Music Network has announced the recipients of the 2024 Music Capital Scheme. The scheme, funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, provides funding for musical instruments to community music groups and individual musicians. A total of €545,150 has been awarded this year to 109 recipients across three awards.

In Award 1 for non-professional groups and music organisations, a total of €269,795 was distributed. Among the recipients were Artane School of Music, which received €18,109; Ballintogher Enterprise Centre in collaboration with Ceol Na nÓg Youth Traditional Orchestra (€17,963); Ardee Concert Band (€16,680); Irish Institute of Music & Song (€14,878); Scoil Mhuire in Galway (€14,347); Limerick School of Music (€14,242); and Na Píobairí Uilleann (€14,100).

In Award 2 for established professional musicians, a total of €184,550 was awarded. Recipients include bassoonist Éanna Monaghan, classical guitarist Marco Ramelli, piper Ronan Browne, oboist David Agnew, French horn player Joseph Ryan, bass clarinet player Seamus Wylie, fiddle player Cathal Ó Curráin, and concertina player Caroline Keane. 

A total of €90,805 was provided to 23 emerging professional musicians as part of Award 3. Recipients include harpist Tara Viscardi, violist Séamus Hickey, flautist Anastasia Motiti and uilleann piper Colm Broderick.

Commenting on the initiative, Minister Catherine Martin said:

Good quality musical instruments are so important to individual musicians and to musical groups, and I have no doubt the benefits of the Musical Capital Scheme funding to the 40 non-professional performing groups and 69 individual musicians in receipt of these awards will be felt for many years to come.

Music Network CEO Sharon Rollston added:

Since establishing The Music Capital Scheme together with The Arts Council 16 years ago, we have made 652 awards to individual musicians and organisations, providing access to musical instruments for over 59,000 people.

Our mission is to make high quality live music accessible to communities throughout Ireland, and to support professional musicians to excel in the performance and creation of music. The number and range of instruments provided through the Music Capital Scheme year-on-year continue to make a significant impact on the quality of, and access to, music making and live music performance across Ireland.

The Music Capital Scheme has been expanded this year to include a new award that allows advanced classical string players to borrow a high-quality instrument for three years. The National Instrument Collection (Award 4) is now open for applications. See further information here.

For the full list of 2024 Music Capital Scheme recipients, see below. For more, visit www.musicnetwork.ie.

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