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Music network announce €181,350 awarded through music capital scheme

December 15, 2015

Music Network today announced the results of the Music Capital Scheme 2015. A total of €181,350 in funding from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has been awarded to 19 performing groups and 13 individual musicians.

The Music Capital Scheme, supported by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and managed by Music Network, provides funding for the purchase of musical instruments to both non-professional performing groups and professional musicians.

Commenting on the initiative, Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, said:

“Ireland is so closely associated with high quality live music and the Music Capital Scheme helps to keep our live music scene alive by assisting amateur and professional musicians to buy their instruments. The funding grants range from less than €1,000 to almost €20,000, and should make a significant difference to the groups and individual musicians involved. Youth orchestras, chamber choirs, pipe bands and violin and guitar players are among those set to benefit this year. Music Network carries out very important work by promoting and supporting live music across the country and I am very pleased that my Department is in a position to continue supporting this hugely worthwhile organisation.”

In 2015, there were two categories of support under the Music Capital Scheme aimed at professional performing artists and non-professional performing groups/ensembles. According to Music Network CEO Sharon Rollston, “This year’s announcement brings to 227 the number of awards granted to musicians and organisations under the scheme, supporting Music Network’s mission to make live music happen throughout Ireland. We greatly appreciate the continued support of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in this respect.”
A series of free information clinics were hosted in Limerick, Kilkenny, Galway, Dublin and Cork in September to offer practical advice to applicants and address specific queries relating to the scheme’s guidelines.

Funding was awarded across the not-for-profit and community music sector through Stream 1, providing a range of community and music groups with financial support. 19 of 47 eligible applicants were awarded a total of €120,350 for the purchase of musical instruments across genres including Irish traditional, rock, pop, classical, choral/musical theatre, marching/concert bands, contemporary, and multi-genre.
Stream 1 awardees: Instrument banks for non-professional performing groups/ensembles

• Ballina Chamber Choir €1,724.25
• Ballymore Eustace Concert Band €10,942.50
• Castletown Accordion Orchestra €19,671
• CBS Concert Band €5,000
• Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann Killorglin Branch €1,499
• Cullen Pipe Band €5,786.32
• DIT Ballymun Music Programme €5,382
• Foróige National Youth Development Organisation €4,718.10
• Foxford Brass & Reed Band €6,450.37
• The Irish Association of Youth Orchestras €3,000
• Julianstown Youth Orchestra €6,156.75
• Music Together €1,559
• Sing Out with Strings (run by the Irish Chamber Orchestra) €11,292
• Sligo Baroque Orchestra €3,509
• Canice’s Instrumental Music Programme €9,335
• Michael’s Theatre Musical Society €1,371.75
• Patrick’s Youth Pipe Band €15,680.27
• Tipperary Regional Youth Service €5,617.69
• Waterford & South Tipperary Community Youth Service €1,655

In Stream 2, funds of €61,000 were awarded to 13 highly skilled musicians performing at professional level to assist with the purchase of instruments across the genres including classical, traditional, jazz/improvised, rock and popular music. The awardees were chosen from 33 eligible applicants.
Stream 2 awardees: Individual instruments for professional musicians

• Samuel Comerford Bass saxophone €4,184.46
• Tara Connaghan Violin bow €1,900
• Donnacha Costello Synthesiser €3,500
• Siobhán Doyle Violin €7,150
• Nicole Fischer Viola bow €3,500
• Ruairí Friel Electro-acoustic guitar €889
• Éamonn Galldubh Uilleann Pipes €4,382
• Mairéad Hickey Violin €9348.54
• Miriam Kaczor Piccolo €3,000
• Shane Kenrick Clarinet €2,185
• Brendan Maher Guitar €811
• Eoin Walsh Bass guitar €1,150
• Phoebe White Violin €19,000

Music Network is funded by The Arts Council. For further information on the Music Capital Scheme visit www.musicnetwork.ie or contact Sarah Cunningham, Programmes Administrator, Music Network,programmesadmin@nullmusicnetwork.ie, tel. 01 4750224.

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