F.C.J. SECONDARY SCHOOL
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Music Activities
January 2006
This time last year senior Music students at F.C.J. were eagerly looking forward to their trip to America in February 2005. Their hard work in preparation and their excitement at the prospect of travel to the U.S.A. was amply rewarded by the wonderful welcome they received and every Band member was thrilled by the wholehearted reception of their playing. We were delighted to see Mrs. Priscilla Horst (Music Fund Administrator) and some of Anthony’s fans at our concerts.
It all seems a very long time ago now as students prepare for the more mundane things of life: practical examinations for the Leaving and Junior Certificate examinees before Easter and the Grade exams of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music London in May.
Over 230 students are participating in the school’s music programme this year. All 1st Years have a class each week where they are taught to read music and learn to play the recorder. These classes also give Gearóid Grant the opportunity to introduce students to an appreciation of music and generate interest in joining the school Band (the next auditions will be held in September of this year). Students who study Music as an examination subject have classes each week in 3rd, 5th and 6th Year. They are required to reach a high standard of performance in two instruments (one of which may be voice) for examination by Easter, and complete an aural exam plus a written theory exam in June.
Each student in the school band attends a lesson on their chosen instrument every week and they also rehearse, after school, with Gearóid Grant. Unlike the school system in America, Band is an extra-curricular activity in Irish schools. This year interest in Traditional Music in the school has been greatly enhanced by the arrival of a new member of staff who has undertaken much work with groups of students. This new teacher, Ms. Joanne Kearns, happens to be the youngest sister of Anthony Kearns!!
We are very proud to say that the winner of the 2005 F.C.J. Music Award, Barry Leacy, has been awarded an Entrance Exhibition (Scholarship) at University College Cork (U.C.C.) on the basis of his excellent results in the Leaving Certificate examinations. We wish Barry well in his studies for an Arts degree in Music & Irish.
Thanks to the enormous generosity of the contributors to the Music Fund we have received many gifts since it was founded in 2001. These have included music fees being paid for some students and extra band instruments provided for the Band. Last year the main Music Room was transformed with the help of the Fund when we acquired a digital projector, computers + musical keyboards, and the Sibelius music computer software. Now we are the very proud owners of a beautiful new piano and our students are particularly touched by the fact that most of the funds for it was raised by students of Coral Reef High School, Miami, and their teacher Ms. Julie Tatol.
On behalf of all those at F.C.J. Bunclody involved in music, thank you for your great interest in us and for your donations to the Anthony Kearns Music Fund.
Eileen Martin,
School Secretary.
