Irish Association of Youth Orchestras

17/10/2026

SOUND OPINIONS: Learn How to Write Music Reviews! ✍️

Are you a young musician interested in music criticism and developing your writing skills? IAYO’s Sound Opinions is a 2-day workshop programme designed to help you build confident, thoughtful responses to live music..🎶

📅 Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 November 2026
📍 Cork City Centre
🎻 Attend a live classical concert together at Triskel Arts Centre
✍️ Take part in a full-day music review workshop

Free to participate
🍽️ Lunch provided both days
🚆 Travel costs can be supported

You’ll also have a short Zoom get-to-know-you session beforehand, so you can meet the group before the workshop.

🎵 Interested? Apply now and develop your skills as a music critic!
Application link here: https://tinyurl.com/soundopinionsoworkshop

📝As part of the application, please submit a short 100–300 word review of a live performance you’ve seen recently or you can review one of two performances on the IAYO YouTube channel.

For more information, visit the IAYO Youth Hub or contact Youth Participation Officer Clara at [email protected] with any questions.

*This workshop is not a residential so you will need to travel on both days*

10/10/2026

📢Final call for applications for IAYO’s National Chamber Music Workshops

Applications close this Sunday, 11 October 2026.

The workshops are aimed at players aged 10 to 16 years old and from Grade 2 to Grade 5 standard. Experience of chamber ensemble playing is not needed but players should be able to read music.

Course Details

Venue: Burren Outdoor Education and Training Centre, Bellharbour, County Clare
Dates: Saturday, 31 October to Sunday, 01 November 2026
Cost: Residential €150 / Non-residential €120

The Irish Association of Youth Orchestras runs a bursary scheme to help musicians take part in our courses. For more information visit the bursary information page.

Accommodation will be in the education centre for those staying over. Meals will be provided for all players.

🍂🎻🎃And, as it’s Halloween weekend, there will be plenty of Halloween-themed evening activities!

Link to application: https://tinyurl.com/chambermusichalloween
We hope to see lots of young musicians joining us for a weekend of collaboration, learning and fun in the Burren!

04/10/2026

📣Just one week left to apply for the IAYO National Chamber Music Workshops 2026

Taking place this Halloween at the Burren Outdoor Education and Training Centre, Bellharbour, Co. Clare! 🍂🎃

Join us for a weekend of music, fun, friendship and learning in a supportive and inspiring environment....with a little halloween fun too!

Young musicians will:
🎼 Work in small chamber groups with a dedicated tutor
🎶Develop listening, ensemble and musical literacy skills
🎻 Build confidence and independence as musicians
🎺 Take part in an exciting orchestra sessions
🤝 Meet young musicians from across Ireland
💫 Come together for a final performance on Sunday afternoon

Evening activities will be halloween themed 🎃🎃🎃

Who can apply?
✨ Players aged 10–16
✨ Grade 2–5 standard
✨ String, wind and brass players
✨ No previous chamber music experience needed but you do need to be able to read music

📍Burren Outdoor Education and Training Centre, Bellharbour, Co. Clare
📅 Saturday, 31 October - Sunday, 1 November 2026
⏰ Application deadline: Sunday, 11 October 2026

Cost: €150 Residential / €120 non-residential
The Irish Association of Youth Orchestras runs a bursary scheme to support musicians to take part in our courses. For more information visit the bursary information page on our website.

Come along, make music, learn together, perform for family and friends and be part of a fabulous weekend intensive for chamber music! 💛🎶

👉 Apply by Online Form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=qOzb9BYNUUehZ_YrBFpOugD4ZK8vWzJCsaUfPDtVPUFUOVQwRktDUFlFRUlRRTdGMVJJMFFUMDZIRS4u

The Irish Association of Youth Orchestras is the all-Ireland resource organisation for youth orchestras with an annual festival, courses and instrument bank

27/09/2026

Wishing all of the young musicians performing at the EU Youth Conference 2026 a wonderful experience! 💫🎶

The EU Youth Conference is a flagship event of the EU Youth Dialogue, bringing together young people, policymakers, youth organisations and government representatives from across Europe.

IAYO is delighted to support this occasion, creating opportunities for young musicians to share their music, connect with one another and celebrate collaboration through music.

Organised by the Department of Education and Youth in partnership with the National Youth Council of Ireland, as part of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, it is a fantastic opportunity for young people to connect, share ideas and have their voices heard.

There will be performances across the conference by

✨Music Generation Laois Harp Ensemble
✨Atlas Quartet (Royal Irish Academy of Music)
✨Irish Youth Wind Ensemble

We look forward to hearing about the conference and performances!
Generation Laois Irish Youth Wind Ensemble Royal Irish Academy of Music National Youth Council of Ireland An Roinn Oideachais agus Óige - Department of Education and Youth

25/09/2026

Are you thinking about studying music or a music related subject?

We’ve put together some of the upcoming music college & university open days across Ireland and Northern Ireland from performance and music to production, technology and music education.

