Dundalk based Cross Border Orchestra perform at Carnegie Hall

Carnegie Hall is without doubt one of the most prestigious music venues in the world.

Every great performer, conductor, orchestra, regards playing Carnegie Hall as the pinnacle of their career.

Though many great musicians dedicate their lives to music, very few are privileged enough to tread the boards of the world’s most iconic stage.

On St. Patrick's Day the renowned Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland took to this glorious stage as they celebrated their work and achievements in promoting peace, unity and tolerance in Ireland since their foundation in 1995.

Significantly, this celebration concert also mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Based in Dundalk, the CBOI is now composed of over 130 exceptionally talented young musicians, aged from 14 to 24, from all over Ireland and Northern Ireland.

CBOI is a registered charity and provides free instrumental tuition and outstanding performance opportunities for hundreds of children and young people. CBOI recently won a ‘National Rural Impact Award’ for their work.

The CBOI is best known in Ireland for their nationwide Peace Proms programme which is a free resource and choral education initiative for primary schools.

35,000 primary school children from almost 700 schools in Ireland and Northern Ireland form their Children’s Peace Choirs and perform with the orchestra at concerts held across the island.

The CBOI has had the honour of performing for President Michael D. Higgins and former Presidents of Ireland and has often represented the Government of Ireland for national and international celebrations including the launch of the Ireland 1916 Commemorations in Dublin; the 400th anniversary of the Flights of the Earls in Rome; and the World Trade Expo in Shanghai where they won the award for ‘Most Outstanding International Performance’.

CBOI ensembles have performed for King Charles III during his visit to Ireland in 2017; President Obama at the White House in 2016, President Biden in Carlingford in 2016, and for Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in 2014.

The performance at Carnegie Hall showcased some of the most talented young musicians on our island, while collaborating with talented artists in New York.

Under the direction of internationally acclaimed conductor Maestro Greg Beardsell, the Orchestra was joined by all-Ireland champion Uilleann Piper Conal Duffy; award-winning vocalist and song writer Lauren Murphy; world champion Highland Piper Grahame Harris and the Pipe Corps from Xavarian High School, Brooklyn; Ulster Scots dancers from the Michelle Johnston School of Highland Dance in Belfast; Irish dancers from Rockland county, New York, and multi-award winning 100-strong Fairfield County Children’s Choir from Connecticut.

Whilst in New York the CBOI had a full programme of events, performing a Flashmob at Grand Central Station, and performing on top of New York’s famous cultural landmark the Rockefeller Centre.

The CBOI performs a unique blend of symphonic Celtic music rooted in the Irish and Ulster Scots traditions and specifically arranged for CBOI.

Instruments from the Irish tradition including Uilleann Pipes, Harp, Fiddle and Bodhrán as well as those from the Ulster Scots tradition including Bagpipes and drums are interwoven with the full symphony orchestra creating a multi-layered musical tapestry which reflects the complex history and rich cultural heritage of Ireland.

Their core message of universal peace is always central to their music while also highlighting the outstanding artistic and creative capacity among the young people of Ireland.