Applications

ConCorda 2025

ConCorda 2025 will take place from Saturday, 2nd August to Saturday, 9th August 2025 in Newtown School, Waterford.

Applications are now open for 2025. Please apply here.

The application deadline is Friday, 9th May 2025.

Please note: a 3-minute video submission, of a single piece of music, is required as part of your application.

NB: Applications without a video link will not be considered.

The video is NOT an audition but will be used to organise players into quartets with those of a compatible ability and will not be made public by us.

A video recorded on a smartphone or tablet will be perfectly suitable. It is your playing that we are interested in rather than the quality of the recording.

Please upload the video to a streaming service such as YouTube or Vimeo or alternatively provide a Dropbox link. The link must be included in the application form.

The video(s) need not be public – you can upload it as an unlisted video if you wish. Please ensure that the video will be accessible through the link and if we require a password, please include this too.

If you are having any difficulties, please contact the IAYO office at info@iayo.ie or 021-4215185.

Apply via online application form here.

Participation Fee

The participation fee is €600 and will include full board, accommodation and tuition fees.

A deposit of €250 is requested in order to accept your place by Friday, 20th June 2025.

We ask that the balance of fees be made payable by Friday, 18 July 2025. Please contact the office if there is any difficulty with paying the fees by this date and we will do what we can to help in anyway.

Unfortunately, we have the seen the number of last minute drop-outs increase over the past number of years. This causes huge amounts of extra work for the Artistic Director and Course Managers who work so hard already to create the ensembles and make sure ConCorda runs as brilliantly as it does. Our hope is that people will commit to their places early so they are able to plan accordingly. The deposit will also cover the costs that ConCorda incurs if someone signs up and drops out close to the deadline as there are still a number of costs that must be paid (accommodation, etc.).

Discounts

There is a €100 reduction for the second and subsequent students from the same family.

There is a 10% discount available to those that participate in both ConCorda and the Xenia Chamber Music Course in Fenestrelle in the Alps of Northern Italy. Find out more about the Xenia Course.

Selection Criteria

Participants are selected on the following basis:

  • ConCorda is open to string players aged 14 – 24 of grade 5 or equivalent playing standard and above.
  • A balance of instruments on the course, ideally a ratio of 2 violins to 1 viola to 1 cello.
  • A balance of standard and experience in each of the quartets taking part in, or formed for the course.
  • ConCorda has been traditionally a senior chamber music course. While requirements define ages normally 14 – 24, with special credit given to outstanding young talent, when selection is necessary the older and/or more advanced applicants will get priority acceptance.
  •  Selection between applicants who are of the same expertise, age and qualification will gain precedence if they come as part of a preformed group and/or have already played at ConCorda for a number of years.
  • If there is an imbalance of instruments at selection time, those who show more versatility (e.g. violinists doubling viola) may receive ‘special’ credit for this.

Apply here.