Updated 20/12/2016
Band Bingo Notice: Every Sunday Night from 8pm Sharp at Our HQ in the Bohemian Centre, Jervis Street, Ardee Bingo Book €6, Jackpot €2, Winner Takes All €2, Play Your Cards Right €1 Games all played every week with over €2,000 paid out in cash prizes weekly.
We are an Ardee Baftas 2016 – “Best Community-Involved Group” Award nominee
The link below will give you a chance to vote for ‘Ardee Concert Band’ to become the Best Community-Involved Group in this
years BAFTA (Baile Atha Feirdia Traders Awards) awards. You can vote once every 24 hours.
VOTE VOTE VOTE EVERY 24HRS!!
Ardee Concert Band are supported by The Arts Council, Music Network and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
35th annual Christmas Concert
Ardee concert band took part in its 35th annual Christmas concert on Friday, December 9thin the Bohemian Centre, Ardee at 8pm sharp featuring: Ardee Concert Band, Ardee Concert Junior Band, Ardee Concert Youth Band & Ardee Concert Band Recorder Group.
The Concert went without a hitch to a packed auditorium of Ardonians and friends from near and far. With songs from Radio, old school times, Christmas Carols and Music from the Banding world with a solo from many of our talented musicians along the way, and there was something for everyone to sing along to also.
Róisín Brennan of the Ardee Concert Youth Band received the inaugural Stephen Lynch award for most improved bands person with the group presented by Stephens son Padraig Lynch and Cathal Flanagan Received the Seán Matthews Award for Progression in the Senior Band.
The Conductors Award was presented to the Bands person with a particular strive for the band as an organisation and its music and this years recipient for the trophy was to Emma-Lee Meegan, a member of our Senior band Trumpet section and tutor within the band.
The night continued with Tea and refreshments afterwards for everyone; members and concert goers in the Main Band room of the Bohemian Centre.
You can find the senior band at the:
Ardee Carol service on Sunday 18th Dec
Carols on the Town Christmas Eve Am and Pm
Playing at Christmas Day Mass at 12.30pm in Ardee Church
Ardee Concert Band are supported by The Arts Council, Music Network and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
Save the Date
Save the date our 35th Annual Christmas Concert is set for Friday evening December 9th, more details to follow
Extravagant Turner Cup coming back to Ardee
Ardee Concert Band under their musical director Mr. Brendan Breslin took to the stage on Saturday last 15th October with a 47 strong man ensemble to perform their two rehearsed pieces in front of the days Adjudicator Mr. Steven Sykes.
We Performed two pieces to Catch the attention of the Adjudicator: the first to be played; Catch me if you Can by Jay Bocock featuring Robert Finegan on Solo Alto Saxophone and a wide variety of unique percussion and scoring techniques. They finished their set with an impressive overture featuring sweeping and lush melodies along with brilliant brass fanfares and woodwind flourishes; Resplendent Glory by Rossano Galente.
YouTube Links to both award winning performances are set out below.
With 1st prize of 186 points the band will be presented with the very Extravagant Turner Cup, £200 and a Certificate and the annual Prize-giving Gala Dinner being held on the 12th November in Antrim.
We would like to send our congratulations to our Competitors the Northern Ireland Concert Band on their 2nd place win with 185 points and we look forward to meeting and making music together in the near future.
Link Here: Piece 1: Catch me if you can
Link Here: Piece 2: Resplendent Glory
Ardee waste no time in continuing their success and continue full steam ahead into regular twice weekly rehearsals to prepare for their busy upcoming Christmas season with many events taking place between and Christmas day.
Future Band Engagements:
Nov 13th: Playing Mass for deceased members if Ardee Concert Band, Ardee Church 12noon
Dec 9th: Annual Christmas Concert Bohemian Centre, 8pm
Dec 18th: Parish Christmas Carol Service Ardee Church
Dec 24th: playing Carols on the street, AM+ PM
Dec 25th: Senior Band playing 12.30pm mass, Ardee Church
Ardee Concert Band are supported by Music Network and The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and The Arts Council.
