Action stations for Longford's second Camlin Keys Music Festival

With just days to go, it is action stations for the second Camlin Keys Music Festival in Longford Town on Friday and Saturday, July 5 and 6. 

The schedule of the day opens with workshops:

Mindful Musicianship: Join Niall Mannion as he offers advice, techniques and insight into the pressures of performance and exam situations. Address any anxiety issues and performance jitters to make happier, healthy music!

Musical Storytime: Join Danna Davis at lunchtime as she tells the tale of the Little Red Hen and her adventures.

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Composition Workshop: Work with Andrew Yau to create a Festival Piece, learning about the composition process and how to write your own music.

Musical Theatre Vocal Workshop: Whether you are looking for the perfect audition song or want to know the secrets of voice projection, chest belting and vocal dynamics, come along and join Danna Davis as she shares her knowledge and experience. This is an all-age workshop and is filling fast.

The Competition/Classes are running all day in St John’s NS. The festival ethos is very much that it be an opportunity to perform and show off your pieces, rather than be a competitive activity. The focus is very much on playing the pieces for each other, and this year sees the introduction of a bowed string section. There will be age group classes and grade classes so every pianist and string player should be able to enter something!

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Age group classes are under 7; under 10; under 13; under 16; under 20. (Age on or after 30/06/23)
Grade classes are Elem/Prel/Prim; Grade 1; Grade 2; Grade 3; Grade 4; Grade 5; Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Advanced. (Open to all ages)

There are guideline timings and participants are expected to have two pieces, they do not need to be memorised. 

The two Festival concerts planned for Friday night and Saturday afternoon in St John’s Church, on Friday, July 5, 7pm a choral treat with award-winning Athlone A Cappella, with Wings of Ukraine, Longford and Ubuntu Voice, Moate.

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On the Saturday, the afternoon Family Concert, will open with performances from the morning class entrants, a song or two from the Musical Theatre Workshop, then Athenias, Ariane-Eugenie and Aristide Selve, will play violin, followed by returning Lenny Chen, Boyle, and closing with Lenny, Aristide and Athénaís playing 6 hands on the piano! Children are encouraged to come and experience music played by their peers at the Family Concert, so under 16s are free, but must be accompanied by at least one paying adult (€10) per 5 children.

The Camlin Keys Festival promises a day filled with inspiration, learning, and musical camaraderie. Whether you are a young beginner, an aspiring performer, a curious enthusiast, or an adult embarking on a new musical journey, this festival offers a diverse range of workshops to cater to your interests.

Immerse yourself in the magic of piano music and let the Camlin Keys Piano Festival be your gateway to a world of melodies and possibilities.

Festival organisers encourage all budding classical musicians to have a go and make the most of the opportunity to show-off how much work has gone into your pieces.

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Everyone is welcome, there are classes for all levels and abilities, if you don’t see something for you, let organisers know so they can accommodate you. Visit www.camlinkeys.ie  for entry information or call/text 086 237 2616.

For further information, please do not hesitate to contact camlinkeyspianofestival @gmail.com.