Exchange forming a piano trio with cellist Jacqueline Du Pré and pianist Fou Causeway is a British-Irish exchange programme that aims Ts’ong, as well as leading the Cremona String Quartet (recording to strengthen and improve relationships between young Boccherini and Haydn with guitarist Julian Bream), the Allegri people, and those that work with them, on the islands of String Quartet (recording quartets by leading British composers, Britain and Ireland. and frequently bringing the quartet to play in Ireland), and later the . Causeway projects bring together two or more of the eligible partner countries, promote team working and joint activities, It was during this period of his life that he was in and out of provide a valuable avenue for young people to explore their Abbey Road Studios, and he later recalled how he enjoyed perceptions of identity and invariably deal with issues of hearing his playing on the Beatles' recording of Hey Jude. tolerance and diversity. In 1 970 he founded the Irish Youth Orchestra (now called the There is more information on Causeway and how to get National Youth Orchestra of Ireland) with Olive Smith, and funding/grants at www.causewayyouth.org conducted them for more than 20 years, directing it in a landmark performance of the difficult Rite of Spring by Stravinsky in 1 991 . In 1 994 he founded ConCorda with his wife Tricia, which was based on the ProCorda training courses in Leiston in Suffolk EMI Music Sound Foundation where he had taught. ConCorda is now Ireland's largest youth Awards & Bursaries strings course. The EMI Music Sound Foundation provides two types of awards: Although Hugh was known as a mild mannered man, he was not Firstly, the Instrument and/or Equipment awards which allows afraid to speak his mind on musical matters, and there were schools, music teachers and individuals in full time education to numerous instances of him voicing his concerns and apply directly to the Foundation for assistance with the purchase disagreements with various conductors throughout his life. His of musical instruments and/or equipment. Secondly, the Bursary own musicianship was something special and natural, with music awards which allow students to apply for assistance with fees effortlessly flowing out of his violin in it's own distinctive tone. and/or living expenses (these are handled directly by the He was pre-deceased by his wife, Tricia Catchpole (née Block), college/organisation). who died in February, and is survived by his sister Monty and For more details on both awards please visit brothers Elias and Francis, his first wife, the dancer Suzanne www.emimusicsoundfoundation.com Lewis, and their five children, Simon, Caroline, Rachael, Anna, and Philip. IAYO Conducting Course ­ A Participant's Point of View

Louise Foxe recently attended the IAYO Conducting Workshop in the enjoyable, and eye-opening too, to hear Bobby’s anecdotes Royal Irish Academy of Music as an observer and kindly wrote a piece on from the world of conducting and conducting courses her experience. because it gave us a view into what’s involved and the I applied for the IAYO Conducting Workshop this year experiences that people have. because I like to do a conducting course every so often to I suppose I could recommend that we get notes from the refresh my memory and skills. I’ve attended the Association course to take home with the most basic points on them, but of Irish Choirs' choral conducting course in UL twice and I’m really just suggesting that for the sake of suggesting enjoyed it very much but it was great to find a course near to something, because we all took our own notes in our own where I live. I was also curious, having not done this course style, which means that we’ll understand them (hopefully!) before with this particular organisation. when we read back over them. I would also suggest maybe I’ve conducted several choirs, but I never feel as though I that people bring a baton. I didn’t have one with me, but can conduct ‘properly’. I suppose that comes from learning there were always a few spares there – thank God – and I classical piano – I have a diploma in piano performance, and was never made to feel like I should have brought one, so I’m used to doing grades and moving up the levels, and which I was grateful for, and which I think is the right I’ve tried to find out if there’s any qualifications that you can approach. get in Ireland for conducting, but the only one I’ve heard I’d definitely recommend doing the course – it’s in a very about so far is a masters in Cork that doesn’t always run, I central location, you meet a variety