The idea for what has become the Newpark Community Orchestra originated with Robin Moore and Aidan McDaid, both players in the NCH’s Blow The Dust Orchestra in the autumn of 2012. Unlike other parts of the Greater Dublin area and neighbouring counties, there was no amateur orchestra to provide an outlet for amateur players located primarily in the south of the city.
Niall O’Brien, then the Director of the Newpark Music Centre in Blackrock, took up the idea enthusiastically, and under his direction the orchestra first came together in March 2013 with around twenty players. Since then the orchestra’s playing strength has grown to around forty, including strings, woodwind, brass, harp, piano and percussion, with many of the members also playing in other ensembles in and around the city.
Niall O’Brien continued in the role until 2015, when he was succeeded by Robin Moore who conducted the orchestra until October 2023. Robin’s long musical contribution includes the position as Chorus Master of Our Lady’s Choral Society in Dublin for eighteen years, and he sang in both the OLCS and the RTE Philharmonic Choir/ National Symphony Chorus. In addition he plays the timpani for Blow the Dust Orchestra, and continues as timpani player now in the Newpark Community Orchestra.
Since November 2023 the orchestra has been conducted by André Cavanagh. André is a professional French Horn player, who performs with the Ulster Orchestra, RTE Concert Orchestra, the Irish Chamber Orchestra, amongst others, and is an experienced conductor. He has raised the bar of the orchestra’s musical repertoire , setting new challenges that the players have been keen to rise to.
The orchestra continues to fulfil a valuable social and community role since its inception, performing in a variety of environments including hospitals and nursing homes, community events and celebrations, such as Bloomsday, the Big Sing and Christmas Concerts in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown area.