Jan/102
What’s going to happen in 2010?
The future of SMS? I have no inside information. So please don’t jump to any conclusions?
We (on this blog) did our best to support SMS09. We’ve created a record of sorts – that’ll be there for posterity. We’ve linked people and created a resource for others to use as they see fit.
But what of the future of SMS? Will it continue in 2010? If so, in what form?
There’s no point in pretending we can predict the future. It’s there for us to make. I for one would love to see SMS continue in 2010 – in some form that’s sustainable.
So far it’s been the child, the baby of Bob Creech. Without him there would be no SMS. But Bob can’t go on for ever. There has to be some sort of handover, at some stage. Maybe not 2010, but some time.
The burning question is the transition to a new regime for SMS. Will that happen? If so, how?
My view (and please remember I’m a newcomer to SMS) is that the sooner the better. We need to support Bob Creech as he thinks about the future of SMS. I have no doubt Bob has thought a lot about this issue. But I’m not in touch with his thinking. I hope some of those who are in touch with Bob’s plans will read this and let him know that there are others here too. I would certainly commit to helping SMS into the future.
The question is how can I best help?
Sep/090
Homage to Bob Creech
This is an attempt at a homage (or an homage – pronounce it as ye will) to Bob Creech, and a poor one at that.
Not being a Classical music connoisseur, let alone a buff, I’m not privy to what Bob Creech has achieved in a lifetime of dedication to Classical Music and the education of children in Classical Music. But I know, from the lips of many internationally renowned classical musicians who have given freely of their time in successive Summer Music on the Shannon festivals, that his achievements are gargantuan. I let it to those in the know to fill in the details.
I am writing from my personal experience of Bob Creech.
When Bob asked me to take over the running of the SMS office in UCH, from his wonderful wife Nancy 5 years ago, I was both flattered and petrified. I was flattered because I couldn’t understand why Bob could have such faith in me since, to my mind, I hadn’t proven that I could manage anything, let alone the chaotic maelstrom that was Summer Music on the Shannon. I was petrified because I lacked the confidence and belief in myself that I could do it. Yet, such was my respect for Bob that I could not refuse his request, so I accepted.
That first year in UCH was utter hell for me. SMS didn’t have an office, but was situated in the open area of the ground floor in the Foundation Building between the toilets and the Emergency Exit. I think that says something about how UCH saw the programme at the time – I may rue saying this, but I’ve never been a shrinking violet when it comes to speaking my mind and I don’t intend to start being one now. All that was between the office staff and the outside world were some hastily assembled tables. I remember being constantly worried about somebody making off with our computer equipement, despite the fact that our computer equipment was so outdated as to be worthless, so nobody in their right minds would have touched it anyway. I always did make sure to take my laptop with me wherever I went, however. What was worse was having to talk to the parents of the children on the programme. I felt a mixture of terror, fright, confusion and embarrasment (not necessarily in that order) everytime somebody asked me a question. This heady mix was enhanced by a healthy dollop of worry that something would go drastically wrong, with panic waiting in the wings to make a grand entrance when it did. Eventually I got used to dealing with the public and I relaxed a bit. I think it was only after the third year that I felt I had a handle on how things worked, and more importantly, on how things didn’t work and what to do when they didn’t.
Experience is a great teacher.
[To be continued...]
Sep/091
Interview with Michael Murphy, director UCH, coming up soon
On Wednesday I drove from Cork to Limerick and interviewed Michael Murphy about Summer Music on the Shannon (SMS). We talked about his experience of SMS for almost an hour.
I think you’ll be interested in his perspective.
All I have to do is finish knocking my notes and recording into shape.
Michael is Director of University Concert Hall. He’s David Collopy’s manager and has a really interesting take on the SMS story.
Watch this space.
Aug/090
Stretching SMS out across the internet is a complex business
What wonder of modern civilization the Internet is.
I think of it like the wheel. And sometimes even like fire…
The arena that is the Internet is a porous affair, a permeable membrane… a space where fault lines cross, rivers converge and ideas splinter in a trillion directions.
SMS is out there now. Goodness knows who’s picking it up and playing with it. There could well be someone in Alaska under the influence, or a Russian child dreaming of how to do the same thing over there.
