US HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA CONCERT IN AID OF CLIONA’S FOUNDATION
Thurs 24 March | 8pm | Dance Limerick (St John’s Church) | €5.00
Traverse City West Senior High Orchestra from Michigan, USA will perform a concert of American and Irish music in aid of Cliona’s Foundation on Thursday 24 March at 8pm at Dance Limerick. A programme of rock n roll, folk music, jazz and contemporary original music is in store, presented by 21 young people aged 14-18 years who are making their Irish debut.
Traverse City West Senior High is a large public high school located in beautiful Traverse City overlooking Lake Michigan. This popular destination is known for its scenic natural surroundings and the school has a long history of excellence in its music programmes, featuring bands, orchestras and choirs. The school runs both Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras which perform throughout the year at concerts, festivals, community performances and theatrical productions.
Speaking in advance of the concert in Limerick, Traverse City West Senior High Orchestra Director Ann Marie Jones said “We’re very excited to be coming to Ireland this year and are really pleased to be performing in Limerick. For many of our young members, this is their first time to perform outside the US and they, along with their families and the whole school community, are excited to be sharing their music with new audiences in Ireland. We’re looking forward to the cultural and musical connections we will make and we’re especially pleased to partner with Cliona’s Foundation for our concert in Limerick. Our young members are very proud to think that their talents will help to raise funds for such a worthwhile cause, supporting critically ill children and their families”.
Terry Ring, co-founder of Cliona’s Foundation, along with her husband Brendan, added “We’re delighted to be chosen as the charity partner for this wonderful event with the young students from Traverse City West Senior High Orchestra. As we support children and their families, teaming up with these talented young people is a lovely fit for us. Cliona’s Foundation understands that the ordeal of a child’s grave illness or injury tests families far beyond their endurance, taking an enormous toll financially, emotionally and physically. While we cannot cure a child, we want to help families to cope by providing financial assistance when all other resources have been exhausted. We hope that Limerick audiences will join us for a wonderful evening of music while, at the same time, supporting the work of Cliona’s Foundation”.
Cliona’s Foundation was founded in 2007 to provide financial assistance for critically ill children. Approximately 400 children are diagnosed with a critical illness every year in Ireland. Cliona’s Foundation believes that no family should have to face any added financial stress when they are already struggling to cope with the devastation and trauma of a seriously ill child. Funds raised are used to pay for the “hidden” costs including accommodation, food, petrol and other miscellaneous expenses incurred by families who must take sick children to hospitals or other medical facilities for frequent treatments. Cliona’s Foundation is the only national charity in Ireland offering financial support for non-medical costs associated with the illness of a child. Cliona’s Foundation is a registered charity, number CHY18127.
Traverse City West Senior High is a large public high school located in beautiful Traverse City, Michigan. Traverse City is a popular destination along the northern coast of Lake Michigan in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, known for its scenic natural surroundings.
West Senior High has a long history of excellence in its music and theatre programmes. The bands, orchestras, and choirs at West Senior High perform throughout the state of Michigan and have toured around the world. The orchestra programme at West Senior High involves over 90 musicians in both its Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras. These ensembles actively perform throughout the year in concerts, festivals, community performances, and theatrical productions.
The orchestra visiting Ireland consists of 21 musicians aged 14-18 years. The programme will include wide variety of repertoire from traditional orchestral pieces to folk music, jazz, rock n’ roll, and contemporary original works. This is the group’s first tour and for many it will be their first time out of the United States. The tour will take them to Limerick, Killarney, Waterford and Dublin where they will give a number concerts in aid of local charities and worthy causes.
Orchestra Director: Ms Ann Marie Jones
Ann Marie Jones is the director of orchestras at both Traverse City West Middle School and Senior High. The orchestra programme has developed during her tenure to include harp students, a popular music string ensemble, and several community outreach ensembles. Ms. Jones earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Michigan State University and a Masters of Music Education from Grand Valley State University. She has primarily taught young orchestra students through public education at the middle and high school levels and has conducted young orchestras at the Czech Music Camp for Youth in the Czech Republic many times. She is a certified Suzuki violin teacher, an active adjudicator for state Solo and Ensemble Festivals, and serves on several music education committees. Ms. Jones is the teaching director at MASTA String Camp, a Michigan summer music camp for young string students, and she performs with the Traverse Symphony Orchestra and a number of small ensembles.