of people on it, all of think it might happen every two years. I’ve also asked David whom you may be able to work with in future, and all of Brophy to give me lessons at some point in the future, and whom have something to offer. Bobby is a great teacher - he said that that’s no problem (but now that I’ve met Bobby, relaxed, informative, useful and very enjoyable. It really adds David might have competition!). to conducting skills, it provides you with lots of tools to go On the first day, I felt a small bit of trepidation, as you often away and work with, and it’s held in a building where the do going into anything new where you don’t know the atmosphere is very conducive to such learning. people. I was a little bit worried as well that everyone would I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’d definitely do it again and I’d know each other – maybe through involvement in the RIAM recommend it to anyone at any level really. No-one was or through music degrees (I never did a music degree), and I made to feel beneath or above anyone else. We were also wondered if I’d be a good bit older than everyone (I’m treated as equals and the atmosphere was all the better for 33), but there was a good variety in background, age and it. experience in the group, so I didn’t need to worry. I think we were all feeling the same! I also remember feeling at ease We thank Ernst & Young for supporting a number of scholarships very quickly by Bobby’s approach. I do remember, however, for IAYO members for the conducting course not feeling totally prepared. As an observer, I probably should have printed out all of the scores, because I ended up asking for copies, but I remember thinking beforehand that it wasn’t really necessary for observers to have them, and I got that impression somehow, rightly or wrongly. I thought that Bobby (the course tutor) was brilliant. I particularly remember one thing – he didn’t spend too much time on the beating patterns with us. Well, he did, but in a different manner to any other course that I’ve been on. Other courses seemed to go through the very basics – “This is how you beat 2/4; this is how you beat 3/4,” etc. – which is also important – but Bobby showed us his way of doing them, which I liked. He didn’t try to impress them on us or make us do them his way – it was just great to see a ‘style’ rather than a generic model. We’d go in each morning, Bobby would teach us technique (even from the very beginning – like how to hold the baton), then we’d sit in our group and people would take it in turns to go up and conduct a piece that they chose from one of the course-works. I liked how nobody was put under pressure to go up and conduct – for the participants, there wasn’t much point in taking part and then not going up, but I still liked how pressure wasn’t put on people. Bobby would give feedback and constructive criticism, and it was incredibly useful. We all learned from it. In the afternoon, there was usually a session with the orchestra. That was great for me especially (and I’m sure one or two others on the course) because being a piano player, I’m not at all used to sitting with other people and hearing the different sounds around you. That was a great experience. Then we’d have maybe more individual conducting, and sometimes another session, like score- reading and transposition. That was unexpectedly helpful. It’s very important to keep your all-round musical knowledge and technique up, not just conducting, and all of the different to pics contribute to the conducting and benefit it. It was 2013 ­ 2014 Season Auditions

The National Youth Orchestra of Ireland is delighted to announce audition dates for the 2013 season! Application forms are available from www.nyoi.ie and the closing date for applications is 27th September 2013! Auditions will take place as follows:

Cork: Saturday 12th October ­ Cork School of Music Dublin: Sunday 13th October - Alexandra College, Milltown Belfast: Friday, 18th October 2013 (evening) ­ City of Belfast School of Music Dublin: Saturday 19th October 2013 (Percussion, Harp & Leadership only) ­ Alexandra College, Milltown Galway: Sunday 20th October ­ Galway Technical Institute

IAYO Festival of Youth Orchestras 2014 ­ Participating Orchestras The 1 9th Festival of Youth Orchestras will see more than 400 young players from around Ireland perform original works and arrangements from the classical repertoire, shows, films and pop music including pieces by Mozart, Beethoven, Bizet, Bartok, Scott Joplin's 'The Entertainer', Corelli's 'Christmas Concerto' and arrangements of Elbow, Cole Porter and more.