This blog continues, and will keep on going…
The Facebook Group is well and truly on the march: 62 members from many countries and counties, & 250 photographs, each of which tells a story.
And so far we have only scratched the surface.
Not a single newspaper, radio station or TV programme-maker has picked up the story of how this blog is an interesting innovation. No one’s come to us and said “tell us the story of why you’re doing this… Why blog SMS?”
It’ll be interesting to see who gets that story first.
Aug/090
Opera Tour for SMS : Kilmallock
SMS came, saw & conquered the hearts of Kilmallock on Tuesday evening.
A magnificent final performance of Carl Davis opera “The Mermaid”, in the Friars’ Gate theatre.
How much of Kilmallock did the cast see?
Very little. They were completely focussed on the performance.
So Paul O’Mahony went on walkabout to record some shot of Kilmallock. You can see his photographs here. (The set will take a while to complete.) On the blogroll of this blog there is a link to his photographs on Flickr.
Aug/092
The SMS Interview : David Collopy’s view of SMS
We are delighted to welcome David Collopy, General Manager of University Concert Hall (UCH), located on the campus of University of Limerick (UL).
This is the first of a series of interviews we hope to publish around the theme of “SMS : Significance & Future” - showcasing views of key people in and connected with SMS.
David brings a wonderful CV to SMS.
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Director Glór – Irish Music Centre in Ennis, Co Clare
October 2007 — October 2008
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Chief Executive Opera Ireland
November 1985 — December 2006
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General Administrator Wexford Festival Opera
February 1980 — September 1985
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Some personal favorites…
Favorite Sport: I’m not really interested in any sport. If offered tickets for Heineken Cup final (Munster playing), I’d probably say “tickets should go to someone who’s passionate about the game.”
Favorite Food: My favourite food experience is the seafood platter in Linnane’s New Quay, County Clare. This is a pub-restaurant, on southern shore of Galway Bay, near Ballyvaughan (known as “the flaggy shore“). There was a boat disaster there; I saw a documentary on it. I’m a seafood person; I’d live on it if I could.
Favorite music: If I could take only one piece to a desert island, it would have to be opera: overture to Verdi’s La Forza del destino [listen here] - a common enough overture, but I love it
Favorite performer, musician or singer: Maria Callas
Favorite country: Switzerland. Been many times. love it – so many contrasts
Country you’d love to go to: Bali. Wanted to get married there. Or Goa
Favorite city: Paris, culturally
__________________________________________
How did you first hear about “Summer Music on the Shannon”?
Seven years ago, when I was chief executive of Opera Ireland, Michael Murphy, director UCH, told me about this “summer camp”. Michael introduced me to Bob Creech. SMS opera project had just started. It was something I wanted to explore, because Opera Ireland was very keen to nurture young talent. SMS opera programme was a programme with which we wanted to build a partnership. We wanted to support it.
Opera Ireland became partner/sponsor of SMS opera programme. It was great for SMS to link with the only national opera organisation in Ireland.
When I left Opera Ireland, I wrote a report for Michael Murphy on how to take this link forward. I also looked at organisational structure & management, began to work closely with Bob Creech. UCH wanted to help SMS achieve its ‘raison d’etre’.
Any highlights in relation to SMS?
As general manager UCH from November 2008, I began to “look after” SMS from a UCH perspective. We’ve tried to make a bit more sense of the relationship.
SMS is actually a “project” of UCH. SMS isn’t a legal entity in its own right. In terms of liabilities, financial and otherwise, SMS comes under UCH. When making grant applications, applications go forward from UCH. My job is to add more resource to SMS for management & administration. We want to continuously improve SMS business organisation, so that the artistic, learning & performance side of SMS can continue to flourish.
When SMS is on UL campus, the two organisations are nearly one and the same.
Who else in UCH plays an important role in SMS?
Marie Healy is Registrar: looks after applicants signing-up for courses; deals with queries & all things on campus - even doctors & dentists.
Paul Boland is Technical Manager. We have 22 public performances.
Anything that must move for performances@St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilrush, Bruff, Kilmallock – like projectors & sound equipment - is provided by UCH technical department.
Paul Boland also acts as Production Manager: sets up & provides equipment, schedules, deals with the technical side of Concert Hall, lights the hall, works with Set Designer to help realise the overall design concept.
