Irish Association of Youth Orchestras

08/08/2026

🎶 THE 2026 ESKER FESTIVAL IS NEARLY HERE! 🎶

18–23 August 2026

We are excited to share our most ambitious programme yet with audiencees as Esker Festival Orchestra & Choir with a festival of 'Rustic Delights and Dangers' across Galway and Dublin.

🗓️18th August

🎻 The orchestral programme 'Simple Gifts'
• Brahms Symphony No. 2
• Copland 'Appalachian Spring'
• Ethel Smyth 'The Boatswain’s Mate Overture'

🗓️19th August

🎻The incredible Kandinsky Quartet and friends in concert.

Our Quartet in Residence present a concert of their ownfeaturing works by Mozart and Dvorak

🗓️20th August

🐺 NEW FOR 2026: Esker Family Concerts!

Bring the whole family to performances of Prokofiev’s beloved 'Peter and The Wolf' introducing younger audiences to the magic of live orchestral music through storytelling, humour and adventure. Presented by Jenna Raggett and conducted by Véronique Bernar.

🗓️ 22 & 23 August

For the first time ever, Esker presents Mascagni’s genre-defining verismo masterpiece 'Cavalleria Rusticana' in the atmospheric surrounds of St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, Galway and Christ Church, Cathedral Dublin

Conducted by Artistic Director Peter Joyce, the performance brings together the full Esker Festival Orchestra and Choir with an outstanding international and Irish cast:

Santuzza – Jenni Hietala
Turiddu – Lukas Schmidt
Alfio – Dan Scofield
Lucia – Olha Palazhchenko
Lola – Heather Sammon

🎉From emerging Irish and international musicians to acclaimed soloists, our 2026 festival brings together the next generation of orchestral talent for a week of performance, collaboration and artistic development. 

⭐️🎼Come and join us!🎼⭐️

📍 Galway & Dublin
📅 18–23 August 2026
🎟️ Tickets: €10–€35
🎫 Galway Festival Pass: €60

Find the full programme and tickets at eskerfestivalorchestra.com

RTESupportingTheArts ArtsCouncilSupported

30/07/2026

Rehearsals are sounding brilliant and we can't wait to bring this work to an audience this weekend!

Under the baton of Artistic Director Ronan O'Reilly over seventy players take audiences on a thrilling musical journey that travels from the bustling energy of New York to haunting imagined worlds, sweeping Scottish landscapes and bold reimaginings of Beethoven.

Featuring music by Philip Sparke, John Mackey, Johan de Meij, Nelson Jesus, Franco Cesarini and Nigel Hess, the programme showcases the remarkable versatility, colour and power of the modern wind ensemble, with several works receiving their Irish premieres.

Book your tickets now for performances in Galway and Dublin this weekend!

Saturday, 1 August 2026 | 7.00pm
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church, Galway

Sunday, 2 August 2026 | 7.00pm
The Great Hall, IMMA Venues, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin

Tickets are €20 / €10 concession (+bf). Link in bio or via iywe.ie

28/07/2026

Rehearsals are sounding amazing at Irish Chamber Orchestra

Join the Irish Youth Wind Ensemble this bank holiday weekend for their concerts!

Saturday, 1 August 2026 | 7.00pm
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church, Galway

Sunday, 2 August 2026 | 7.00pm
The Great Hall, IMMA Venues, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin

Tickets: €20 / €10 concession (+bf) available at IYWE.IE

Experience an exhilarating concert programme celebrating the colour, power and imagination of the modern wind ensemble performed by over seventy of Ireland's top young musicians.

Featuring works by Philip Sparke, Nelson Jesus, John Mackey, Franco Cesarini, Nigel Hess and Johan de Meij, the repertoire explores everything from dazzling virtuosity and cinematic grandeur to moments of profound reflection and lyrical beauty. 

26/07/2026

Running into IYWE 2026!

We can't wait to be in the rehearsal room with 78 players tomorrow!!

