Ballymun Music Programme Inspires Young Musicians with Jazz at Lincoln Center Collaboration

Published: 18 Mar, 2025

A large group of people smile for a photo

The Ballymun Music Programme, a transformative initiative run by TU Dublin Conservatoire in conjunction with Dublin City Council, recently hosted an unforgettable workshop featuring world-class musicians from Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York. As part of their historic debut in Dublin at the National Concert Hall last week with the legendary Wynton Marsalis, acclaimed jazz artists Marcus Printup (trumpet) and Paul Nedzela (saxophone) engaged with young musicians in an inspiring session that highlighted the power of music education.

Two people play a trumpet and saxophone for an audience

For nearly 30 years, the Ballymun Music Programme has provided free, high-quality music education to young people in the Ballymun area, removing financial barriers and fostering creativity, confidence, and community engagement. Currently supporting over 280 young musicians across seven partner schools, the programme offers instrumental training and performance opportunities at both local and national events, including concerts for President Michael D. Higgins.

This special workshop, made possible by DublinJazz.ie, showcased the programme's commitment to enriching lives through music by connecting students with global jazz icons. The energy and passion shared by the visiting musicians left a lasting impact, reinforcing the importance of accessible arts education.

"We were honoured to welcome Marcus Printup and Paul Nedzela to Ballymun," said Aisling O'Gorman, Ballymun Music Programme Project Coordinator at TU Dublin Conservatoire. "Their generosity and talent demonstrated to our young musicians the transformative power of music, inspiring them to dream big and pursue their musical journeys."

The Ballymun Music Programme remains dedicated to ensuring that every child, regardless of socioeconomic background, has access to top-class music education. Through collaborations like this, the programme continues to empower the next generation of musicians, proving that music truly has the power to change lives.