The remarkable achievement of securing the Vogler Quartet as string quartet in residence in Sligo is not the only thing that has been keeping the Music Network busy of late, writes Michael Dervan. The Musicwide scheme has moved into a second phase. This is a scheme which runs in parallel with the regular tours, except that it gives promoters freedom to pick and choose from the list of participating performers and ensembles.

Musicwide now offers 45 soloists or groups (a total of 88 musicians) to over 100 of Music Network's partners around Ireland, and chief executive John O'Kane says he's "actively seeking to establish an exchange mechanism whereby the inward flow of musicians for Music Network tours will be balanced by a reciprocal outward flow of Irish musicians and Irish music to other countries" Musicwide is clearly planned to be a breeding ground for musicians to participate in future exchange programmes.