2023
December 2023 – Christmas Carols
In December we had the opportunity to perform a variety of Christmas songs, carols and other pieces from our repertoire in Horkan’s Garden Centre and in Cuan Chaitríona Nursing Home.
September 2023 – Cuan Chaitríona Nursing Home
We were invited to perform in Castlebar’s Cuan Chaitríona Nursing Home for the residents there. It was a lovely afternoon of music for all involved!
September 2023 – Culture Night
Music West hosted an evening of music as part of Culture Night 2023, where we played a wide variety of pieces to an enthusiastic audience!
July 2023 – Budapest Music Festival
In July we flew to Budapest, Hungary to take part in the Budapest Music Festival. We had a fantastic time touring around the city and surrounding areas, attending concerts, and of course performing in our own!
May 2023 – Fundraising Concert in aid of UNICEF
We performed alongside the BellaCapella choir in a fundraising Concert in Castlebar’s Holy Rosary Church. This concert also involved a variety of performances from musicians and singers from around the world who have made Mayo their home!
February 2023 – IAYO Festival of Youth Orchestras
In February we returned to the National Concert Hall to perform in the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras’ Annual Festival of Youth Orchestras.
2022
May 2022 – Official Opening of the Music West Building
After Covid delays we were finally able to have the Official Opening of the Music West Building. A variety of different performers who use the building provided music for the day, including the Mayo Youth Orchestra. It was a fantastic day!
April 2022 – Concert in St. Nathy’s Cathedral, Ballaghaderreen
The Mayo Youth Orchestra performed as part of a showcase of local talent in St. Nathy’s Cathedral in Ballaghaderreen as a fundraiser for the local Ozanam Day Centre.
March 2022 – Mac Luí Children’s Arts Festival, Westport
For our first concert since 2020(!) the Mayo Youth Orchestra performed an eclectic programme of music in the Westport Town Hall Theatre as part of the Mac Luí Children’s Arts Festival. For some of our musicians it was their first time performing in public and they were fantastic playing a mix of movie soundtracks, timeless rock songs and well-known classical pieces
2020
February 2020 – Mayo Music Extravaganza Concert
We opened the Mayo Music Extravaganza in the TF Royal Theatre, a concert which also featured the Castlebar Concert Band, Mayo Male Voice Choir, Castlebar Parish Choir, Mayo Concert Orchestra, and international vocal soloists – Baritone David Durham, Tenor Hugh Francis and Mezzo Soprano Anne Marie Gibbons as well as renowned Uileann piper Diarmaid Moynihan, as a fundraiser for the finishing details for the Mayo Academy of Performing Arts.
2019
December 2019 – The Nutcracker
We performed music from the Nutcracker to accompany dancers from the Victoria Walker Dance and the Jeté Youth Project.
Christmas at Horkan’s
We helped celebrate Christmas with a variety of carols and seasonal music at Horkan’s Garden Centre, Turlough.
November 2019 – Carols by Candlelight
We returned to the Great National Hotel, Ballina to perform with the Moy Singers for the second year and welcome the Christmas season.
June 2019 – Summer Sounds
In association with the Mayo International Choral Festival we performed with the Waubonsie Valley High School Orchestra, Illinois, USA, directed by John Willian Burck and Ms Daryl Silverman, and the Bofield Ceili Band, in the Great National Hotel, Ballina. We also performed with the Grand Haven High School Orchestra and the Gotak Celtic Group from Michigan, USA, directed by Melissa Meyers, in the Church of the Holy Trinity, Westport.
