CBOI BACKGROUND
The Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland (CBOI) was established in 1995 as a peace initiative and is now composed of 120 young people from all over Ireland – north and south. The CBOI is internationally recognised as one of Ireland’s flagship peace initiatives and has become one of the most acclaimed youth orchestras that Ireland has ever produced.
The CBOI has many notable achievements:
· The Orchestra represented Ireland, the UK and Europe at the historic World EXPO in Shanghai in 2010 where they received an award for the most “Outstanding International Performance”
· The orchestra has toured to the United States many times, and is the only amateur organization in Ireland’s history to have sold out Carnegie Hall, New York. The CBOI repeated this success on many occasions selling out prestigious venues including Chicago Symphony Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, the Lincoln Center New York. The CBOI as also sold out concerts in eight cities throughout California.
· The CBOI has performed in many European countries such as Italy, England, Czech Republic and Finland.
- The CBOI has performed for:
- President McAleese at Áras and Uachtaráin
- Queen Elizabeth 11 at Hillsborough Castle
- Many special international Ministerial gatherings at Slane Castle and Dublin Castle;
- Numerous national commemorations including:
- The Battle of the Boyne
- 10th Anniversary of the Belfast Agreement
- 30th Anniversary of the twinning of Listowel and Downpatrick
- 400th Anniversary of the Flight of the Earls in Rome.
The CBOI is led by some of Ireland’s top professional musicians including: Conductor, Gearóid Grant; Violinist, Patricia Treacy; Tenor, Emmanuel Lawler; and Uilleann Piper, Patrick Martin.
The CBOI is not a “classical orchestra”. Our music highlights the pop, folk and traditional cultures of the island of Ireland. We use all the instruments of a full symphony orchestra but include traditional instruments for example Lambeg Drums, Uilleann Pipes and Highland Pipes.
The CBOI gives their debut performance at the Royal Albert Hall, London in October 2012.
PEACE PROMS
The CBOI’s “Peace Proms” is a unique and ambitions musical education programme in which 7,000 children from 250 schools throughout Ireland participate annually. The project culminates in a series of concerts held at premier venues throughout Ireland in February/March. The CBOI has also run Peace Proms with outstanding success in America and China.
“Peace Proms” helps young people to develop qualities of self-reliance, personal integrity, responsibility, and confidence by giving them the opportunity to
• Perform with a full symphony orchestra
• Work with leading professional conductors and musicians
• Perform in premier venues.
• Develops vocal technique, presentation and performance in young people
• Introduces young people to a variety of musical styles and genres and develops an appreciation for these styles
“Peace Proms” entertains, educates and engages children and young people in music and enriches their lives through exceptional musical experiences and performances. It is a musical and cultural celebration and provides a unique platform for young people to showcase their talent while promoting peace, unity and tolerance through music.
“Peace Proms” makes the Arts more accessible to young people, their school, families and the wider community, and provides an opportunity for cooperation among children, parents, teachers, school boards, and the wider community.
CBOI IS PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS
Gearóid Grant. Conductor
Gearóid Grant is internationally recognised as one of Ireland’s leading conductors and one of Europe’s leading conductors of youth orchestras. He has conducted all the principal orchestras in Ireland, the National Symphony Orchestra, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the Ulster Orchestra and the Irish Chamber Orchestra. Gearóid has been principal conductor with the Cross Border Orchestra since 1999. His professionalism, enthusiasm and talent have been an inspiration to our young players. His patience and generosity have been instrumental in the rapid development of this spirited orchestra.
Emmanuel Lawler. Tenor
Emmanuel Lawler is an honours graduate of the National University of Ireland at Maynooth and Licenciate and Fellow of Trinity College London. Among numerous prizes, awards and scholarships were two scholarships to study with the great Carlo Bergonzi at the Academia Musicale di Siena, Italy in 1990/91 (where he was awarded the prestigious Diploma of Perfection), and a presidential award from his Alma Mater, Maynooth University. A prolific performer with extensive experience in concert, oratorio, opera and recital from the earliest compositions/reconstructions to new music, he has appeared frequently on television not only in Ireland and Britain but throughout Europe, North and South America, Australia. Orchestras with which he has recorded (for CD) include The National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, The London Symphony Orchestra and The English Chamber Orchestra.
Patricia Treacy. Violinist
Patricia Treacy is one of the most versatile virtuoso violinists that Ireland has ever produced. She studied with outstanding distinction at the London Guild Hall School of Music and Drama with Pauline Scott, and travelled widely to continue her studies in Israel, Canada, Russia and Italy. The winner of many prestigious national music awards, Patricia went on to perform a wide repertoire at premier venues both nationally and internationally. She has performed as soloist with numerous orchestras and ensembles including the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the Irish Chamber Orchestra, and broadcast extensively on radio and television. Patricia’s reputation as a top concert violinist, recitalist and chamber musician precedes her. More recently, this popular dynamic celebrity has gained notoriety for her unique and refreshing interpretation of Irish music.
Patrick Martin. Piper
Patrick Martin hails from Co. Louth, and has been playing pipes from an early age. Patrick has recorded two beautiful and brilliant albums to date, ‘Bould Pypering’ and ‘The Moving Cloud’. In addition to a very busy solo career, he has starred in shows such as Riverdance and Rhythm of the Dance.
This remarkably talented musician is equally comfortable playing traditional flute, whistle and bodhran. Now 32 years of age, Patrick Martin has established himself one of the greatest Uilleann Pipers that Ireland has ever produced.
Brian Byrne. CBOI Composer and Musical Arranger
IFTA winner and OSCAR NOMINEE Brian Byrne composes the majority of the CBOI’s new works which fuse traditional elements with rock and classical. A former member of the CBOI, Brian moved to Los Angeles from Ireland in 2003 to pursue a career as a film and television composer. Since then he has been in constant demand. Brian Byrne was educated at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama graduating in 1997 with first-class honors and was awarded the Peter Knox Memorial Award for overall performance. He also received the Outstanding Musicianship Award from Berklee College’s touring faculty in Scotland, and the PRS Sir Arthur Bliss Prize Scholarship for composition that enabled him to study film composition at London’s Royal College of Music.
