Who We Are
Uniting Young People Through Music
Background
The Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland (CBOI) is a registered charity which was established in 1995 as a peace initiative. The full youth symphony orchestra is composed of more than 100 exceptionally talented young musicians from all over Ireland and Northern Ireland.
CBOI has played an important role in building and nurturing vital cross border and cross community relations, and is regarded internationally as a flagship peace initiative.
CBOI provides young people with orchestral training and performance opportunities, which are second to none. In addition, CBOI provides specialist instrumental tuition for primary school and secondary school children; career development training for primary school teachers and performance opportunities for talented young soloists.
CBOI members had the honour of performing for USA President Barack Obama at the White House, Washington D.C., in 2016; for former Vice President Joe Biden during his visit to Ireland in 2016; for Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in 2014; for Prince Charles during his visit to Dublin in 2017; for Presidents of Ireland including Michael D. Higgins; and for national events on behalf of the Government of Ireland including the 400th Anniversary of the Flight of the Earls and the launch of the 1916 Commemorations.
This internationally acclaimed and award-winning youth orchestra has performed to sell-out audiences at all major venues in Ireland, and many throughout the world including Carnegie Hall, New York; the Royal Albert Hall, London; Boston Symphony Hall; Chicago Symphony Hall; and the Oriental Arts Centre, Shanghai.
CBOI is best known for our Peace Proms programme, which was established in 2003. Peace Proms is a free resource and choral education programme for primary schools. Over 35,000 primary school children actively participate in Peace Proms each year and perform with the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland.
About CBOI: Company And Charity
The Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland is a company limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital. CBOI is registered under the IRE Companies Act 2014 (CRO 905933), and the NI Companies Act 2006 (NI067395). The CBOI is audited annually. The CBOI’s Auditors are John MacMahon & Co, Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors, Dundalk and Newry. The CBOI is tax compliant. The CBOI’s Tax Reference Number (TRN) is: 9604947L; Tax Certificate Access Number (TCAN) is: 517493
The CBOI is a registered charity in Ireland, the UK and the USA. The charity’s registration numbers are as follows: Ireland: 20054892, UK: XT22593, New York State USA: 260270. Children and Young People are the beneficiaries of the charity. The charity aims to provide exceptional instrumental and choral education and performance opportunities for children and young people across Ireland, and to ensure that our programmes place an emphasis on tackling barriers to equality by including children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Our Programmes include:
> Orchestra (CBOI) – Currently 130 members
> Count Us In – Free Instrumental tuition for teenagers. Currently 90 teens.
> Dynamics – Free Instrumental tuition for primary school children. Currently 120 children.
> Peace Proms – Free choral education for 35,000 children
> 30 choral workshops held annually throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland
> 15 large scale arena concerts performed annually throughout Ireland
> Teacher training
> The Soloist – Performance opportunities for talented young soloists
The Charity aims to make the Arts more accessible to schools, children, families and those in the wider community who may not otherwise have any involvement in or access to the Arts. We deliver opportunities for participation in the Arts across the island of Ireland, targeting young people and families who may never have seen an orchestra, seen/touched a musical instrument; been to a concert hall; sung in a choir; worked with a conductor or professional musicians. In so doing, we help create and nurture curiosity, and lifelong interest and appreciation of music, which encourages young people to remain involved in musical activities – specifically instrumental, orchestral and choral, throughout their lives and share this with future generations. We aim to give schools and communities the opportunity, skills and resources necessary to start-up and develop Choirs and Orchestras where they never previously existed. The CBOI provides opportunities for children, parents, schools and the wider community to unite, co-operate and work together through our music education programmes.
