Irish Midlands Youth Orchestra to host 20th anniversary gala concert

The Irish Midlands Youth Orchestra is to mark 20 years with a gala concert at Esker Arts, Tullamore on May 3 at 6pm.

The orchestra will be joined by special guests Vltava String Quartet, soprano Erin Dollard, Mullingar Harp School directed by Jennifer Leahy and Tullamore Stage School Choir with Musical Director Regina McCarthy.

Conducted by Matt Rafter, the concert will feature a varied programme from classical gems to movie soundtrack favourites.

The Irish Midlands Youth Orchestra was founded by Vincent Hunt in 2006, after recognising the need for a high-quality youth orchestra in the region. The orchestra began as a collaborative project involving several smaller orchestras for a performance in Ireland’s National Concert Hall, with the first official IMYO course later that year. It is now a well-established and successful group of young musicians aged between 12-20, coming primarily from the midland counties of Ireland.

The orchestra meets once a month for rehearsals with two to three performances a year. The orchestra has toured internationally to Germany, Dubai, Spain and most recently to The World Orchestra Festival in Vienna in July 2025. Highlights of that trip included a performance in the famous Musikverien Golden Hall, home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Tickets are already selling fast at eskerarts.ie – book early to avoid disappointment! Auditions are held annually in August. Contact irishmidlandsyo@gmail.com or (087) 20151967 and visit www.imyo.ie for more information.

IMYO is supported by Offaly County Council, Westmeath County Council, Tullamore Credit Union and Music Capital Scheme.