Group shot Online Chamber Ensemble performing together but in their own homes, Image credit Irish Association of Youth Orchestras
IAYO is the all-Ireland resource organisation for youth orchestras. IAYO represents over 5,000 young musicians in 108 youth orchestras in Ireland and assists in the development of youth orchestras in all parts of the country. In 2020, the IAYO worked
to connect, deliver programmes and play together despite restrictions.
Some of the IAYO’s recent digital artistic endeavours include:
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A series of workshops to help members with online and blended orchestra. They ran sessions focussed on starting chamber music programmes that could keep running through various levels of restrictions.
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With support from the Capacity Building Scheme, IAYO have been developing an online orchestra. The sound is recorded in real time across the country using the audio-only software, Jamulus. They contracted a technology lead to research and implement
a Jamulus server and provide support to the participants, as well as providing workshops and instructional booklets.
A technical issue for the IAYO is that of latency. Going forward, they hope to solve this by:
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Using Jamkazm, which includes video, for conducting workshops so that participants can conduct the accompanist and a string quartet in real time.
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Investigating Jacktrip, another piece of software that does not require a computer. Mobile devices using this internet-connected audio interface operate wirelessly, and this should assist in solving any latency issues as Wi-Fi is one of the biggest
causes of delay.
The IAYO demonstrate the benefit of intense collaboration between creative industries for long-term, long-lasting development of digital within the arts sector. The IAYO hope to use the learnings from the Covid-19 time to help more young people in more
parts of the country in the years ahead, to have more and better access to ensemble-music playing and to the music education and facilitation that makes it possible and allows excellence to flourish.
‘We have adapted, we have performed, and we have kept young hearts and minds alive through music.’ —Irish Association of Youth Orchestras