WELB Music Service Prize Night

Caption: Music Service pupils perform solos at WELB Music Prize Night. Back row (l-r) Donal Doherty WELB Head of Music Service; Ciaran McQuaid (Clarinet) Lumen Christi College; Kristan Swain (Flute) and Gavin Rogers (Cornet) Portora Royal GS; Paddy Mackey WELB Senior Education Officer.  Front row (l-r) Jeanne Munroe Accompanist; Neil Logan (Double Bass) and Vanessa Scott (Violin) Omagh Academy GS; Daisy Hannaway (Clarinet) Foyle and Londonderry College and Marie Batchelor Accompanist.

The Strule Arts Centre was the venue for a celebration of musical achievement presented by the Western Education and Library Board’s (WELB) Music Service at their prize night recently, which showcased pupils performing on a wide range of instruments and at different stages of musical development.

The evening opened with performances by the Omagh preparatory and junior string orchestras.  Their lively programme provided a toe-tapping start to the evening and was enthusiastically received by the sell-out audience. This was followed by the presentation of Music Service prizes by Paddy Mackey, WELB Senior Education Officer. Pupils were awarded prizes for outstanding achievement in externally assessed exams.

WELB Music Service pupils have recently taken part in a money-raising venture called ‘Practice-a-thon’ and have raised £12,348.94 in aid of CLIC Sargent.  One of the youngest cello players presented a cheque for this amount to Claire McAuley, Event Fundraising Manager, NI, who explained how the charity works with children suffering from cancer and their families.

She said: “We are so impressed by the amount of money raised from the WELB’s Practice-a-thon events.  We recently launched an appeal to build two ‘Homes from Home’ within walking distance of the two main Belfast hospitals so that families can stay together while their child or young person has cancer treatment.  All the money raised from the Practice-a-thon events will help us achieve these goals.” 

The final part of the evening comprised a recital by Music Service pupils who each performed a solo, accompanied by the local accompanist, Marie Batchelor and by Jeanne Munroe. Performances ranged from the delightful Peacherine Rag by Scott Joplin for the clarinet played by Daisy Hannaway, Foyle and Londonderry College, to the hauntingly beautiful ‘Remembrances’ from the film ‘Schindler’s List’ performed by Vanessa Scott, Omagh Academy GS.

The Music Service was delighted with the appreciative response and support.

If you would like more information on how to get involved with CLIC Sargent and the Practice-a-thon campaign, simply log onto www.clicsargent.org.uk/practiceathon’