A Galway music school is to form a partnership with a school in Paris. Leigh Michael Keeney reports…
La musique, ceol, no matter how you say it music has always brought people together; a universal language.
Demonstrating how true this is, a Galway music school, Maoin Cheoil na Gaillimhe, based in St Mary’s College, is soon to form a partnership with its Parisian counterpart, Musique Ensemble XXe.
This new alliance offers Galway’s youth a unique opportunity to engage in cultural exchanges. The project aims to promote cross-collaboration, honing the musical abilities and broadening the experiences of their students, with the chance to perform in both cities.
Establishing a strong cultural profile extends beyond the music to include sharing historical context and occasions to develop language skills.
Students will be encouraged to refine their skills and become real virtuosos, participating with professionally trained musicians from both schools; theirs, la crème de la crème, and ours, den chéad scoth.
Both schools are very excited about the partnership, and Mayor of Galway City, Cllr Terry O’ Flaherty, highlighted just how important initiatives such as this are for Galway’s cultural heritage as it ‘absorbs,’ different backgrounds and so benefits from a more diverse and much richer multi-cultural environment, all the while upholding its core identity as the focal point.
And if that’s not testimony enough to the importance of music in society then take it from Plato; “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”
For those who would like more information regarding this unique exchange programme or information regarding the school of music, call 091-528965 or visit www.mcng.ie.
