Movie Music, Animations on Big Screen, Puppetry and Immersive Concerts a highlight of the National Concert Hall’s Family Programme this Spring/Summer

This Spring and Summer the National Concert Hall is proud to bring the magic of music to children in a series of family concerts featuring live screenings of popular children’s stories, scores of cinematic blockbusters with live orchestra, puppetry, animation and interactive family concerts appealing to children of all ages and their families. 

From multiple screenings of The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child with live music by the National Symphony Orchestra to cinematic scores of Harry Potter, Jurassic Park and more, the programme offers variety of large and small scale events to suit all musical tastes.  

Robert Read, CEO National Concert Hall “As the home of music in Ireland, the NCH is focused on fulfilling its remit to promote accessibility, participation and enjoyment in music for all. Through our Learning and Participation Programme our ambition is to continually seek opportunities for children of all ages, and their families to engage in and build connections through music, to be inspired by music and develop an appreciation and enjoyment in music participation and performance. Today we are pleased to present a variety of family concerts, partnering with the National Symphony Orchestra, Ceol Connected and others, in what we know will appeal to children and their families and look forward to welcoming them to the Hall over the coming months”.  

Highlights of the National Concert Hall’s Learning and Participation Programme targeted at children and their families include: The Land of a Hundred Little Hills in the NCH Studio, on Sunday the 3rd of March at 2pm and 4pm. Inspired by Patrick Kavanagh’s A Christmas Childhood poem, this is a touching story about a young boy whose life was full of wonder, fantastical adventures, and a deep connection with nature. After moving away from home, he loses his wonder. Can his childhood book of memories help him to rediscover it? Using a combination of live music, puppetry and animation this concert is a joyful, moving, and action-packed musical tale presented by NCH Ceol Connected and Draíocht Arts Centre. (*The same concert will be performed for primary school groups - students from senior infants to 4th class - on Monday 4th at 10.30am and 12.30pm).  

On 26th March 12pm & 1.30pm, the NCH Family Concert “Jazz Animals Jam with the Echo Band’ which takes place in the NCH’s John Field Room, invites children to howl like a hound, creep like a critter, and leap like a lemur at the NCH interactive family concert with the ECHO Band! The concert features a variety of songs with an animal theme performed by the ECHO band which is designed to keep little children involved and entertained.  

Back by popular demand, the NCH is delighted to present The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child Screenings with the National Symphony Orchestra live on the main stage in three showings, Monday 6th May 2024 (12.30pm, 3pm and 5pm). The 75-minute screening will see the much-loved children’s book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, which has sold 13.5 million copies world-wide, brought to life on the big screen accompanied with live music performed by the National Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Terry Davies. This award-winning rhyming story of a mouse and a monster, which has found its way into the hearts and bedtimes of an entire generation of children, will be presented on the big screen with live music offering families of all ages a unique opportunity to immerse in the magic of live music in the surrounds of the NCH.  

The NCH’s Symphony Shorts concert on 22nd June at 12.30pm is a one-hour family friendly concert of John Williams’s greatest blockbuster scores such as Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Star Wars, ET and Superman all performed by National Symphony Orchestra and conductor Anthony Gabriele. Laugh, sing and dance along with superstar presenter Jessie Grimes, who will guide you through an afternoon of cinematic wonder and iconic musical moments. This is a relaxed ASD – friendly performance, designed for families with children aged five and older.

These concerts are part of the National Concert Hall’s Learning and Participation (L&P) programme which is designed to foster and celebrate the appreciation, knowledge and love of music for all – from families exploring new creative pursuits, to young musicians starting their careers and seasoned professionals. Full details of all activities as part of the L&P Programme can be found on www.nch.ie 

ENDS 

Media Queries: Sinead Doyle, Marketing & PR Manager, National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2 (087 1775334) sinead.doyle@nch.ie  or Roisin Dwyer, PR & Publications Executive, National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2 (085-7129628). 

TICKET & BOX OFFICE INFORMATION  

The Land of a Hundred Little Hills
Sunday 3rd March 2024, 2pm & 4pm (The Studio)
Designed for 6+ year-olds and their families. Adults must be accompanied by a child. 
Family ticket (family of 4 with max. 2 adults): €37 
Adult: €12 | Child: €10 (Under 3s go free!)  

Monday 4th March 2024, 10.30am and 12.30pm (The Studio) for Primary School Groups only (senior infants to 4th class). 
Students €8, Teachers are complementary and one teacher per ten students required. 
Presented by NCH, Ceol Connected and Draíocht Arts Centre. 

Family Concert: Jazz Animals Jam with the Echo Band 
Tuesday 26th March 2024, 12-1pm & 1.30pm – 2.30pm (The John Field Room) 
Tickets: €12 | Child: €10 | Family ticket (family of 4 with max. 2 adults): €37 
Friends of the NCH 10% discount 
Presented by NCH 

The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child Screening with the National Symphony Orchestra
Conductor Terry Davies | Solo guitar Huw Davies 
Monday 6th of May 2024, 12.30, 3pm and 5pm (Main Stage) (75minute Screening)
Tickets: Child €23 |Full Price: €30 | Family Tickets: €94 (4 tickets, maximum 2 adults) 
Magic Light Pictures presents Gruffalo and Gruffalo’s Child © Orange Eyes Limited. 

Symphony Shorts with the National Symphony Orchestra and presenter Jessie Grimes
Saturday 22nd June 12.30pm (1 Hour concert)
A family friendly celebration of John Williams’ greatest blockbuster scores from Harry Potter to Jurassic Park, Star Wars, ET, Superman and more. 
This is a relaxed, ASD-friendly performance designed for families with children aged five and above. Tickets: €20 Adult | €15 Child | Family Ticket €65 (4 tickets, max. 2 adults) 

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About the National Concert Hall

The National Concert Hall (NCH) has an ambition to be one of the world’s great centres for music, a centre which will be a symbol of national pride for Irish people everywhere. But above all, a centre for music which will enable the NCH to best deliver on its statutory remit for music, the arts, for culture and for our nation.   

Based in the heart of Dublin City Centre, the NCH is Ireland's National Cultural Institution for music hosting more than 1,000 events each year pre-pandemic. World-class music and entertainment for all ages is at the heart of its offering, enriching people's lives through music and the magic of live performance. It is the proud home to the National Symphony Orchestra, who perform their annual season of symphonic and classical music alongside more popular and lunchtime concerts throughout the year.  The NCH is also host to a number of Ireland's music development bodies including Music Network, Music Generation and NCH associate ensembles, Chamber Choir Ireland, Irish Baroque Orchestra and Crash Ensemble, who together with the National Symphony Orchestra secures the National Concert Hall's position as a national centre for the performance, appreciation and enjoyment of music in Ireland.