Third Camlin Keys Festival in Longford serves up musical treat

The May Bank Holiday weekend heralded the third Camlin Keys Festival, with music workshops, competitions and concerts for everyone.

The competition classes on Saturday morning saw pianists and violinists of all abilities sharing their hard work, with a very appreciative and supportive audience.

Adjudicated by RIAM examiner, concert pianist and composer, Tamara Niekludow participants were given constructive guidance on how to improve their playing and performance.

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Festival Founder and Director, Joanna Pearman, emphasised, “Camlin Key’s ethos is very much that the festival be an opportunity to perform and show off your pieces", rather than a competition.

"The focus is very much on sharing and playing the pieces for each other," she added.

Music with DeeDee all morning gave the younger visitors the opportunity to sing, dance and play whilst older siblings performed in the next room, great fun, music making and laughter was a great start to the day!

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The popular afternoon workshops were varied genre, continuing the piano theme, Cathal Culliney delivered an Irish trad piano vamping workshop.

Tamara delivered a managing performance anxiety and a composition workshop.

Whilst song-writing with FEEF, aka Siofra Jordan and guitar with Shane Kennedy attracted different musicians and instruments.

For the Saturday concert some of the morning musicians returned to perform on the grand piano in St John’s Church.

Lenny Chen returned to Camlin Keys to share his latest work and Benjamin Errington treated the audience to a Handel Sonata on the viola, joining with Tamara Niekludow for a duet and Tamara closed the concert with a very fiery Chopin work.

Closing the Festival on Sunday evening, the Irish Midlands Youth Orchestra visited the Backstage Theatre to share their work, before they head to Vienna in July, including How to train your dragon and an Abba Medley.

They were joined on stage by the Lynn Singers, Mullingar and the Mullingar Cathedral Choristers, a musical delight for everyone in the audience.

Ms Pearman concluded, “With thanks to our funders, Creative Ireland, Longford and Longford County Council. Our committee members, Carmel Keenan, Francesca Pawleczyk.

Huge thanks to Rev Simon Scott, St John’s Church and St John’s National School without whom the Camlin Keys Festival would not be possible.

“If you would like to get involved in Camlin Keys Festival, as a supporter, committee member, musician, partner or general interest, please visit the website, www.camlinkeys.ie, or email, camlinkeys@gmail.com.”