Camlin Keys Piano Festival
Friday 5th & Saturday 6th July 2024
This year's festival promises to be a celebration of talent, passion, and the timeless beauty of piano music. Against the backdrop of Ireland's rich cultural heritage, the Camlin Keys Piano Festival aims to bring together pianists, music lovers, and artists from diverse backgrounds for a harmonious and unforgettable experience.
Join us in creating moments of pure musical magic, as we showcase the incredible talents that grace our stages. From virtuoso performances to engaging workshops, the festival is designed to captivate and inspire, fostering a deeper appreciation for the artistry of piano music.
The Camlin Keys Piano Festival is open to young musicians who want to compete in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. Participants are encouraged to perform both classical and modern repertoire and showcase their individual talents.
St John's Church, Abbeycartron, Battery Road, Longford N39 X314
On Friday night, we are delighted to present a captivating lineup featuring the harmonious voices of Athlone a Capella and Moate Sing4Fun Choirs, alongside the mesmerizing melodies of the Longford Ukranians Choir. Notably, the Sing4Fun Choir stands as a beacon of intergenerational and intercultural harmony, showcasing the beautiful diversity and unity found within its members.
Saturday 6th July - Family Concert
Ticketed event
Tickets €10.00 per adult/€5.00 per child - [Children must be accompanied]
We are hosting a family concert in the early evening where our young musicians can engage, play, and showcase their talents to each other. The event will conclude with a performance by Lenny Chen and friends, including Aristide, Athenais, and Ariane-Eugenie Selve, who were awarded first place in the Family Ensemble category at the 2023 Dublin Feis Ceoile.
**Early Bird Family Concert Pass Tickets €50.00**
Come and enjoy both concerts - tickets available here May 1st. Children must be accompanied by an adult
Entries for the 2024 festival will commence on May 1, 2024.
To select a competition, kindly refer to the competition categories listed below. If you do not find a suitable category, please reach out to us at camlinkeyspianofestival@gmail.com.
Online Entry 2024 - Opening Wednesday 1st May 2024
Fees:
Under 7 and Under 10 - €5.00
Under 13, Under 16 & Under 20 - €10.00
Grades 1 to 4 - €5.00
Grades 5 and upwards - €10.00
Grades are open to all ages
The deadline for entries is Friday 21st June 2024
Piano & String Classes 2024
St John’s National School Room 1
Entrants must enter a programme of two contrasting pieces:
SECTION 1
Under 7 - not more than 2 minutes - Age under 7 on or before 30th June
Under 10 - not more than 5 minutes - Age 7 to 10 on or before 30th June
Under 13 - not more than 10 minutes - Age 10 to 13 on or before 30th June
Under 16 - not more than 15 minutes - Age 13 to 16 on or before 30th June
Under 20 - not more than 15 minutes - Age 16 to 20 on or before 30th June
St John’s National School Room 2
A programme of two contrasting pieces from entrants who have been working towards the Grade Class in the year 2024.
SECTION 2
Pre/Ele/Prim - not more than 2 minutes
Grade 1 - not more than 3 minutes
Grade 2 - not more than 4 minutes
Grade 3 - not more than 5 minutes
Grade 4 - not more than 7 minutes
Grade 5 - not more than 10 minutes
Grade 6 - not more than 15 minutes
Grade 7 - not more than 15 minutes
Grade 8 - not more than 20 minutes
Advanced - Maximum 30 minutes
Open to all ages
Technical ability (30 marks): Adjudicators will look for clarity and accuracy, co-ordination between hands, rhythm and pulse security, a good tone, and where appropriate, pedalling.
Interpretation (30 marks): Adjudicators will consider the dynamics, phrasing and articulation of the piece. The interpretation of the style, mood and character of the piece. All pianists are essentially interpreting the music they play. No two performers or even performances will be exactly the same.
Overall impression and choice of programme (40 marks): Adjudicators will consider the technical ability and interpretation as well as meeting time allocation and contrast of pieces.
Festival Details 2024
Workshop bookings, Competition entries and Concert tickets online only at www.camlinkeys.ie or on our Facebook page
Deadline for entry is Friday 21st June
Competitions 2024
St John's National School, Longford N39 VK22 Room 1 and Room 2
Workshops 2024
Tickets €20
Sibling discount available
Buy tickets here
Booking required for all workshops
Tickets €10
Sibling discount available
Buy tickets here
Tickets €5
Sibling discount available
Throughout Saturday daytime, in St John’s Church, we have Andrew Yau leading a series of Piano Duet and Ensemble workshops. Suggested ensembles could include Piano Duet (4 hand piano); Piano & any solo instrument (Violin, Flute, Voice, etc.); Piano & ensemble (Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello etc.). This is a great opportunity to perform and receive guidance on the technical and musical challenges musicians can face when learning and performing together in an ensemble.
