Here are some musical notes for singers, composers and all-round musicians: More than 450 second-level students from 14 different schools will take part in a gala concert, organised by the ASTI, entitled A Celebration of Music in our Schools. This concert will take place on March 5th in the University Concert Hall in Limerick, from 3.00 p.m. The finalists for the gala final concert are currently being selected from 120 entries from all over Ireland at regional finals. The finale will include solo and group performances and features music styles from traditional to rock to jazz to classical. Some of the compositions are original pieces which are written by students and their teachers.

Also running the end of the week on Friday is the annual Corfheile na Scoileanna, which has been going strong for more than 50 years. It is a non-competitive festival of music for school children in Dublin and further afield. According to the organisers, approximately 4,000 children take part in a mixture of choirs, bands and dramas.

Traditionally the festival was held in the Mansion House, Dublin, but in 1994 it moved across the city to the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght where it has successfully run every since, going from strength to strength. With sponsorship from Compac Computers, the music festival organisers, who give of their time and expertise voluntarily, have concentrated on getting as many schools as possible to take part this year.