Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition Returns

Here’s an exciting announcement that will be of great interest to primary and post-primary schools all over Ireland – the launch of the 2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition!

It has been four years since the last Music for Schools Competition, and RTÉ lyric fm are delighted to have it back in partnership with Waltons Music and the support of the National Concert Hall.

The 2024 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition is a fantastic opportunity for both primary and post-primary school music groups of up to 40 students to develop a performance piece inspired by this year’s Competition theme, Music Moves. Twelve groups – six primary and six post-primary – will be selected to perform their piece in a gala Finalists Concert at the National Concert Hall on April 8th, 2024. And six of the Finalists – three primary and three post-primary – will win a total of €7,000 worth of vouchers for musical instruments and equipment from Waltons Music for their schools, including two first prizes of €2,000 in vouchers.

All primary and post-primary schools in the Republic of Ireland are eligible to enter the Competition, and hundreds of schools from all 26 counties have participated in previous years.

“Participation in the Competition has brought our pupils to a place, both physically and emotionally, that we never dreamed we could reach. It made us go beyond what was our best effort, and find a creative musical niche for every child involved.”– Joan McNamara, Knockanean National School, Co. Clare

So get your thinking caps on and start working on your entry piece or song, performed by an instrumental, vocal or mixed group from your school. It can be in any musical style or combination of styles – past entries have included classical, Irish traditional, jazz, pop, rock, rap and folk – and can be performed by any combination of singers or instrumentalists you choose. Anything goes.

Once again, the theme of this year’s Competition is Music Moves. The entry deadline is Friday, February 9th, 2024. We’ll be announcing the twelve Finalist schools here on RTÉ lyric fm on Friday, February 16th. And the Finalists Concert in the wonderful National Concert Hall will be on Monday, April 8th.

Go to the Music for Schools Competition web page, newschool.ie for more information, entry forms and videos of past competitions – and start making music.