Musical Magic @ Mayfest 2012

The WELB's senior youth orchestra performed a dazzling selection of music at the 10th Mayfest evening concert.  

The Western Education and Library Board’s (WELB) Music Service held its annual ‘Mayfest’ celebrations in the Millennium Forum, Derry, recently.

Two music workshops, attended by more than 1,500 primary school pupils, filled the Millennium Forum’s auditorium for the morning and afternoon sessions.  The focus for this year’s workshops was the exciting sound of Dance – Rock and Roll to Hip Hop via Swing and Jive.  A thirty piece orchestra, along with vocalists from the Musical Pathways to Learning (MPL) team, led Key Stage 2 pupils in well-known and popular music from the sixty’s to current hits, including many favourites from the television show Glee.

Dónal Doherty, Head of the WELB’s Music Service, said: “I’ve never experienced such an atmosphere in the Forum – the place was rocking! The level of participation at the workshop sessions and the quality of all the performances at the evening concert was outstanding. I’d like to pay tribute to the commitment and talents of all the young musicians, their teachers and all music service staff.  The event was a real celebration of the value of music education and the key role it plays in the lives of all our young people.”

Mayfest, now celebrating its tenth consecutive year, brings together some of the most talented young musicians from throughout the Board area in an exciting celebration of music.  The evening concert involved more than 250 musicians performing in string groups, bands, orchestras and choirs, which filled the Millennium Forum with a dazzling selection of music.  A wide variety of styles including classical, traditional and jazz, as well as some specially arranged and newly composed pieces, were performed as part of this annual showcase. The popular and rousing music from the film Pirates of the Caribbean provided a fitting finale to the concert and a memorable day of wonderful music.

Enjoying the sounds of Dance Rock and Roll are pupils from Fountain PS who recently attended the WELB's 10th Mayfest held in the Millennium Forum, Derry.

Donemana PS pupils had a memorable day at the WELB's Music Service annual Mayfest event, held in the Millennium Forum, Derry.

Pupils from St Patrick's PS, Mullanskea took part in the WELB's Music Service Mayfest workshops at the Millennium Forum, Derry.

The WELB's Music Service jazz band performed a number of lively pieces to entertain the audience.