We are delighted to announce that Newpark Academy of Music will be reopening in September 2024 at our existing premises in Melfield House. From September 2025, Newpark Academy of Music will be moving to a new premises but for now, we are beginning the re-enrollment process and are excited to welcome back our students and community members.
We extend our deepest gratitude for your patience and support during the challenging months we have faced. Your unwavering commitment to our community has been a beacon of hope and strength.
We are immensely grateful to the local schools that reached out to support us during this time, and a special thank you to Arthur Cox, especially to John Donal (Partner of Arthur Cox) and his team for their invaluable pro bono work, which played a crucial role in making this reopening possible.
We also want to recognize and thank the dedicated members of our working group for their hard work and perseverance. As we move forward, we are pleased to welcome a brand new Board of Directors:
Deborah Kelleher
Anne Woodworth
Catherine Griffin
Des Crowther
Thank you once again for your ongoing support. We look forward to embarking on this exciting new journey with you and continuing to enrich our community through the joy of music.
Best regards,
Hilda Chan
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PRESS RELEASE
25th August 2024
NEWPARK ACADEMY OF MUSIC CONFIRMS IT WILL RE-OPEN TO STUDENTS FOR NEW ACADEMIC TERM IN SEPTEMBER
Newpark Academy of Music is to re-open to students for a new term in September. The
decision was taken following agreement between the outgoing Board of Directors and the Save
Newpark Academy of Music group.
Following a lengthy consultation between the Board of Directors and a specially convened
working group, it has been agreed that the Academy will now reopen for the new upcoming
Term. A new Board of Directors has been appointed for the Academy, who are to assume their roles
immediately.
Some 600 students and 42 staff will return to Melfield House initially, while plans are at an
advanced stage to move to new premises at the end of May 2025.
The executive and newly appointed Board of Directors will now commence a restructuring
plan created in collaboration with industry and financial experts to assure the sustained future
of the Academy.
Newpark Academy of Music has provided opportunities to students young and old for over 45
years to access expert music education without the need for audition or prior experience. From
early year music classes to inter-generational choirs, it brings music lovers together from across
the community to improve mental health, learn new skills, and to sow the seeds of future
musicians’ careers.
Outgoing Board Member of the Newpark Academy of Music, Eoin Norton, said, “We are pleased that agreement has been reached following intensive engagement with the Working Group, which represents a real community effort to overcome the challenges which the Academy has faced. This could not have happened without the support of Newpark Comprehensive School, the Department of Education and my fellow outgoing Board of Directors. We would like to extend our best wishes to the incoming Board and look forward to the future success of the Academy.”
Hilda Chan of the Save Newpark Music Academy Group added, “This could not have happened without the support of Newpark Comprehensive School, the departing Board of Directors and a number of people to whom we would like to extend special thanks. We would also like to thank the politicians who supported our campaign. In no particular order and with thanks to all we would like to recognise Councillor Barry Ward, Cormac Devlin TD, Minister Norma Foley, Richard Boyd Barrett TD, Councillor Maurice Dockrell, Councillor Marie Baker, Councillor Michael Clark and Councillor Conor Dowling. Many world-renowned musicians helped show the wider music community how important it is to save this vital part of the music education infrastructure in Ireland. Finally, parents and pupils were loud in their support of the Academy, and we thank you for your ongoing support and for staying with us through a turbulent summer. We look forward to embarking in this exciting new journey and continuing to enrich our community through the joy of music.”
The new Board of the Newpark Academy of Music will be made up of Ms. Deborah Kelleher, Ms. Anne Woodworth, Ms. Catherine Griffin and Mr. Des Crowther.
Enrolment will open shortly for the 2024/2025 academic year. The link for enrolment will be available via https://www.newparkacademyofmusic.com/
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Catherine Griffin, Cedarwall Consulting, on behalf of Newpark Academy of Music
(catherine@cedarwall.ie) 087 121 3429
Fiona Corcoran, Healy Communications on behalf of Newpark Comprehensive
School
087 0521488 or fiona@healycommunications.ie