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The Celtic Lyre Orchestra is an active orchestra of around 100 players which includes 50-60 "special needs" residents from the Camphill Communities in Ireland. The orchestra is very inclusive and offers a unique opportunity for adults of very mixed ability to perform on stage alongside other amateur and professional musicians. In a full orchestral
performance a wide range of instruments would be "in support"
of the lyres themselves. The "special needs" players would
be using a range of home made instruments, including polychords,
bordun lyres, and soprano lyres. Other Camphill musicians would
be playing a full range of different lyres, plus violin, viola,
cello, side flute, harp, mandolin, concertina, guitar etc. |
| To ensure that this is an equal opportunity orchestra we would also include some special guest professionals in every performance. So far we have been privileged to play alongside Brendan Monaghan (uilleann pipes/whistles), John Sheehan (fiddle player with the Dubliners), Lynn Hilary (from the Riverdance Singers-Anuna, and the well known composer and pianist Phil Coulter. |  |
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In 2002 the Celtic Lyre Orchestra have performed to capacity audiences in Ireland's two most prestigious venues - Belfast's Waterfront Hall and the National Concert Hall in Dublin. Such is the profile of this project that in attendance at these performances were the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, and the Minister for Health, Bairbre de Brun. |
| The Celtic Lyre Project is in constant demand to perform at many different occasions and to complement the full orchestra of around 100 players, we also have a small ensemble of 5-10 players and another group of around 25 players - plus of course solo performances by various members of the orchestra. |  |