Lend me your ears at City Hall, Cork

‘Attention, please! Lend me your Ears!’

The Cork Pops Orchestra has, for many years, introduced young people to the joy of orchestral music. A concert programme designed to grab the attention of our audiences, to help develop their listening skills and ability to listen to music of different genres, with classroom resources to give context to the music. In the forthcoming classroom resources, we hope to interest our older listeners in the fascinating developments in the music industry, since the arrival of Generative AI. In light of Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union at the moment (1st July – 31st December 2026), it is interesting to note the differences in approach to regulation between Europe/U.K. and the U.S.A. on the regulation of social media and AI. Music and the arts have never been isolated from social and technological advances. Live music continues to delight and to thrive. You will shortly find concert programme notes on www.corkpops.ie , which I hope you will find useful in preparation for this year’s Cork Pops Orchestra Concerts for Schools in City Hall, Cork, November 23rd - 26th at 10am and 12 noon. I will also shortly upload YouTube links for the classical music pieces on the programme. You will also find links to the Classroom Resources on our own website for curriculum-based introductions and performances of other pieces, which are relevant to the concert this year. Feel free to share with classes/teachers who cannot attend.

Programme 2026 includes : Ode to Joy – Beethoven (EU Anthem) Te Deum – Charpentier (Eurovision Anthem) Hallelujah Chorus -Handel (Messiah – 1742 Dublin Premiere) Riverdance – Bill Whelan (1994 - Eurovision Premiere Dublin) Galop – Rossini (William Tell & TV Theme Tune) Universal Studios Theme Tune (Jerry Goldsmith & Brian Tyler) Cantabile – Paganini (performed by violin soloist Anthony Iglody, aged 16) Naughty – from Matilda (Performed by Emma-Sophia, aged 10) Vocalist Keith Hanley has a few surprises!