Emma Foote, Marketing Manager: prepares printed material, brochures, press releases, radio ads, helps local, regional & national newspapers. For example, Carl Davis [composer of "The Mermaid"] was on Pat Kenny Show with Myles Dungan – she arranges that.
Box Office Manager, Henri Murphy, with our box office staff, sell tickets. There’s no box office@St Mary’s Cathedral, so we have to provide that with house staff.
How does SMS Summer School fit into the annual cycle of Concert Hall?
Fits very well. Summer is every concert hall’s down time for audience. With SMS, we’ve a programme that fills the gap brilliantly.
Remember, SMS occupies more than the Concert Hall. Expands into 3-4 university faculties. Uses space from Languages, Engineering, Irish World Academy of Music & Dance. (Great co-operation there.) Also Jean Monnet Theatre & Jonathan Swift Theatre : SMS pervades the physical fabric of the University Of Limerick.
The downside is that SMS runs during summer holiday season. Local concert-going audience is down, off on holidays. SMS can’t have the same packed houses for concerts as we get during the rest of the year. So it’s a trade off.
What connections exist between SMS & the wider artistic community in Ireland?
Musicians come from their musical communities. After SMS they go back to work in September, on their day jobs. They take the spirit & experience of SMS with them, to Cork, Dublin and beyond.
It’s like ‘viral’ marketing. The word gets out & on to others who may well join SMS. Music education all over Ireland benefits. For example, Artane Band [see them play] with whom SMS has close links, comes to Limerick for a week of their own Concert performances.
The impact of SMS radiates out a fair bit. The musical connections also connect with educational networks. School teachers come to supervise & support students.
There is an essential & strong connection with the international music community as well. SMS began with Bob Creech & friends from Canada & UK. Recently, the Norwegian connection has grown. For example, David Stewart is Canadian. He’s known Bob in Canada. He also has connections with Norway. He was leader of the Norwegian Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. There are so many countries involved in SMS, that these international influences are developing all the time.
Bob Creech is the centre, with his amazing experience and network. If you look at his CV, you’ll see how he’s brought people together from many countries. It’s a bit like Facebook in action – the living embodiment of Facebook [there is an SMS Facebook Group] in terms of networking.
What connections exist with the wider community in Limerick, Clare, Ireland & beyond?
SMS is predominantly a Summer School. A certain school regime is present. As for all children going to school, students share a common interest. But when the child leaves school, it’s over. After SMS, the connection is broken. Contrast this with the world of work: there are people I’ve known, & stayed in touch with, for 30 years.
The student association with the organisation is relatively short. Absence of structures & backup means that, for SMS, the long term connection is not so strong. We have plans to address that.
Do you deliberately plan for children from deprived areas like Moyross to come?
Look at the mission statement for SMS (on website). It’s a very global mission statement. It’s really to make music for everyone, irrespective of age, financial background, or ability. Students have access to SMS music programmes, with bursaries for those who can’t afford the fees. SMS lives out its mission statement.
The SMS experience gives students a bit of a ‘crutch’, if they need it. Young kids come to the programme from Moyross. They develop a talent they didn’t know they had. This a key aspect of what we do. The bursary programme should be the last thing to go if we’re in difficulties. The joy this experience gives kids is of immense value to everyone.
Any particular challenges in 2009?
As I see it, SMS is at a cross roads. SMS has outgrown its success It came to UCH with a 2-week programme. Now it’s over 4 weeks. There are masterclasses now. The programme has expanded out of all recognition. And yet it’s still being run with it’s original approach.
Now we need a serious reassessment. How is SMS going to build and keep bringing in other elements?
We need to develop long term plans. Branding. Governance structures. Strategic marketing. SMS has now become too big to continue as it has been.
It is also struggling financially - like every arts organisation.
Change must be done in a measured and achievable way. You cannot run an organisation which grown so much bigger in size and diversity, on the same resources or mechanisms. This is what Bob Creech has been trying to bring to all our attention. We have to consider how best to move forward for the next phase of SMS – so as to ensure the spirit of SMS for the future.
Looking ahead 5 years, where would you see SMS?
Assuming present demand & growth rate remains constant, we shall concentrate on tuition, but also with performance.
