Contemporary Cities 2025 brings together the communities of the Limerick School of Music (LSOM) and the Ulster Youth Orchestra (UYO) with the world renowned contemporary music ensemble Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble (HRSE).

The objective of this initiative is to facilitate and empower both the young people and teaching staff, within the Limerick and Belfast youth orchestral communities, to develop their creative expression and experience creativity and their own cities through the lens of their counterparts.

Through their participation in this programme of cultural activity there will be a drive in both their personal and collective creativity, thus contributing to their individual and societal wellbeing and achievement.  

The LSOM community, teachers and young people, will travel to Belfast for the weekend of 26th & 27th April 2025. There they will meet, socialise, rehearse and play with the UYO community, teachers and young people, and the members of the HRSE. Peer to peer connections will be made by both the young people and teaching staff of the two groups. The weekend will include:

In November 2025, a reciprocal visit will take place. 

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.