Talented Laois music students are big in Japan

Five lucky young musicians from Music Generation Laois, and their Musician Educator Siobhan Buckley, are rounding off on a once in a life time professional musical tour of Japan this August.

The group are touring to perform original music commissioned by Music Generation Laois in 2017.

‘The Spirit of Laois Suite’ was composed by Michael Rooney, with funding from Creative Ireland Laois, Laois County Council.

Young harpers Dasha Buckova, Lily Van Den Bergh, Niamh O’Shea, Kiêu Conroy and Emily Breslin began their tour of Japan on August 14, with their final day on Wednesday, August 23.

Below: performing in the Embassy of Ireland in Japan.

Michael Rooney (harp) and June McCormack (flute) are also part of the group touring Japan for performances in Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo, including 3 shows in professional concert halls, a school exchange and a reception in the Irish Embassy in Tokyo.

Harpist Kiêu Conroy is from Portlaoise, a 2nd year student in Mountmellick Community School. She is a prize winner at Electric Ireland Feis Ceoil and the International Pan Celtic Festival in Carlow.

Emily Breslin a native of Mountmellick is currently a 2nd year student in Alexandra College Dublin. Also a prize winner at the Electric Ireland Feis Ceoil, Emily has performed at the Breizh Pan Celtic festival in Brittany, France, and in Tennessee, USA.

Dasha Buckova from Portlaoise is a 3rd year student in Heywood Community School and Niamh O’Shea from Abbeyleix is a 2nd year student in Heywood, while and Lily Van Den Bergh is a 4th year student in Dunamase College, Portlaoise. 

The young musicians are not just playing their hearts out in Japan, but are also performing as excellent ambassadors for County Laois.

The ensemble already went abroad to perform in July 2022 at the World Harp Congress in Cardiff, as well as playing to the public at many other community events locally in Laois, and at concerts throughout Ireland.

Below: a performance in Osaka, Japan.

The five young harpers have come up through the Music Generation Laois harp programme since 2012 onwards.

Most of them began their harp studies in their local national schools and from there attending classes in Laois Music Centre.

All Music Generation Laois programmes are subsidised to create equal access to music to the children of Laois, music classes and instrument hire are very economical.

A hairraisingly tall visit to the Tokyo Skytree.

Rosa Flannery is Music Development Officer with Music Generation Laois.

'Our young harpers are currently on a professional music tour of Japan. This is an incredible experience for Lily, Siobhan, Emily,  Dasha, Kiêu under the expert guidance of their teacher Siobhan Buckley. The tour will enhance these young musicians performance skills as well as immersing them in a unique cultural experience. This is a very proud moment for County Laois as we share our culture with the people of Japan," she said.

Pick your own sunflowers in Laois for Autism and Alzheimers charities

Below: teacher Siobhán Buckley. Photos: Alf Harvey

The group had fundraised to cover most of the costs of their travel, and the majority of their concerts in Japan are sold out.

Music Generation Laois is part of Music Generation, Ireland's national music education programme,  co-funded by U2, the Ireland Funds and the Department of Education.

Locally Music Generation Laois is part of Laois and Offaly ETB and supported by Laois County Council.