‘Squeezing in the Years’ Gala Concert

“Squeezing in the Years” is a Variety show with a Difference! The show will be a lively mix of Music, Song and Craic featuring many musical styles across the years including classical Contemporary… with the accordion featuring in every act!   Special Guests include * The Castletown Accordion Orchestra * Mary Kelly (Harpist) * The Carty Sisters * * Grainne Rynne & Band * Kathy Henderson * The Royal Meath Accordion Orchestra * and  Special Guest Ollie Hennessy (The Rose of Tralee/ RTE).
Early Booking Advised!

The Castletown Accordion Orchestra

The Castletown Accordion Orchestra from Cavan was originally formed in 1981 as a marching band. They were successful winning national titles and taking part in a European Tour. In 1993, the current musical  director, John Chilton took over and changed the band to an accordion orchestra. The  Orchestra has won numerous titles and traveled extensively through Europe taking part in Festivals and Competition.

Their most impressive achievements to date  have been winning  the European Accordion Championships in Prague in April 2006 and in 2007 they traveled to Innsbruck, Austria, where the Senior Orchestra were placed 2nd out of 30 and the Junior Orchestra were placed 3rd out of 11 at the World Accordion Championships.

The Orchestra will take part in a number of Big Squeeze Events including “ The Squeeze on The Square” (Canal Square) and the “Squeezing In The Years” Concert in St Kieran’s College.

They will also entertain The Lord Mayor at the official opening of the Big Squeeze in St Kieran’s College on Sat 18th August at 10am,

The Royal Meath Accordion Orchestra

Royal Meath Accordion Orchestra (RMAO) is Ireland’s newest Accordion Orchestra. It was established in May 2016. The orchestra is a young person centred organisation who learn, practice and rehearse music for pleasure, performance and competition. RMAO offers quality tuition at affordable rates and it prides itself in the music education of its young people.

The complete orchestra comprises of twenty eight members, ranging in age from 8 years to 22 years, with an average age of 13 years. The orchestra is based in Duleek, Co Meath and has members from Duleek, Slane, Beauparc, Kentstown and Navan.

All RMAO members study for the Royal Irish Academy of Music Local Centre examinations and in 2016 three members of the orchestra have been honoured with the prestigious high achiever award. The members have many solo/duet All Ireland, Northern Ireland and UK accolades to their credit and six of the members who will perform in Kilkenny have represented Ireland at the Trophée Mondiale (World Cup for Accordion) in Martigny, Switzerland in 2015 in solo and world music ensemble sections with great success.

RMAO are available for your concert/event or function. We perform many different genres of music and we have something for everyone in our repertoire. For further information please contact us at our email address, royalmeathao16@gmail.com

The conductor and Director of Music is Gerard Kelly.

Grainne Rynne & Band

Grainne learned to play the accordion as a young girl in Waltons on Parnell Square in Dublin by Sean Kearney.  She  won many trophies in various accordion competitions and also performed  as part of the full accordion orchestra.

Grainne received her Higher National Diploma from Ballyfermot College of Further Education.  Grainne has been teaching the accordion and tin whistle the last few years in St Agnes School CCMA in Crumlin.   Grainne met  Kathy in BCFF a two year HND in performance in Traditional music/song and  have started performing together in a group called Voyage.

Grainne and her Band will be joined by Kathy Henderson and take part in “Squeezing In The Years” at St Kieran’s College Theatre on Saturday 13th August

Kathy K

Kathy K is a South African born Mezzo soprano, now resident in Dublin.  She previously enjoyed a highly successful operatic career with the role of Carmen as her principle role for which she won several awards and critical acclaim.

She first came to Ireland to sing with the RTE concert Orchestra and then went to tour the UK and Belfast. She has now returned to her singing career having extended her repertoire to music she has loved for a long time and this includes Portuguese Fado, Cape Verdean Morna, Tango, Gypsy and Balkan, Latin American, torch songs, and folk and traditional music.

She is currently touring Ireland with the show Voyage, alongside accordionist Grainne Rynne and Musical director and bassist Eugene Wogan , and percussionist David Dayas well as special guests,

Madision Doherty

Classical accordionist Madison Doherty is 13 years old and comes from Duleek, Co. Meath. Madison began her accordion studies with her present teacher, Gerard Kelly, at the age of six. Madison is passionate about the accordion and has many achievements to show for her young age. She currently holds All Ireland, Northern Ireland and UK Championship titles.