📅 Save the dates
🎻 Explore your options
🤔Ask other people for advice (guidance counsellors, music teachers, family and friends)
🎓 Find your next step

You can find course options on each college website or an overview on our website https://www.iayo.ie/information-resources/third-level-music-courses/

23/09/2026

🎻✨ The 31st Festival of Youth Orchestras ✨🎻

We are excited to announce the orchestras joining us for the IAYO 31st Festival of Youth Orchestras on Saturday, 06 February 2027.

The 2027 festival brings together talented young musicians from across Ireland for two performances. 

🎶The participating orchestras are:

▫️Rockwell Academy of Music, SETU Music School & Kiltra School of Music
▫️Kerry School of Music
▫️The High School, Dublin Orchestra
▫️Young Dublin Symphonia & Accora Orchestra

 ▫️Nós Nua - Youth Folk Orchestra 
 ▫️Music Generation Louth String Orchestra
 ▫️St Malachy's College Belfast Symphony Orchestra
▫️Trinity Orchestra

✨We can’t wait to work with these fantastic young musicians and their orchestras as they come together to celebrate, collaborate and share their music on our national stage✨

SAVE THE DATE

Saturday, 6 February 2027

Tickets launching soon!

21/09/2026

📣YOUNG MUSICIANS | AUTUMN OPPORTUNITIES📣

Would you like to develop your skills, meet other young musicians, and share your ideas? We’ve got some exciting opportunities coming up this autumn!

🎻 National Chamber Music Workshops
📅 Saturday, 31 October - Sunday, 01 November

🎼 National Conference for Young Orchestral Musicians
📅 Saturday, 14 November

📝 SOUND OPINIONS: Learn How to Write Music Reviews
📅 Saturday, 21 and Sunday, 22 November

➡️We also offer year-round training opportunities for staff, volunteers and adults involved in youth orchestras.

🎶✍️Get involved
If you are interested in participating in any of these opportunities, you can apply via am online form. Feel free to contact us to ask any questions you may have ([email protected]).

You don't need to have participated in IAYO events before. If you are interested - we would love you to join us!

🎼🎶Tutors and teachers - please share with your young musicians and organisation!

Bursaries are available for the National Chamber Music Workshops. Applications for the bursary scheme close on Sunday, 11 October 2026. Visit iayo.ie for more details.

09/09/2026

🎶 National Chamber Music Workshops 2026 🎶

Taking place this Halloween at the Burren Outdoor Education and Training Centre, Bellharbour, Co. Clare! 🍂🎻

Join us for a weekend of music, fun and learning in a supportive and inspiring environment....with a little Halloween fun too! 🕸️🕷️🎃👻🎻⚡

Young musicians will:
🎼Work in small chamber groups with a dedicated tutor
🎧 Develop listening, ensemble and musical literacy skills
🎻 Build confidence and independence as musicians
🎺 Take part in an exciting orchestra session
💫Meet young musicians from across Ireland
🎶 Come together for a final performance on Sunday afternoon to celebrate everything they’ve learned!

Who can apply?

✨ Players aged 10–16
✨ Grade 2–5 standard
✨ String, wind and brass players
✨ No previous chamber music experience needed but you do need to be able to read music

📍 Venue: Burren Outdoor Education and Training Centre, Bellharbour, Co. Clare
📅 Dates: Saturday, 31 October - Sunday, 01 November 2026
⏰ Application deadline: Sunday, 11 October 2026

Cost: €150 residential / €120 non-residential
Bursaries are available for the National Chamber Music Workshops. Applications for the bursary scheme close on Sunday, 11 October 2026. Visit iayo.ie for more details.

Come to the Burren, make music, learn together, perform for family and friends and be part of a fabulous weekend intensive for chamber music! 💛🎶

👉 Find out more and apply via this form https://tinyurl.com/nationalchambermusic

05/09/2026

SOUND OPINIONS: Learn How to Write Music Reviews! ✍️

Are you a young musician interested in music criticism and developing your writing skills? IAYO’s Sound Opinions is a 2-day workshop programme designed to help you build confident, thoughtful responses to live music..🎶

📅 Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 November 2026
📍 Cork City Centre
🎻 Attend a live classical concert together at Triskel Arts Centre
✍️ Take part in a full-day music review workshop
🍽️ Lunch provided both days
🚆 Travel costs can be supported

You’ll also have a short Zoom get-to-know-you session beforehand, so you can meet the group before the workshop.

🎵 Interested? Apply now and develop your skills as a music critic!
Application link here: https://tinyurl.com/soundopinionsoworkshop

📝As part of the application, please submit a short 100–300 word review of a live performance you’ve seen recently or you can review one of two performances on the IAYO YouTube channel.

For more information, visit the IAYO Youth Hub or contact Youth Participation Officer Clara at [email protected] with any questions.

*This workshop is not a residential so you will need to travel on both days*