Ardee’s Bandroom a hive of success as rehearsals resume after summer break
The Ardee Concert Band School of Music resumed operation in September after the summer holidays and is now back in full swing with all lessons up and running. We have 100 young members receiving tuition on a weekly basis – 30 new members on recorder, 20 on flute, 20 on clarinet, 7 on saxophone, 15 on trumpet, 1 on bassoon, 1 on trombone, 3 on euphonium and 3 on percussion. Our Youth Band and Junior Band are back rehearsing since early September.
A huge thank you to all of the ten excellent tutors who give their time voluntary and whose commitment, dedication and loyalty is a major factor in the success of Ardee Concert Band.
Ardee Concert Band are supported by Music Network and The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and The Arts Council.
Ronan and Emma-Lee for High Achievers Audition
Best wishes to our very own talented Ronan Tallon and Emma-Lee Meegan both on Trumpet who received a High Achievers Award for their performance in the Royal Irish Academy exams last May.
Ronan and Emma-Lee are both auditioning today Sunday 09 October for a place in the high achievers concert!
You can do it Ronan and Emma-Lee! ???
Ardee Concert Band are supported by Music Network and The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and The Arts Council.
Upcoming Bohemian Centre Event
Local woman Ruth Kelly Brady to sing for Make a Wish Ireland with Ardee Concert Band’s Big Band ensemble and other special guests on October 22nd 2016
Bingo Jackpot Rollover
Ardee Concert Band’s Weekly Sunday Night Bingo continues next Sunday 25th September 2016 from 8pm at the Bohemian Centre, Ardee. Doors open from 7pm. Our weekly Jackpot has now rolled over to €4, 000!
Ardee Concert Band are supported by Music Network and The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and The Arts Council.
Enrollment Night
Halloween Camp
It’s that time of year again and the Halloween Band camp is back with a vengeance.
Running for the Halloween Midterm from Monday 31st Oct – Fri 4th Nov, prices starting from €45, Family Rates available
Aisling Reilly is now taking bookings, forms will be available from the bandroom or if you needs a form and you can’t call into the bandroom you can contact Aisling on +353862238794 she’ll be delighted to send you on one or you can download it from the link below the poster.
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Halloween Band Camp form available to download from link below:
Link: halloween-camp-form
Annual Enrollment Night
Our annual enrollment night will take place next Monday evening 19th Sept from 7.30pm in the Bohemian Centre Ardee. New members from age 8 are welcome to join our new 2016/2017 recorder class.
If you can read music or play an instrument you are welcome to come along also as you may be at a standard to join one of our other 4 groups higher than recorder/beginner level.
Ardee Concert Band are Supported by Music Network’s Music Capital Scheme, funded by The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Music Network is funded by The Arts Council.
CHURCH GATE COLLECTION
Thank you very much to all to helped and supported our church gate collection last weekend 10th and 11th September at all masses in Ardee and Ballaphousta.
The band is very grateful to all who contributed in the collection from the parish and further afield on the day. It’s a vital source of fundraising for organisation to help with music and instrument purchases and repairs aswell as recreation for our members as a thank you and we’ll done for their huge efforts in our award winning organisation through the year.
Ardee Concert Band are Supported by Music Network’s Music Capital Scheme, funded by The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Music Network is funded by The Arts Council.
Ardee Concert Band to form Elvis’ backing Band at National Concert Hall
Elvis Impersonator Anthony Bradley will be joined by the Ardee Concert Band and the Maynooth and SpeakUp SingOut (SUSO) Gospel Choirs in this special tribute to the ‘King of Rock and Roll’, performing new and original arrangements by composer and Musical Director of Ardee Concert Band; Brendan Breslin in the Main Auditorium of the National Concert Hall in Dublin.
All accompanied by a 70 strong choir to perform an all new tribute to the late, great ‘King of Rock’n’Roll’, Elvis Presley. Anthony Bradley as ‘Elvis’ will perform new and original arrangements by composer Brendan Breslin. This show will feature well known Elvis classics such as Suspicious Minds, Burning Love, The Last Farewell and How Great Thou Art carefully chosen, written and arranged by Mr. Breslin for orchestra and choir.
