A collection of Laois musical talent was showcased in Stradbally over the weekend at the annual Music at the Malthouse BOP Orchestra and Ensembles concert.
The BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) concert was overseen by Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in from across the Midlands.
The concert featured musicians from a number of organisations, including:
Music Generation Laois,
Laois School of Music,
Music Generation Offaly,
Academy of Music Tullamore,
Music Generation Westmeath,
Guest conductor Diane Daly of the Irish Chamber Orchestra.
The annual concert kicked off on Saturday, May 10, with a concert featuring Music Generation Laois (MGL) ensembles, the Laois Harp Ensemble, Laois Trad Orchestra, and the MGL Trad Group.
Special guests included virtuoso Scottish Harper Catriona McKay, Cathy Jordan (Dervish), Filipe Carbonell (No Crows) and Johnny Óg Connolly (TG4 Gradam Ceoil Composer of the Year 2025).
Sunday, May 11, featured performances from the BOP Orchestra, with guest conductor Diane Daly leading the orchestra through music from Beethoven, Brahms and other popular pieces.
Ensembles also featured on the Sunday, including The Dunamaise Strings, a new adult string ensemble from Laois School of Music, as well as ensembles from Offaly and Westmeath.
BOP is supported by the Arts Council Partnership Creativity, the Collaboration Fund, and Music Generation, Ireland’s national music education programme.
Locally Music Generation Laois is part of LOETB and is supported by Laois County Council.
Rosa Flannery, Music Generation Laois; Rosaleen Molloy, National Director Music Generation; Cathy Jordan (Dervish); Denise Boyle, Tommy Fitzharris and Siobhan Buckley, Music Generation Laois; Virtuoso Scottish Harper Catriona McKay and Filipe Carbonell (No Crows) at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.Rosa Flannery, Music Development Officer, Music Generation Laois on MC duties at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.Virtuoso Scottish Harper Catriona McKay will collaborating with the Music Generation Laois Harp Ensemble at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.The Music Generation Laois Trad Group with Denise Boyle and Tommy Fitzharris at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.The Music Generation Laois Trad Group with Denise Boyle and Tommy Fitzharris at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.Johnny Óg Connolly (TG4 Gradam Ceoil Composer of the Year 2025) collaborating with the Music Generation Laois Trad Group at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.Virtuoso Scottish Harper Catriona McKay will collaborating with the Music Generation Laois Harp Ensemble at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.Cathy Jordan (Dervish) and Filipe Carbonell (No Crows) collaborating with the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.Cathy Jordan (Dervish) and Filipe Carbonell (No Crows) collaborating with the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.Part of the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.Rosaleen and Jennifer Murphy at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.Ciara Noon with Tom and Toni Butler at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.Kathleen Scully, Agnes Scully and Majella and Jason Conroy at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.John, Thelma, Ciaran and Eoghan Redmond at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.Ray, Laura, Emily and Leo Clear at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.Noreen Murphy-Clery and Noreen O’Donoghue at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.Diana and Skaitie Stanaityte at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.Frances Doheny, Paula Tierney, Majella Corrigan and Elsa Corrigan at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.Trevor, Nancy, Rory and Conor Bennett at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.Orla Fee and Marion Tuomey at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.Martin and Carmel Hibbitts at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.Muireann, Kathleen and Martin Coyne at the Music at the Malthouse concert featuring Music Generation Laois Ensembles with special guests. Picture: Alf Harvey.The Laois School of Music Youth Orchestra with Nuala Kelly, Music Generation Laois and conductors Kimberly Melia and John Davidson at the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.The Laois School of Music Dunamaise Strings led by John Davidson at the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.The BOP Orchestra conducted by Diane Daly at the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.The BOP Orchestra conducted by Diane Daly at the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.The BOP Orchestra conducted by Diane Daly at the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.The BOP Orchestra conducted by Diane Daly at the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.Nuala Kelly, Laois School of Music; Glenn Bradshaw, host at The Malthouse; Margaret O’Sullivan, Music Generation National Development Office; Diane Daly, conductor and Rosa Flannery, Music Generation Laois at the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.Young musicians enjoying themselves at the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.Young musicians enjoying themselves at the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.Ariana Hlushchenko rehersing before the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.Mary Connelly, Cian Reddin, Aaron Hennessy, Luan Malone, Freda Hennessy and Brian and Auden Malone at the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.The BOP Orchestra with conductor Diane Daly at the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.The Laois School of Music Dunamaise Strings led by John Davidson at the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.Kimberly Melia conducting the Laois School of Music Youth Orchestra at the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.Bernadette, Stephanie, Rebecca and Victoria Weidling at the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.Julie and Mary Connolly at the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.Nico, Orla and Marcus Pampliega at the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.Muni, Janani and Diya Chembeti at the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.Zhi Bingjian and Yueling Zhang at the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.Julian Nagi and William Troy at the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.Emer Liston and her daughter Siún at the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.John Davidson tuning up for the Laois School of Music Dunamaise Strings Ensemble at the Music at the Malthouse BOP (Building Orchestral Pathways) Orchestra and Ensembles concert, featuring young and adult musicians from Music Generation Laois, Laois School of Music, Music Generation Offaly, Academy of Music Tullamore, and Music Generation Westmeath under the direction of Musician Educators from across Music Generation programmes in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath and Guest conductor Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Picture: Alf Harvey.
