400 primary school children from Galway county attended a series of concerts in The Mall Theatre in Tuam this week on Wednesday September 28th as part of Music for Galway’s musical outreach programme. Children from Clydagh, Ballinlass, Bawnmore, Tuam, Athenry, Sylane and Glinsk got to ‘Meet the Violins’ where world renowned violinist, Sergey Malov introduced them to instruments from the violin family through contemporary and traditional music.
A key goal of Music for Galway’s outreach strand is to give young minds the tools to appreciate classical music. “For some of the children attending this event, it may have been their first taste of classical music - hopefully the first of many!” says Anna Lardi, Executive Director of MfG. Music education has been proven to have huge benefits for the emotional development of children.
Sergey played a mix of Bulgarian and Irish folk music, as well as movements from Bach’s cello suite no. 6. He also played Ernst’s ‘The Last Rose of Summer’ a variation on an old Irish tune. Children clapped along to some of the pieces and one child, Rachel McGuinness, from Bawnmore NS joined Sergey onstage twith her violin to play ‘The Galway Hornpipe’.
Sergey Malov plays violin, viola, baroque violin and cello da spalla and his awards include the Paganini Competition in Genoa and the Mozart Competition in Salzburg. He has performed with orchestras such as the BBC London Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.
This is Music for Galway 41st season of presenting the best Irish and International performers of classical music to Galway and beyond. Next up on the calendar is the visit of the National Symphony Orchestra with soloist Finghin Collins (piano ), who is also artistic director of Music for Galway. The concerts features music by Tchaikovsky, Jane O’Leary and Beethoven and is scheduled for November 6th at Leisureland at 8.00pm. Tickets from musicforgalway.ie MfG is funded by the Arts Council and the Meet the Violins project was supported by SAP and Galway County Council.