A show not to be missed; Tickets are now available for the Concert at €25 through the National Concert Hall’s Website or on the following link: https://www.nch.ie/Online/Elvis-20Aug16
Ardee Concert Band are Supported by Music Network’s Music Capital Scheme, funded by The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Music Network is funded by The Arts Council.
Source: https://www.nch.ie/Online/Elvis-20Aug16
Ardee Concert Band win BIG at the South of Ireland Band Championships in Clonakilty
What a weekend of banding on Saturday July 2nd for us all here at Ardee Concert Band! We made the journey back from the sunny south East with 4 major prizes by the days adjudicator Mr. Tom Davoren at the 2016 South of Ireland Band Championships in Clonakilty, Co. Cork.
Our Senior Band swept the floor in the Senior Section against 7 of Ireland’s Top Concert and Brass bands. We were awarded with a special Adjudicators award for Innovation as our 20 min programme paid tribute to the 1916 commemoration and the road the country and it’s People have travelled over the last 100 years.
We then received the prize best woodwind Section of a band for the Competition, as well as the prize for Best Musical Arrangement for Gather the Gaels which was Composed and written by 
our Senior Band Conductor; Brendan Breslin. “A Huge congrats go out to Brendan on the success of his composition and writing skills, and also for the time and effort he gives the band, without him we wouldn’t be the Band we are today.” Said Band PRO Sinead Nutley.
To top the day the Ardee Concert Band were crowned Best Concert Band of the Competition coming 1 point behind Lourdes Brass Band who claimed 1st Prize.
A celebratory break for rehearsal on Tuesday evening 5th July didn’t stop the bands focus as they now turn to the remaining summer Engagements where they took part in the Kingscourt Band Festival on Sunday 10th July and in the National Concert Hall on Saturday 20th August forming the backing band for an Elvis Tribute Charity Concert.
Tickets are now available for the Concert through the National Concert Hall’s Website or on the following link: https://www.nch.ie/Online/Elvis-20Aug16
Ardee Concert Band are Supported by Music Network’s Music Capital Scheme, funded by The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Music Network is funded by The Arts Council.
Ardee Concert Band Awards Night
The presentation of grade certificates to the Youth and Junior Bands for exams held in the Bohemian Centre in May 2016 and the presentation of other certificates to the Training Band and Recorder Group will be held in the Bohemian Centre on
Friday, 24th June 2016 at 7.00pm.
There will be a short recital by the Recorder Group, Training Band, Junior Band and Youth Band. All members of these groups are asked to attend. Parents, family and friends are also invited and will be made most welcome.
Admission is free and light refreshments served afterwards.
Ardee Concert Band are Supported by Music Network’s Music Capital Scheme, funded by The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Music Network is funded by The Arts Council.
Oldbridge Estate Recital Sun 19th June
The Ardee Concert Senior & Youth Bands will be playing at the beautiful Battle of the Boyne site, Oldbridge, Drogheda at 2.30pm on this coming Sunday 19th June. The venue is a specially erected marquee at the far end of the walled garden in front of the tea rooms.
The Senior Band will start playing at 2.30pm and at 3.15, the Youth Band will take over for 15-20 minutes. After the Youth Band are finished, the Senior Band will then play until 4.30pm.
Members be at the Estate for 2pm or if you need a lift be at band room just before 1.30pm.
The main features of the Battle of the Boyne site are
– tour of main house and audio visual
– tea rooms
– walled gardens, including sunken octagonal garden
– picnic area
– Living History events at the front of the house
– Many walks
– For more info, please checkhttp://www.battleoftheboyne.ie/
Hope to see you there
Ardee Concert Band are Supported by Music Network’s Music Capital Scheme, funded by The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Music Network is funded by The Arts Council.
Louth Agricultural Show, Bellurgan Park
Our senior Band made it 3 in a row for 2016 down in Bellurgan Park for the Co Louth Agricultural Show as the sun once again shone down on the band. It may have been in between showers but the band didn’t get wet But the suncream did have to come out during the performance! 🙂
Under guest Conductor John Carpenter, the band entertained the masses entering the show in front of the main 
house aswell as all who had gathered to listen to the band specially.