A key aspect for students is that they play alongside professional players from the Philharmonic. What is unique is that they interact as equals in performance of the music. You may have the leader of the Norwegian orchestra playing alongside a student, with the student leading the orchestra. The roles are reversed. It is a great way for kids to learn that this is what its like when you’re a player.
SMS goes to Kilrush, Bruff & Kilmallock. Do you see SMS going to other places, expanded its outreach service?
We need to define outreach. SMS spends 4 weeks working very hard here. Going out from Limerick gives students more performances. Going on tour shows opera students what it’s like to tour an opera. This means it’s not just one performance. They get to perform at home and tour.
We need balance. It’s a matter of showing communities what is available. Letting them find out what an SMS performance could mean to them locally. It’s not a matter of SMS pushing itself into communities. We need local communities to want SMS.
We need to show the very high standard of SMS performance. This is audience development. Growing the appreciation of the value there is in a young student reaching out to young musicians and teachers, on an equal basis. This is an area for policy development.
[to be continued]
Aug/091
On a visit to SMS today, I saw art work… and got the photographs wrong
I got to UL @ about 1600. SMS was humming, sounds coming for several rooms.
There was a group of violinists with a teacher in one room, a solo pianist in another, flute coming through walls, and a big, noisy group making art for the opera.
“The Mermaid” opening night is on Friday 14 August in University Concert Hall, Limerick.
I was keen to take photographs for the blog to give you a feel for what was going on…
and to create a record…
and see who was about…
I set out to take shots of the art, the artists, and teachers at work.
To give an impression in writing is difficult. ‘A photograph is worth a thousand words’… and I wished I could have recorded sounds, and put up a podcast.
David Collopy arrived, and changed everthing… fortunately.
I was full of wonder and excitement, itching to get back home and put the photos up for you to see.
However, I hadn’t thought it through.
“You know you can’t put up photographs of students under 18 years. You have to have permission from parents, from every single parent.”
The minute David said it, I realised he was right. There are so many issues surrounding the display of photographs on the internet. There is no way of making sure every parent has signed a parental leave form, giving permission for photographs to be put on the blog.
If even one parent objected, there could be big trouble, negative publicity. It’s a risk no sensible person or organisation could take.
So I’ve got all these lovely photographs of students working together, enjoying themselves making art for the opera - I can’t show them to anyone. I might as well destroy them.
You’ll just have to take my word for it, and imagine what was going on.
I can show you the adults, and the backs of children’s heads…
But the art is wonderful. The look of the opera is going to be great.
Aug/090
Standing ovation after SMS concert
I’d like to say a big thank you to the person who first stood up.
She or he had the courage of their conviction and I was proud to be associated with the sentiments.
What’s the point of sitting on your hands when you’ve been moved so much.
I assure you that if you scrutinise the photograph carefully you’ll convince yourself that it’s evidence that people were indeed standing…
Jul/090
Why are we blogging SMS?
This is why…
“This blog exists to record, celebrate & communicate all the amazing stuff that makes up the annual summer music school.
We intend to tell the full story.
* This’ll mean bringing you up to speed on how SMS came into existence, its history.
* This’ll mean letting you in on what lies behind the programme: the people, their passions & methods.
We aim to provide a place where you can share your thoughts about SMS. Hopefully, this won’t be all one-way traffic: ideally, many young people will discover this blog and use it.
Fun & Creativity… hard work & play… inspiration & application…”
- written when we began. I’ve put it up again to remind myself of our mission.
I don’t think we’ve yet connected enough with young people?
Jul/090
First comment spam
It doesn’t take long for these wasters to spew their crap out, does it?
If I ever meet one of these spammers, they’ll go away with no front teeth and very bloody gums.
These goddamn (and devildamn [just to keep things balanced, mind!]) bottom-feeding scumbags are nothing more than detritus in the greater scheme of things, and are the utter antithesis of what Summer Music on the Shannon is about, id est (put that in you pipes and smoke it, if you dare, spamscum) the nurturing of the innate musical talent that each human child (of whatever age) possesses. That is, to my understanding, the core of Bob Creech’s vision. If I’m wrong I stand, or sit, corrected, but I doubt that I’m wrong.