SPRING IS here, restrictions are lifted, and musicians are ready to rise and shine, especially in south Galway for the return of the annual Carpe Diem concert.
The brainchild of Coole Music School's director, Katharina Baker, Carpe Diem (Rise and Shine ) is the theme for a series of commemorative fundraising concerts in memory of Eimear Noonan and Eli Murray, two young musicians who died tragically in 2017 and 2019 respectively.
The concert will be staged in Gort on Saturday April 2 in Sullivans Hotel at 7.30pm. Performers will include Limerick harpist, Siobhan Brady, who holds the world record for the highest harp concert at 5000m on the Himalayas; teenage ensemble Sonic Strings; trad musician with John Keehan and the Guaire Trad Group with Tim Collins; pianist Eoghan Power; viola player Sarah Hannify; The Burren Con Brio quartet; students from Gort Community School; Kinvara Community Orchestra; and the Tangerine Parking Lot Band. The MC will be conductor Sinead Hayes.
All proceeds will go directly towards supporting music education and performance opportunities for talented young people. A music bursary has been formed by the Noonan family and to date, 21 third level students have been awarded bursaries.
Funds will also go towards the Coole Music and Arts School, local secondary school music departments, UCC Orchestra, and local CCE groups.
Tickets are available from Sullivan's Hotel, Gort, Scariff Credit Unions, and Eventbrite under the title Carpe Diem Rise and Shine. Those who cannot attend, but wish to make a donation can do so through idonate.ie