Many thanks to the organising Committee for their invite to us and to John Carpenter for conducting the band it was a pleasure to have you with us! 🙂
Ardee Concert Band are Supported by Music Network’s Music Capital Scheme, funded by The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Music Network is funded by The Arts Council.
Ardee May Procession
Ardee Concert Band participated and persevered through the rain for the annual Ardee May Procession to our lady on Sunday May 22nd after 12 noon mass. The Band send their congratulations to those who were involved in organising the event; and all who took part on the day in any way. It is a very important event in the parish community calendar.
Tony Melia, chairman of the Ardee Pastoral Council spoke to band member Kevin Reilly at the end of the ceremony to specifically thank the band for the participation in the procession.
Well done to those who were on their first marching outing with the band. Thanks also to Annemarie and Caitlin who carried the Band Flag and Papal Flag to lead the procession in such a Solemn manner.
The Procession began from the church and proceeded through the town ending with Benediction and Rosary in the Fair Green
Ardee Concert Band are Supported by Music Network’s Music Capital Scheme, funded by The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Music Network is funded by The Arts Council.
Ardee win 2nd Prize and Best Own Choice Piece at National Championships
47 members of Ardee Concert Band performed in the Irish Association of Brass and Concerts Bands National Band Championships in the Solstice Arts Centre, Navan on Saturday last April 2nd under the musical Direction of our conductor Brendan Breslin. Performing in Section 1 Concert the highest category for Concert Bands in the Country; we have Brought home 2 trophies to start of our 2016 musical year.
After playing a piece of our choice and the piece “Land of the Long White Cloud” by renowned composer Philip Sparke; decided by the association for the level of standard for category, our Community Band won Best Own Choice Piece with 43 marks out of 50 for “El Camino Real” by Alfred Reed while also taking home the title of 2nd Place, with a total of 136 marks out of 150, 2 marks behind the section winners Dublin Concert Band. Our Band Secretary Niall Doherty collected the prizes of Best Own choice and 2nd place award from the Adjudicator of the weekend.
Our Youth Band also played earlier on in the day under John Gaynor, Unfortunately not placing they performed very well in a tough Youth section 4. They have done the band and their families proud. “They are always a credit to our band and also to our town on any engagement they attend and last weekend was no exception, they were treated to Lunch out for their tremendous effort and it’s all experience that they can bring into their next performances and competitions” said Band PRO Sinéad Nutley.
Our Senior Bands performances are on the following YOUTUBE links and thanks go out to Ken Finegan for putting the videos together!
1; Test Piece; “Land of the Long White Cloud” by Philip Sparke
2; Best Own Choice Piece; “El Camino Real” by Alfred Reed
Ardee Concert Band are Supported by Music Network’s Music Capital Scheme, funded by The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Music Network is funded by The Arts Council.
EASTER BAND CAMP
Clips of the Culminating Finale concert of the Easter Band Camp are available on our Facebook page Ardee Concert Band
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=956453327736808&id=158299664218849
Well done to all involved throughout the week students and tutors and all help behind the seens!
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19 Students, 16 on concert band instruments & 3 attending on recorder an Easter Band Camp run by 3 Ardee Concert Senior Band Members; Aisling Reilly and Robert Finegan both DIT Music students and Darren Kirk; a Nursing Student.
The camp was made up of students not only from Ardee but from Bands in the North East Region of the Irish Association of Brass & Concert Bands.
Darren a past Recorder tutor with the band took the recorder group and they played Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Irish Washerwoman and They also played California dreaming with the rest of the band members in the camp Finale Concert.
Aisling and Robert took the rest of the students through 4 pieces; California Dreaming, Don’t cry for me Argentina, Supercalifragilisticexpialidoc
The camp students were also thaught rhymes to help them remember different rhythms they will encounter in their music path!
Camp was from 10am-3pm on Monday March Marxh 28th and 11am-3pm on Tuesday to Friday culminating with a finale concert at 3pm for parents and friends on Friday April 1st. Throughout the camp they did rehearsals on their concert showcase pieces, music theory and games each day.