3pm Performance Ceol Na Mara Chamber Orchestra St Agnes / Scoil Colm Primary School Orchestra & St Ultan's Primatry School Orchestra Music Matters County Wexford Youth Orchestra

8pm Performance County Donegal Youth Orchestra East Meets West Orchestra (Headford Youth Music, Galway and Kilbride and Lakeside Band, Wicklow) Tipperary Millennium Orchestra Young European Strings Chamber Orchestra Full Price: €1 5 Concessions (Students, OAPs, Unwaged etc.): €1 0 Children (1 4 and under) €7.50 Family Ticket: €40 40% discount for groups of 1 0 or more On sale from Monday 1 6th September 201 3 St Canice's Instrumental Music Eurochestries Programme celebrate 30 years

Catherine John is a recent graduate of the Masters in Community Music at UL. She contacted IAYO to give us information on the Eurochestries Federation, which is a network of European and international youth orchestras and festivals. Catherine became involved in Eurochestries when she took a Maria Comerford, Principal St Canice's NS Kilkenny, Gina O Leary, and Ruth O Leary Mexican youth orchestra to their Charente-Maritime (France) festival in 2011 for an exchange with the Youth Orchestra of l’Entre-Deux-Mers, and she has returned over the last two years The Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny was the venue on Saturday 22 June as an intern at their festivals and a member of their board. for a musical spectacular to celebrate 30 years of the renowned Instrumental Music Programme in St Canice’s National School "The Mexican musicians were never the same after this Kilkenny. ‘30 years of Music Making – A Celebration’ was a night to experience. With renewed energy and enthusiasm, they have remember the many achievements of the music programme since it was since recruited new musicians and conductors to their orchestra, founded in 1983. The concert was a showcase not only of current delved into more challenging national repertoire, and perform musicians in the school but also of several past pupils who have gone frequently, with the dream of traveling to a festival again some on to become renowned musicians in their own right, such as Maria day." Ryan (current holder of the Heineken violin), David O Leary, Alison Catherine went on to study a Masters in Community Music at the Comerford and Mark O Leary. University of Limerick, during which time she continued to be The concert also featured groups of local secondary school students, involved in the Eurochestries Federation, attending their annual who had started their music in St Canice’s and who continue to play and congress in Paris, where she was appointed Representative of enjoy music together as well as St Canice’s Gateway Orchestra, a very the United States, and interning at another of their summer special adult orchestra of amateur musicians making their debut festivals. The Federation has been enthusiastic about performance. Eamon Cahill, who is synonymous with teaching jazz in encouraging Irish youth ensembles such as orchestras, choirs, Kilkenny also featured 2 of his jazz bands in the show. It was a night of and chamber music to participate in their summer festivals, and musical diversity; from french horn, and trombone, played by brother Catherine has actively promoted the Eurochestries in Ireland. and sister Muireann and Lorcan Brennan to violin and flute, played by Their festivals are very affordable for participating ensembles. Aisling O Dwyer­O Brien and John Donovan, both of whom teach Aside from transportation to the festival site and during the music locally. festival (the federation does subsidise coach hire), there is a cost One of the highlights of the evening was the performance of per participant of approx. €25 for one to two weeks' room and Mendelssohn’s Octet for Strings, where several of the solo artists came board, in addition to tourism, a concert tour organised by the together for one night only to form a special octet. The group received Eurochestries, and activities and performances with other young a standing ovation with many of those in the audience saying their musicians of many different nationalities. performance alone was worth the trip! Maria Ryan, celebrated violinist The Eurochestries Federation has not yet hosted an Irish youth treated the audience to Tchaikovsky’s “Melodie” followed by the orchestra and they would very much like to. Chamber ensembles frenetically paced “Banjo and Fiddle” by Kroll. David O Leary, and choirs are also welcome. violinist with the English National Opera, played ‘Carmen Fantasy’ by Sarasate and again received a standing ovation for an outstanding Eurochestries festivals are held in France, Spain, Slovakia, performance of this virtuoso piece. St Canice’s Senior Orchestra, Poland, Russia, Brazil, Canada and China. The 201 4 festival conducted by Ruth O