National Symphony Orchestra and Concert Orchestra must be protected

Sinn Féin MEP for Ireland South, Liadh Ní Riada, has called on the national broadcaster and government to safeguard the National Symphony Orchestra and the Concert Orchestra.

“Since the announcement that there will be a review, I have had concerns about the future of the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra and Concert Orchestra,” she said.

“Both the National Symphony Orchestra and the Concert Orchestra have been at the forefront of symphonic music in Ireland since their establishment. I believe that our national broadcaster, RTE, and the new Minister for Arts, Josepha Madigan, need to come out immediately and state that these two institutions will be safeguarded.

Speaking from Cork, Ms Ní Riada, who is the shadow rapporteur for the legislative proposal “Creative Europe programme 2014-2020: European Union Youth Orchestra” said that when funding for the European Youth Orchestra was put under pressure, MEPs came together to find a way forward to safeguard the Orchestra.

“I was appointed as the shadow rapporteur for the legislative proposal ‘Creative Europe programme 2014-2020: European Union Youth Orchestra’. Firstly, our priority was and is to safeguard the orchestra, to ensure that young artists can continue to use it as a platform to display and develop their skills and talents and I believe that this should be the position of RTE and Minister Madigan when it comes to the National Symphony Orchestra and the Concert Orchestra.”

Ms Ní Riada concluded by calling on the minister to send a clear message that the National Symphony Orchestra and the Concert Orchestras will be safeguarded and be permitted to continue to play a central role in music in Ireland

“Minister Madigan must not come out and state firmly that any attack on these two institutions would be unacceptable and that she will safeguard them from any decreases to their funding. It is vital that
we have such organisations. Creative arts helps society to interpret our history and the more contemporary times. It is my hope that the National Symphony Orchestra and the Concert Orchestras will be safeguarded and be permitted to continue to play a central role in
music in Ireland far into the future.”