Via The Journal Of Music: Newpark Academy of Music, the well-known music school in south county Dublin, has announced that it will reopen on 9 September in new premises and with a new Board of Directors.
The previous Board announced in May that it was closing the school due to financial difficulties, but following a major campaign by the school, its staff, former students, and the local community, the Department of Education licensed the school to reopen earlier this month.
Newpark Academy of Music commenced enrolment for the new year on Friday 23 August and, according to Executive Director Hilda Chan, is 'on track' to see the full return of its 600 students and 42 staff. The period of consultation with parents over the summer has also led to a new initiative: this year will see the launch of a Newpark Youth Orchestra, which will provide students with an opportunity to perform together regularly.
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Following the crisis in May, a working group was established and the legal firm Arthur Cox offered its services pro bono to assist the Academy. After a ‘lengthy consultation’ over the summer between the previous Board of Directors and the campaign group, with the legal firm acting as intermediary, it was agreed to appoint a new Board and reopen the school. The new Board members are Deborah Kelleher, Director of the Royal Irish Academy of Music; Anne Woodworth, former Director of the School of Music WIT – which also went through a similar experience twenty years ago; accountant Des Crowther; and communications professional Catherine Griffin.
"What I have really learned is how important the arts and music are to the local community", said Chan. "What we have is a music school that has been running for 45 years. We have seen the impact now through all of the people who have been willing to step up and keep it going."
The Academy is developing a revised business strategy with its new Board and is also launching a series of fundraising concerts beginning in October, organised by Head of Jazz Kevin Brady, who played a key role in raising awareness of the crisis in May.
(Photo: Silver Image Photography)
Chan said that the support of politicians was also key, including Councillor Barry Ward, Cormac Devlin TD, Minister Norma Foley, Richard Boyd Barrett TD, Councillor Maurice Dockrell, Councillor Marie Baker, Councillor Michael Clark and Councillor Conor Dowling.
"Many world-renowned musicians helped show the wider music community how important it is to save this vital part of the music education infrastructure in Ireland," she added. "Parents and pupils were loud in their support of the Academy… We look forward to embarking on this exciting new journey and continuing to enrich our community through the joy of music."
Newpark Academy of Music was founded in 1979 and previous Musical Directors have included Simon Taylor, Nigel Flegg and Grace Tallon. As well as individual and group tuition the Academy runs choirs and ensembles.
The Academy developed a particular reputation for jazz and, through the work of Ronan Guilfoyle, it developed a jazz degree that was accredited by Berklee College of Music in Boston. The degree transferred to Dublin City University in 2017 which allowed the Academy to grow further.
Past students of Newpark Academy include drummer Rory Doyle who tours with Hozier, singer Aoife Doyle, and drummer Sean Carpio, a previous member of the Louis Stewart Quintet.
Read more from The Journal Of Music here.
