Amy Jordan, a year 8 student at New-Bridge Integrated College, Loughbrickland joins 120 young musicians from both sides of the border to take part in a national tour as the internationally acclaimed Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland led by Ireland’s premier conductor Maestro Gearoid Grant.
The CBOI, established in 1995 as a peace initiative, has developed ‘Peace Proms’ over the past 18 years, the ultimate vision being to create a cross culture and cross community link between Catholic and Protestant school children throughout Ireland and to educate children about commitment, tolerance and friendship through the medium of music. It is recognised as one of Ireland’s most important education initiatives providing outstanding cultural opportunities for young people while promoting peace, unity and tolerance. A vision understood and shared by New-Bridge Integrated College.
The musical programme which highlights pop, folk and traditional cultures of the Island of Ireland uses all the instruments of a full symphony orchestra and includes the Lambeg Drums, Uilleann Pipes and Highland Pipes. This year to help them showcase their combined cultural talents and work together towards a better future for all the CBOI will be joined on their national tour by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch which now has far and away the largest membership of any branch of the Association and is, in its own right, one of the largest pipe band organisations in the world.
Amy is looking forward, in particular, to the final two performances of the tour which take place in the Waterfront, Belfast on Sunday 3rd March at 2pm and 7pm respectively, tickets priced at £10. Here the CBOI will be joined on stage with a 700 strong choir of schoolchildren from all over the North of Ireland and Co. Louth and Amy’s family, friends and teachers will be able to enjoy for themselves the fruits of Amy’s hard work!
