Right tempo: youth orchestra is ready

Julianstown children set for big time, says Nicki ffrench Davis

IT’S like Robbie Keane coaching the local under-12s. The children of Julianstown Youth Orchestra have professional players as mentors and a top musician, Fergus Sheil, as conductor. After two years of intense work, they are ready for their first appearance at the annual Festival of Youth Orchestras, at the National Concert Hall.

Sheil conducts orchestras and operas at home and abroad. He moved to the tiny County Meath village of Julianstown four and a half years ago. The success of his wife’s teaching programme of music for pre-school pupils was the beginning.