Madison competed in the World Accordion Championships in Switzerland last October and finished 0.1 of a mark outside the prize winners. Madison participates in the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) Local Centre examinations each year and has achieved Distinction in all her examinations to date and was awarded the Intermediate Performance Certificate and a Gold Medal earlier this year. Last week Madison was awarded the High Achiever Awards by the RIAM for her Grade Six Examination.

In addition to her accordion studies, she also plays piano, percussion & recorder to a very high standard. She is a dedicated and loyal member of Royal Meath Accordion Orchestra.

Madison will perform as a Soloist with The Royal Meath Accordion Orchestra at “Squeexing in The Years ” Concert in St. Kierans’s College on Saturday August 13th.

Rachel Fitzpatrick

Classical Accordionist Rachel Fitzpatrick is 13 years old and comes from Duleek in Co. Meath. She studies accordion with Gerard Kelly from Kells, Co. Meath and is now in her seventh year of dedication to the instrument.

A prize winner in numerous accordion competitions, including Northern Ireland, UK and All Ireland Championships, her most prestigious accolade to date was being awarded 2nd place in the World Accordion Championships (12 and under) in Switzerland last autumn.
Rachel has been awarded many High Achiever Awards by the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) and in 2015 was chosen along with nine other High Achievers, from the 44,000 students who participated in Local Centre Examinations during the year, to perform at the High Achievers Gala Concert in Dublin. Last week Rachel was awarded her 6th High Achiever Awards by the RIAM. Earlier this year she was awarded a Gold Medal in her Intermediate Recital Certificate by the RIAM. Rachel is a dedicated and loyal member of Royal Meath Accordion Orchestra and she also plays piano, violin, recorder and percussion to a very high standard.

Rachel will perform as a Soloist with The Royal Meath Accordion Orchestra at “Squeexing in The Years ” Concert in St. Kierans’s College on Saturday August 13th.

The Carty Sisters

Holly Chilton

Holly started both the accordion and piano at the age of 5 and was taught by both her parents John & Yvonne.

She had completed her Grade 8 in both instruments by the age of 14. She is currently a student of the Royal Irish Academy of Music where she is on her 4th scholarship on the accordion. She has studied under Patricia Kavanagh, Katie Kavanagh and her father John Chilton in the RIAM.

She is a member of the Castletown Accordion Orchestra and has performed with them in Prague, Innsbruck, Italy, Croatia and most recently last month in London where she also played the oboe with the Orchestra.

She has won numerous prizes for both solo and ensemble competitions and has won the ‘Concerta Recital’ at the All-Ireland Accordion Festival for the past 2 years. This is the highest award at the Festival. She has been lucky enough to have had masterclasses with Prof. Ray Keary of the RIAM as well as Ian Watson and Ksenja Sidarova.

As part of her Transition Year work experience, she worked in the Pigini Accordion Factory in Castelfidardo and she also got to sit in on a rehearsal and shadow Ian Watson as he performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Proms in the Royal Albert Hall.

She has been awarded 6 High Achiever Awards from the RIAM, 4 on accordion, 1 on piano and 1 on the oboe for Grade 5 which she sat after 16 months of lessons.

She took up the oboe 2 years ago and is currently studying under Conor Cavanagh. She will commence performing with the RIAM Symphony Orchestra in October after completing one year with the Intermediate Orchestra.

She hopes to study oboe at third level after completing her Leaving Certificate next year.

Karl Parge

Karl Parge is 9 years old from Kingscourt, Co.Cavan. He studies accordion with Sara Brennan (his mammy).

Karl is playing the accordion 5 years and competed in his first competition just before his 4th birthday. Karl plays accordion & percussion with the Castletown Accordion Orchestra and will compete with the orchestra at the European Accordion Festival in Prague in November.

He has won numerous competitions in recent years and is current All Ireland Primo Recital holder & Northern Ireland Championship Solo 9 & Under holder respectively.

He has received distinction in his first 2 accordion exams with the RIAM. Karl is born to be on the stage, he is part of Born 2 Perform Stage School and has appeared in the panto “Freezin'” along side Al Porter in the Olympia Theatre Dublin last Christmas and looks forward to taking to the stage this year again.

He will make his first appearance on RTE Junior in October in a programme on “The Sun”.