U2-sponsored scheme to help children learn music expanding

The U2-sponsored scheme offering affordable music education programme to young children and teenagers is expanding.

The Music Generation programme has put a call put for applications for funding to provide free or cheap tuition to help develop young talent, whether instrumental or vocal.

The programme started thanks to a €5m donation from U2, topped up by €2m from the international charitable network, The Ireland Funds

Already €3m has been awarded to Music Education Partnerships up and running in counties Laois, Louth, Wicklow,Cork City, Sligo and Mayo. The plan is to support 12 local Music Education Partnerships nationwide by 2015.

This is the third round of funding to be made available under the programme and completed applications must be received by 5pm Thursday, November 8.

Music Education Partnerships, which usually comprise public agencies such as a vocational education committee or county council and private music tuition providers, are eligible to apply for 50pc funding, up to a maximum of €200,000 per year over three years.

The Department of Education and Skills is committed to continuing to fund the partnerships into the future when the Music Generation donations cease.

- Katherine Donnelly

http://www.independent.ie

U2 to support musical youth

ROCK giants U2 and the Music Generation scheme will invest €1.7 million to help children and young people in Cork city, Laois and Wicklow get access to vocal and instrumental tuition in their local area.

U2 guitarist The Edge said: "Access to music for children and young people is something that is very close to our hearts. We believe that every child should have the choice to get involved in music, irrespective of their background.

"Music Generation is addressing the gap in individual and group vocal and instrumental music tuition in our education system and we are delighted to be playing a part in nurturing and inspiring Ireland’s young musicians of the future."

Music Generation was launched in 2009 after a €5m donation from U2 along, with another €2m raised by The Ireland Funds.

The donation was the largest-ever single philanthropic gift to music education in Ireland in the history of the state.

The programme, which last year ran in Louth, Mayo and Sligo, is expected to create substantial job opportunities for local musicians over the next five years.

Chairman of Music Generation Dr Tony Ó Dalaigh said: "Music Generation would not be happening without the contributions made by U2 and The Ireland Funds.

"In practical terms it means that Music Generation can provide access to music education which is currently unavailable to the majority of children, as well as employment for musicians in their locality," he added.

By Colin O’Hanlon   www.examiner.ie/ireland




Emotional performance of "Love is Blindness" by Edge taken from From The Sky Down, a documentary film about the making of U2's Achtung Baby, will be released worldwide on Blu-ray and DVD on Monday 12th December, 2011, and in the U.S. on 24th January 2012.

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