Leary, closed the show. This multi­award sites and dates will be announced soon. winning orchestra has proven over the years to be a springboard for For more information, visit their website at www.eurochestries.org many musicians to even greater things and these children are themselves ‘musicians in the making’. The night would not be complete without special mention of the woman who made this all possible. As the show came to a close, Gina O Leary received a special presentation from her son David in recognition of her creation of a legacy of music for thousands of children in Kilkenny. Gina in turn expressed sincere thanks to all who had contributed to the success of the programme over the last 30 years. Speaking after the show acclaimed Dublin conductor and adjudicator Dr Albert Bradshaw praised Gina for the profound effect she has had on the lives of so many through her work in music education and for bringing the children’s “musical sense” to life. While it was an emotional night, it was more than anything a night of celebration. The last word should be left with Gina who simply said “I expected the concert to be very good but I didn’t imagine just how amazing all the performances would be. It was truly a celebration”! Young Dublin Symphonia Tour with help from Youth In Action Young Dublin Symphonia, a youth string orchestra based in in G minor by Vivaldi, Mission Impossible, St Pauls Suite by Malahide, County Dublin was chosen to take part in an EU Holst, 'Molly on the Shore' by Grainger, Mixing the Malt by initiative based in Celleno, Italy earlier this month. Martin to name but a few. Three concerts were held in the outdoor venues of Celleno and Bolsena and in the church of Twenty members of YDS along with their conductor Bjarke Santa Maria della Verita in Viterbo which is in the Lazio region Gundersen travelled to Italy to join forces with Italian and of Italy. Norwegian orchestras to make one large group of 60 members who would practise and perform a repertoire of classical music. The 201 3 activities of YDS were funded by Culture Ireland & This meeting of youth and culture was funded by Youth in Youth In Action and the Irish Presidency of the EU. Action, Norwegian branch (Aktiv Ungdom), which promotes youth based activities. Although music was a priority, discussion forums based on issues which the young people of the EU face today also took place on a daily basis. These young Irish, Norwegian and Italians discussed and debated issues such as poverty, education, stereotypes, water conservation and their own cultural identities. The main aim behind the forums was to promote young people’s active citizenship in general and their European citizenship in particular. The three orchestras performed an extensive repertoire which included Palladio by Jenkins, Water Music by Handle, Concerto

Agnes O'Kane Award Youth In Action Orchestra Exchange: Dum­Tek The Agnes O’Kane Award is presented Dum-Tek is a not for profit music association located in San annually to a volunteer who has Salvo. Its aim is to foster curiosity for art and passion for music contributed to the growth of a youth among young people. From the start, all Dum-Tek’s activities orchestra or youth orchestras in have been carried out with an intercultural emphasis focusing on Ireland and recognises the vital different genres of music (including from the orchestral contribution that volunteers have had repertoire). Dum-Tek have recently expressed the willingness to in the growth of youth orchestras over do an exchange with a youth music group through the Youth in the last thirty years. The first recipients Action programme. of the award were Agnes’ own family, both recognising her work and the The aim of Youth in Action is to get groups of young people from support that her family gave to herself different countries together so they can explore their social and and to IAYO. Since then, Joanna Crooks and John O'Brien have cultural difference and similarities. It's specific objectives include received the award for their great contribution to youth orchestras improving the mobility of young people and youth workers, in Ireland. promoting youth empowerment and active participation, promoting cooperation and exchange between youth groups. If you would like to nominate someone for the award, please make a recommendation in writing to the IAYO office. This could be interesting for our members as there is funding Recommendations should be between one and three A4 pages available for trips such as these, and if you wish to pursue it long describing the person’s contribution to youth orchestras and further, we have a number of documents with further information how it has helped in growth and development. on our website at http://www.iayo.ie/news/youth-in-action- orchestra-exchange-dum-tek/ The closing date is Friday 1 0th January 201 4. The quartet in residence this year was The Acanthus quartet. ConCorda 2013 They inspired the whole course to sing snippets from Dvorak’s Tara McCarthy writes about her experience at this year's American Quartet by the end of the week. They did not hesitate ConCorda course in Kilkenny to get involved in all of the activities throughout the course. This year was ConCorda’s twentieth anniversary and, to mark the One of the all important events is the talent show. It was varied occasion, there was a commission for a new piece to be as always, with a mixture of entries from staff and students composed. This was the job of Sam Perkin, a young composer providing fantastic entertainment. Other extra-curricular activities who visited the course to see the rehearsals and performances of include sports, sight-reading sessions, fashion show and the his new work Inspirit. It was a very inventive work and, as he was ConCorda quiz. These activities especially help you to get to asked to write for a chamber music course, it cleverly included know staff as people and not just teachers, which is a great several chamber groups alongside chamber orchestra. Not only aspect to the course. this, but we had the chance to use voice, percussion and droplet Music theatre is a session in which students come up with their sounds among others! Learning this new work was a great own show during the course. It allows you to improvise and be experience, and we also had the opportunity to perform the World completely creative with music. This is an important and original Premiere! Most importantly, this was dedicated to the founders of aspect to the course, like no other, especially since we as the course, Hugh and Tricia Maguire, who both recently passed classical musicians often do not improvise so it provides a away. relaxed atmosphere in which to do so. As well as this, we enjoyed three daily sessions of chamber Nearing the end of the week, we visited the beautiful Castalia groups in which we had the chance to work through great works Hall, where the orchestra premiered Sam’s piece . This such as those of Prokofiev, Mendelsshon and Mozart among Inspirit was the venue for the much anticipated performance of the many others. These three different groups could consist of Acanthus quartet also, one that was enjoyed by all. quartets, quintets, sextets or octets. We all had the chance to work with teachers from the Irish Chamber Orchestra, The The family atmosphere of the course is one that is never Vanbrugh Quartet, Acanthus Quartet and Danel Quartets to name forgotten, whether new at ConCorda, or experienced at the a few. course, everybody is welcomed to this great week. The friends that are made here are ones that stay with you and often go back All of this takes place in a completely non-competitive year after year for the experience. Following my third course, I atmosphere, where everybody’s playing improves immensely can safely say if you haven’t applied before don’t hesitate, you over the week. It’s a great chance to play chamber music and if will have an exciting and inspiring musical week! you haven’t played in a chamber group before, it’s the best place to learn to do so!

great atmosphere during rehearsals and no stage where the Irish Youth Wind Ensemble 2013 conductor was getting frustrated. He even had the time to make Emma­Lee Meegan was a member of this year's Ensemble, fun of a few people’s accents (Ardee-hey!). and she kindly wrote about her experiences this year for My favourite piece was Nigel Hess’ East Coast Pictures Newsnotes because it had the most My 201 3 IYWE experience fabulous cornet and trumpet got off to an early start at solos (but perhaps that is a 5am on Sunday, 1 8th little biased). I also loved the August. As it was my first ‘Tango’ in Yosuke Fukuda’s year in the ensemble I was Symphonic Dances. I honestly suffering from a few nerves can’t say that I had a least on the bus on the way favourite piece. The most down, but fortunately my challenging for me personally friend, who was in it last was the Trombone Concerto, year, kept me entertained as I was playing first trumpet in with stories of how nice it and it had a few awkward everyone was and how passages. much fun the week would We were kept well entertained be. in the evening with trips to the After registering, we spent cinema, bowling, a quiz or just Sunday and half of Monday general socialising. The week in sectional rehearsals. It wasn’t long flying by with was a bit daunting at first, rehearsals until 9pm every being stuck in a room with evening and it became hard to eight brilliant trumpet stay awake at night later on in players, but once we got the week! started on the programme I Members of this year's Irish Youth Wind Ensemble on