Joseph Browne Spring School of Traditional Music - Bridging Traditions
			Joseph Browne was an avid learner of newly composed tunes and also composed tunes himself. (See CD Section) As well as his excellent skills as a traditional musician he was also an extremely talented classical musician and delighted in arranging and composing pieces across the two disciplines. During the inaugural Joseph Browne Spring School in 2007 the Saturday afternoon recital cum chat was devoted to a composer of Irish music and the renowned Charlie Lennon held his young audience spellbound for the afternoon. The positive feedback from the students and their parents about these experiences encouraged the committee to endeavour to further develop this aspect of the school in 2008. To this end, we featured on our 2008 programme, a collaboration with the 'West Ocean String Quartet' whose members are a mingling of the classical and traditional music fields with a number of them active in both, ie Neil Martin and Seamus McGuire. On the Saturday afternoon a very special event took place for the musicians attending the school. The West Ocean String Quartet conducted 'Bridging Traditions', a very unique master class which featured a collaboration with the quartet and the students. This collaboration was made possible by a grant from the Deis Scheme at the Arts Council of Ireland and presented the highest standards of music and musicians in an innovative setting within a traditional music environment. It afforded young traditional musicians the opportunity to meet and work together with the members of the West Ocean String Quartet who are Neil Martin, Seamus McGuire, Niamh Crowley and Kenneth Rice. This collaboration also included a spectacular performance from the 'West Ocean String Quartet' with renowned singer Maighread Ni Dhomhnaill in Crusheen Church on Saturday Feb 16th at 8pm. In 2009 a further extension of this collaboration will take place when a newly commissioned suite of work based on Joseph Browne's musical life will be performed in Crusheen Church on the 21st Feb ( See Extending Traditions / Concerts)