The first national conference of music schools in Ireland takes place on 13 March.

It is hosted by the Irish Association of Music Schools (IAMS) which was formed in May 2002 and now has some 32 member schools in all parts of Ireland. The Association aims to find common ground to promote the welfare of existing music schools and to form a lobby to bring the work of music schools to the attention of local and national government. IAMS is a member of the European Music Schools Union (EMU).

The conference will be chaired by the chairman of IAMS, James Cavanagh. Guest speakers include Bríd Grant, Head of the DIT Conservatory of Music; Niamh Crowley, Director of the Sligo Academy of Music; and Philip Edmondson, Director of Kilkenny School of Music.

The keynote speaker is Dr Ita Beausang, former director of DIT Conservatory of Music and a highly respected expert on music education in Ireland.

The conference will also be addressed by Timo Veijola, Espoo Music School, Finland, representing the board of the European Music Schools Union.

Working groups will be established during the day to examine some of the major issues facing music schools in Ireland. The aim of the conference is to achieve a consensus on the way forward for both private and public Irish music schools.

Attendance at the conference (including coffee on arrival and a light lunch) costs 25 for non-members of IAMS. Member school representatives attend free of charge.

Sunday, 13 March 2005, 11.00am - 4.30pm, Royal Irish Academy of Music, 36 Westland Row, Dublin 2.

Bookings and further information: Nuala Kelly, Conference Secretary, tel. 0502-74345 or email nkelly@laoiscoco.ie

Posted: 1 March 2005