Sandymount Strand, Dublin It was amazing, come Saturday, soon forgot how nervous I’d to be part of the concert in the been. Everyone was very friendly and our trumpet tutor, Dave National Concert Hall. Everything ran as smoothly as we could Collins, was great. have hoped. Despite how great I thought we sounded at the Monday afternoon saw our first rehearsal as a full ensemble start of the week it was incredible to hear the difference those with conductor, Ronan O’Reilly. Having never been part of such few days had made to everyone. Part of me actually spent the a talented ensemble before, I was amazed by how well concert wishing I could be out in the audience hearing it all from everything seemed to fit together so soon into the week. their point of view as I’m sure it sounded even better there than it did at the back of the trumpet section! I loved the choice of programme. The pieces were challenging but at the same time there didn’t seem to be anybody having Overall, IYWE was a fantastic experience. I’m so glad to have nervous breakdowns over particular bars – so just the right level met such a talented group of young musicians and am looking of difficulty. I think everyone in the ensemble would say they forward to IYWE 201 4 already! enjoyed every piece on the programme – there was always a Achievement Awards Garda Vetting for Youth Orchestras The IAYO Youth Orchestra Achievement Awards are presented IAYO provides Garda Vetting for youth orchestras annually at the Festival of Youth Orchestras. They acknowledge and ensembles through the consortium run by the achievements in a range of categories for programmes National Youth Council of Ireland. Contact Bertie at completed by youth orchestras in the previous year. We are now the IAYO office for details on vetting staff and accepting applications for the 201 4 Festival. volunteers with your orchestra. Newsnotes Online You can now access our paper version of Newsnotes online on the e-publishing website issuu. You can access this edition and many of our previous editions of Newsnotes at issuu.com/iayo

Implications of the new NYCI Certificate in Youth Arts Garda Vetting Legislation 2013­2014 open for applications There was a report prepared for the board of IAYO on the Applications are now open for the NYCI Certificate in Youth implications of the new Garda Vetting Legislation which Arts, a part time, year-long university accredited course of includes guidelines provided by the National Youth Council of study in Irish Youth Arts Practice managed and delivered by Ireland. You can find the report and the act itself at the Arts Programme at the National Youth Council of Ireland. http://www.iayo.ie/vettingact The Certificate in Youth Arts aims to introduce those working in the non-formal education sector to the concepts, principles and practice of youth arts using a context and Charity Regulator Gets Green Light practice approach. An announcement by Minister for Justice, Equality and The application deadline is Friday 20th September 201 3. Defence, Alan Shatter TD that Government has approved For more information visit www.nyci.ie plans to establish an independent Charities Regulatory Authority is welcomed by the IAYO. The new Authority will come into operation in 201 4. This is good news for both the public and charities. When More news, more detail, more the regulator is established, members of the public will for the first time have access to comprehensive information on often . . . . www.iayo.ie/newsnotes the activities of community and voluntary organisations, including how they use their funds. Community and voluntary organisations will themselves Arts Council Festivals and Events enjoy clarity on what the requirements are in relation to governance standards, fundraising practices and reporting Scheme 2013 requirements. All in all, everyone – charities, members of The Arts Council Festivals and Events Scheme will be open to the public and beneficiaries – will benefit from the multi-disciplinary festivals and single artform festivals. Events increased transparency and accountability that regulation may be one-off projects or programmed over a number of months of charities will provide. (e.g. a concert series). So far, IAYO members such as Summer Music on the Shannon, Coole Music Youth Orchestra Festival In February, the Government embarked on a public and and Ceol na Mara have benefitted from funding. stakeholder consultation on the implementation of the The Festivals and Events Scheme is a non-recurring competitive Charities Act 2009. The Department of Justice and scheme, assessed by a peer panel. Equality also published a summary report of submissions received. The closing date for applications is 1 9th September 201 3 and for more information visit the arts council website www.artscouncil.ie