Harp Ensemble
Members of the Junior and Senior Harp Ensemble following a performance at The Tholsel in Drogheda for the Cairde na Cruite, International Harp Festival in July 2018.
MGL Harp Ensemble
A fortnightly gathering of young harpers at the Oriel Centre, Dundalk Gaol and DkIT to play a mix of traditional and contemporary tunes under the leadership of our tutor Deirdre Ni Bhuachalla. Currently there are Junior and Senior Harp Ensemble which are divided based on age (Primary & Post-Primary). They Join together for some rehearsals and performances.
The Senior Ensemble delighted in performing for Vice President of USA, Joe Biden and Ambassador Kevin F. O Malley at the ambassador’s residence in 2017. They have also performed at several festivals including An Chúirt Chruitireachta, Cairde na Cruite’s International Harp Festival in Termonfechin and Féile na Tána in Carlingford. Most recently the Senior ensemble performed at the Bloom of Youth Concert and Live on Fleadh TV on TG4 at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2018 in Drogheda.
About Deirdre Ní Bhuachalla
Deirdre is an experienced professional harpist and music educator based in Dundalk, Co.Louth, Ireland. She has been teaching Irish harp and associated musicianship both privately and in schools on a part-time basis since 1998. At the age of 7, she began her harp studies with Siobhán Ní Dhúill in Gaelscoil na Cille, Ashbourne, Co.Meath. She furthered her studies under the expertiese of Nancy Calthorpe, Evelyn Hearns and Denise Kelly Mc Donnell at DKIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, in Dublin.
She is currently teaching Harp for Music Generation Louth (LMETB ). She is also involved in her local branch (Craobh Dhún Dealgan) of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann where she teaches traditional Irish Music on Harp, and has tutored a multi-award winning Traditional Ensemble group since 2009. She is tutor, co-arranger and project manager of Nós Nua – Louth Youth Folk Orchestra.
She has performed across Europe including two consecutive years as Harpist to the Irish Delegation attending the Festival Interceltique in Lorient, Brittany. She had the priviledge of playing on numerous occasions in Áras an Uachtarán (Residence of the President of Ireland) during the first term of office of President McAleese, on behalf of DIT Conservatory of Music and as a representative of Feis Ceoil.
REHEARSAL SCHEDULE 2018/19
Thursday rehearsals will take place for the full ensemble at the Oriel Centre, Dundalk from 6.30pm to 8.00pm on the following dates:
4 October, 29 November, 10 January, 7 February, 7 March, 4 April, 2 May
Saturday rehearsals will take place 10.00am -11.00am for primary school age members and 12am – 1pm for post primary school age members on the following dates:
13 October, 17 November, 15 December, 26 January, 23 February, 23 March, 18 May
Saturday rehearsal venue: Section of Music, PJ Carrolls Building, DkIT
FEES
Annual membership fees for 2018/19 = €100 Fees are due in two installments at the start of term 1 (4 October 2018) and at the beginning of term 2 (10 January 2019). Please note we can no longer accept payment by cash/cheque. Payment must be made via our PAY ONLINE link or over the phone by calling 042 9364635 during office hours.