Video’s and pictures of the week are available on the Ardee Concert Band Facebook Page by searching Ardee Concert Band and our Website www.ardeeconcertband.com
Ardee Concert Band are Supported by Music Network’s Music Capital Scheme, funded by The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Music Network is funded by The Arts Council
IABCB Regional Solo & Ensemble Competition – 21st Feb 2016 Bohemian Centre, Ardee
Huge success for Ardee Concert Band in regional Solo Competition
The high standard of musicianship in Ardee Concert Band was once again evident by the excellent performances of Aisling Reilly in winning the Open Section and Cathal Flanagan in winning the Under 18 Section of the Annual Irish Association of Brass & Concert Bands Solo and Ensemble competitions which were hosted by Ardee Concert Band in the Bohemian Centre, Ardee on Sunday 21st of February. Seventy Soloists and ten ensembles representing seven bands from Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan took part in a fantastic day of music.
The adjudicator for the day was Brian Daly musical director of Stedfast Brass Band in Blackrock Co.Dublin. Brian is a freelance French Horn player with the National Symphony Orchestra, the RTE Concert Orchestra and Sovereign Brass. The Solos and ensemble entries were accompanied once again by the fantastic Pianist Edward Holly.
With free Admission all participants had their family, friends and even members of the public come in to show their support for all soloists and ensembles performing on the day.
A big Thank you to Edward Holly for his wonderful piano playing, accompanying the musicians and to Brian Daly for Adjudicating the event. It can be a long day for an adjudicator and many tough decisions to be made but Brian worked on through and awarded many prizes throughout the day.
Many Congratulations go to the organising Committee for a very successful event.
“Ardee Concert Band send their congratulations to all the performers and winners. It takes a lot to go up and perform on your own or even as part of a small group in front of an audience. All credit to the performers and their families for the support they show to them” said Ardee Concert Band PRO Sinéad Nutley.
Ardee Concert Band are Supported by Music Network’s Music Capital Scheme, funded by The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Music Network is funded by The Arts Council.
SOLO & ENSEMBLE Competition, Ardee, 21-02-2016
The IABCB North East Regional Solo & Ensemble Competition will be hosted by Ardee Concert Band in the Bohemian Centre Ardee on Sunday 21-02-2016.
With regard to the Solos, as well as providing a great opportunity for personal musical development, it is also a great opportunity for any members who are due to play in the aural tests for Junior or Leaving Cert (or preparing for Grade exams) to play one of their pieces before an experienced adjudicator and get his remarks.
Edward Holly will be available on the day at no charge to the contestants to accompany if required. The adjudicator will be Brian Daly.
Kevin Reilly , Treasurer,
North East Region, Irish Association of Brass & Concert Bands.
Mobile:- 086.0816496
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Ardee Concert Band to perform Joint Concert with internationally acclaimed The Sacred Heart University Concert Band
Ardee Concert Band to perform Joint Concert with internationally acclaimed The Sacred Heart University Concert Band from Fairfield, Connecticut, USA, on Friday 15th January 2016 at 8pm in the Bohemian Centre. Admission is free.
We; Ardee Concert Band, have been given a fantastic opportunity to perform with one of the foremost University 
Concert Bands in the USA from the Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, U.S.A.
The 65-strong Sacred Heart University Band will arrive in Ardee on Friday evening and they would like to meet and mingle with the members of our band. We will provide refreshments for them either before or after the concert and they will travel back to their hotel in Dublin after the concert.
This should be a spectacular and unique event for our band members and for the town in general. Admission is free and we are inviting all parents of band members, families and friends, people of Ardee to attend and give our visitors a great welcome.
The format of Concert will be:-
Ardee Concert Youth Band
Ardee Concert Senior Band
Sacred Heart University Concert Band
Combined Finale with Sacred Heart University Concert and Ardee Concert Senior Band
Ardee Concert Band are Supported by Music Network’s Music Capital Scheme, funded by The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Music Network is funded by The Arts Council.
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Some information available here:-
Senior Band Rehearsals Resume
Senior Band Rehearsals Resume Tuesday 5th Jan 2016 with Brendan at 8pm the Bandroom.