From Chime Bars to Steinways…the National Concert Hall hosts performance by young musicians from Dolphin House Homework Club as part of Common Ground’s Music for Me programme

A new composition The Power of Music was performed at the National Concert Hall on April 7^th.

After working together for five years as a part of Common Ground's Music for Me programme, this unique composition project took place between Chelsea Whelan, Nicole Kelly, Kyle Dunphy, Lydia Lynham, Megan Whelan, Chloe Henrick, Saoirse Conlon, David Ring, Shannon Patterson and Kelly Doyle from Dolphin House Homework Club with acclaimed musicians Elaine Agnew and Nick Roth.  The event showcased the musical and compositional skills and talents of the children who were accompanied by musicians and composers Elaine Agnew, Nick Roth, Cora Venus Lunny and Kate Ellis.

The Power of Music, is based on the fairy story written by Sinead de Valera which explores the affect music can have on us - how it can make us laugh, cry, dance and even sleep.

Elaine Agnew, musician and co-composer exclaimed "We couldn't believe their creativity. I've worked with these children for five years and there was something about this fairy story that unlocked a creativity that was previously unseen."

The performance marked a dream come through for many of the young musicians who explained how important the Music for Me programme is to them, " I started when I was 11. Now I'm 14 and I still really look forward to it. If Music for Me at Dolphin stopped I'd be disappointed because every Wednesday you're learning something new."

Common Ground's Irma Grothuis commented, "We have worked really hard with our project partner Dolphin House Homework Club to seed and expand Music for Me.  It is a fantastic public celebration of the expertise and skills built up by the children and musicians in a five year period. The support extended to us from the National Concert Hall has been amazing, it means a great deal to the children to perform here in front of everyone."