Each duo/group will perform 1 piece and have a performance focused discussion/workshop. Register for a workshop with Andrew and develop skills in either piano duets or piano focused ensembles. All repertoire/song choices must be emailed in advance of the competition and cannot be changed once selected.
Andrew Yau is a multi- instrumentalist, conductor and arranger, with experience performing on RTE and in The National Concert Hall; with orchestras and with the famous Jazz composer Tigran Hamasyan. Graduating from Maynooth University Andrew’s focus is on performance, composition and piano ensemble. Andrew will share tips, techniques and essential skills for creating excellent music together.
In St John’s National School we will have a classroom dedicated to workshops for children’s activities as well as rooms for our competition classes.
There will also be a STEM workshop - What can you make a piano out of? See if you have the technical know-how to programme a micro-bit and get a paper-piano working or can we get a makey-makey piano using grapes? Join us for an hour of creation through programming and see what instruments we can make using electronics.
Piano as an Adult; many people think they are too old to start learning the piano, this is not true! Join us for a half hour chat on taking up the piano, or returning to it after an extended break, you’re never too old to learn something new – and it’s very good for the brain!
If you would like to book-in to any of our workshops, please see booking links above or if you have any queries, please email camlinkeyspianofestival@gmail.com or call/text 085 265 4240.
Scan here for the Programme
Gallery 2023
Camlin Keys Festival with the support of Longford County Council Ukrainian Humanitarian Support fund we were delighted to have Andrew Yau join us for the afternoon and evening, giving masterclasses to our Ukrainian musicians and accompanying Amalia for a beautiful rendition of Ave Maria in the evening concert. A treat for everyone! (6:30 in the video)
Thank you once again to Midlands Polish Community for recording our Grand Concert in St John's Church Longford
Latest News
***PRESS RELEASE 30/04/2024***
Plans are firming up for the Camlin Keys Festival, 5th and 6th of July, as event programmes are coming together. As promised, our
Festival is opening Friday 5th with a choral treat as the Athlone A Capella choir hosts an evening in St John's Church, with many special
guest appearances supporting their main performance.
Athlone A Capella are a close harmony ladies barbershop chorus and in the Barber shop tradition the emphasis is on close, carefully arranged 4-part harmony with phrases often repeated for an echo effect. The musical arrangements are usually in the ragtime or other nostalgic song styles performed by the choir without instrumental accompaniment.
Having won numerous awards at national and international choral festivals Athlone A Cappella have been Irish Ladies Barbershop Chorus
champions four times! Under the directorship of Hilary Roche, when they are not entering competitions, they are entertaining local
audiences. (www.athlone.harmonysite.com).
Friday night’s concert will see them joined by Moate based, Ubuntu Voices. Originally setup in partnership with Music Generation Ireland
supported by Westmeath CC and Westmeath Arts. Formed by Andrew Yau in October with support from volunteers from New Horizon and Tuar Ard Arts Centre, the choir is an inter-generational and inter-cultural choir based in Tuar Ard Arts and Enterprise Centre, Moate. Their first concert in December was to packed out theatre with a mix up of music borrowed from many genres of music including pop, choral, gospel and traditional folk songs.
The evening’s programme is exciting but not finished as plans are afoot to include local voices and there will be ensemble performances
with guest appearances from multi-instrumentalists Andrew Yau and Niall Mannion.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s schedule is also filling up as the morning Piano and String classes come together, watch out for the opening of entry submissions next week. Of course we will also have our family concert in the early evening for our young musicians to experience, play and perform for each other, closing with Lenny Chen and friends, Aristide, Athenais and Ariane-Eugenie Selve, winners of the Dublin, Feis Ceoil, 2023, Family Ensemble section.
Concert tickets are available on Eventbrite from the 1st May and keep an eye on our social media and visit our website, www.camlinkeys.ie to keep up to date with news.
Camlin Keys Piano Festival
086 237 2616
Camlin Keys Piano Festival
Longford, Ireland
For enquiries, ticket purchases, and accessibility arrangements, please reach out to us at:
Phone: 085 265 4240
Email: camlinkeyspianofestival@gmail.com
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Camlin Keys Piano Festival is proudly sponsored by:
Creative Ireland Longford
Longford County Council
If you would like to become a Sponsor,
please contact us for details of available packages