IMRO

The IRMA Trust - Giving Something Back

Jessica Fuller (Manager, IRMA Trust)

The Corrs, Sinead O' Connor, Westlife, David Kitt, Aslan, Paddy Casey; The 4 of Us, Relish, JJ72 - what do these all have in common? All have sung from the same hymn sheet and helped the IRMA Trust give the gift of music to young people.

The IRMA Trust is the music industry charity in Ireland, which was set up in 1997 by the Phonographic Performance of Ireland (PPI), via the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA), with the intention of 'giving something back'.

A private charity, the objective of the IRMA Trust is to enhance opportunities for young people who might wish to pursue a career in music. Through the provision of funding, IRMA Trust aims to encourage equal opportunity and access to music activity, to promote active participation for young people in music and to facilitate further education opportunities for young musicians.

In the last two years, the IRMA Trust has strengthened it's identity, focusing attention specifically on providing funding through the Masterclass Funding Programme and providing much needed resources for young people through the Instrument Bank.

The IRMA Trust Instrument Bank is our flagship initiative. We have found that a primary prohibiting factor in the development of music for young people in Ireland, particularly children from marginalised communities, is a lack of access to music instruments and equipment. Through the IRMA Trust Instrument Bank, we provide instruments on a loan basis to children and young adults from disadvantaged communities throughout Ireland. While most of the instruments are purchased by the Trust, we have received generous donations from musicians and the general public. The Trust links with development agencies such as Music Network, the Federation of Music Collectives, Youth Services and Local Authority Arts Officers, who provide music training programmes and can reach the relevant audience at grass roots level. To date, we have partnered with sixteen agencies, north and south, providing instruments and equipment to over fifty music training programmes nationwide.

Beneficiaries include projects such as the Cherry Orchard Youth Service, where budding DJ's are now in training and guitar lessons take place weekly; Balcurris Music Project in Ballymun, set up with funding from the Criminal Assets Bureau has opened its doors to many more children, by providing keyboards, drum kits, harmonicas. Kilrush, Co. Clare, associated more with Irish Traditional Music has spawned a very exciting rock music project, the Teamwork Music Project. With partners such as Limerick Youthreach, Probation Services and the County Council behind the project, Mick Daly and Co. have ensured wide access for young people interested in recording, rehearsing and performing.

Kildare Youth Orchestra, Sligo Music Academy, Musicians of Antrim District Development (MADD) and other member collectives of the FMC, the list goes on. Many of the recipients might never have had the opportunity to play an instrument without IRMA Trust's assistance.

The IRMA Trust Instrument Bank celebrated its first birthday in November. We sang in tune with Sinead O' Connor and some of the recipients, in celebration of the fact that almost 5000 children and young adults have benefited from IRMA Trust instruments since the initiative was launched by An Taoiseach in 1999.

Through the Masterclass Programme, also launched in 1999, the IRMA Trust has supported over sixty organisations. By providing funding to music groups, organisations and institutions, the Trust creates opportunities for young Irish musicians to work with established performers and artists. We have given the opportunity to almost four thousand of Ireland's promising composers and performers, to work with some of the world's most renowned musicians on home territory.

Some of the beneficiaries include, The Callino Quartet, who first played together at an IRMA Trust Masterclass at the prestigious West Cork Chamber Music Festival. Likewise Cora Venus Lunny, winner of Irelands Young Musician of the Year, also participated in the Masterclasses at West Cork this year. We are the principle sponsor of the education series as part of Dublin Jazz Festival, which in a short few years has become the premier jazz event, catering for an audience of 7000 jazzers! In 2000, budding percussionists packed the BOI Arts Centre for a masterclass with the infamous Elvin Jones.

We also encourage new music and original composition and have sponsored masterclasses as part of the Waterford New Music Festival offering both pre-professionals as well as second level students the chance to participate in classes.

We aim to ensure that all genres are represented through our funding and that all relevant organisations are given the opportunity to apply. Application forms and closing dates are posted on the IRMA Trust website. Other organisations that the Trust continues to partner with include the National Concert Hall - Outreach and Education Department, Samhlaiocht Chiarrai and Fonn Chonnallacha, Donegal, Carlow College of Music to name but a few.

Mindful that the business of music is equally important, the IRMA Trust has also nurtured the talents of future music managers and entrepreneurs, through the provision of education bursaries.

Some of our investment has borne immediate fruit - successes like Samantha Mumba, now one of Ireland's best exports, was a runner-up in the RTE/BBC' talent show 'Let Me Entertain You', which was sponsored by the IRMA Trust.

Many of the young recipients will become the professional composers and performers of tomorrow, others will educate and train in music, while some again will work in auxiliary services recording, producing and managing. Equally important, many will become part of a listening and buying audience.

Through simple intervention, based on needs identified at grass roots level, the IRMA Trust is ensuring a creative and healthy future for music in Ireland.

The IRMA Trust is proud to play its part - why not join us and give the gift of music? Call us on Esat Freephone 1800 923 017 and donate an instrument today….

Further information about the Trust is available from Jessica Fuller - info@irmatrust.ie or log on to www.irmatrust.ie.