Join us next Saturday (Galway) and Sunday (Dublin) as Ireland's most exciting young wind, brass and percussion musicians take audiences on a spectacular musical adventure in From Skylines to Shadows, an exhilarating concert programme celebrating the colour, power and imagination of the modern wind ensemble.

Saturday, 1 August 2026 | 7.00pm. St Nicholas' Collegiate Church, Galway

Sunday, 2 August 2026 | 7.00pm. The Great Hall, IMMA Venues, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin

Tickets are €20 / €10 concession (+bf). Link in bio or via iywe.ie

Homepage of the Irish Youth Wind Ensemble; a 70-piece symphonic wind ensemble of the best young wind, brass and percussion players held every summer.

22/07/2026

FROM SKYLINES TO SHADOWS
Irish Youth Wind Ensemble Summer Tour 2026

Join us for an exhilarating programme that showcases the remarkable versatility, colour and power of the modern wind ensemble, with several works receiving their Irish premieres.

We are excited!

Saturday, 1 August | 7pm
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church, Galway
Tickets €20/€10 (+ booking fee) and on the door

Sunday, 2 August | 7pm
The Great Hall, IMMA Venues, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin
Tickets €20/€10 (+ booking fee) and on the door

Link in bio for tickets or via IYWE.IE

17/07/2026

Happy Friday!

✨️Today we celebrate the dedication, focus and talent of the Irish Youth Baroque Orchestra 2026 who performed in Cork and Dublin last weekend!✨️

What a wonderful week performing together under the expert guidance of Artistic Director Claire Duff and tutors Hayley Pullen, Elisabeth Vogel, Norah O'Leary, Mary Collins and Abbe Harris.

The feedback to the peformances has been superb and we would like to thank the audiences for joining us!

IYBO is a collaboration between the Irish Baroque Orchestra and the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras.

📸John Soffe

14/07/2026

Experience the extraordinary sound of over 70 of Ireland's finest young wind, brass and percussion musicians as the Irish Youth Wind Ensemble returns for its 2026 Summer Tour.

Artistic Director: Ronan O'Reilly

📍St. Nicholas Collegiate Church, Galway 🗓️ 01 August 2026
🕗 7pm 📍The Great Hall, IMMA Venues, Dublin

🗓️ 01 August 2026
🕗 7pm

Tickets at Link in bio or via IYWE.IE

11/07/2026

It was a beautiful night of music under the bells of Shandon last night!

Tonight we are in Dublin!
Join us under the copper dome of the Pepper Canister in Dublin City

✨TONIGHT | Saturday, 11 July 2026 | 6PM✨
St Stephen's Church (the Pepper Canister), Dublin
Tickets €20/€10 (+ booking fee)

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/suite-dreams-irish-youth-baroque-orchestra-in-dublin-tickets-1990378396363

11/07/2026

SUITE DREAMS last night by the Irish Youth Baroque Orchestra in Cork last night was stunning.

Take a moment to step out of the sunshine and into a magical Baroque midsummer programme tonight in The Pepper Canister in Dublin at 6pm!

The programme is fun, playful and full of emotion.

✨Purcell Suite from The Fairy Queen
✨Marcello’s Oboe Concerto in D minor S.Z799
✨ Ouverture, Burlesque de Quixote TWV 55:G10 by Telemann

🎟€20/€10 on the door or via iybo.ie (link in bio)

We hope to see you in the audience!

⏰Today, 6PM
📍Pepper Canister Church

10/07/2026

Listen here to hear more about tonight's programme for Suite Dreams, historically informed practice and the exciting course that is IYBO!

Claire Duff spoke to Kieran on Spirit FM this week and it is a great listen!

Tickets on sale for this weekend's performances via iybo.ie or on the door!

It is sure to be a magical summer evening and we hope to see you there!

✨️Cork
Friday, 10 July 2026, 6PM
St Anne’s Church, Shandon, Cork City

✨️Dublin
Saturday, 11 July 2026
The Pepper Canister, Dublin, 6PM

Tickets: links in bio or via https://iybo.iayo.ie/