On a fateful september afternoon in 2006 I joined the hallowed ranks of the Kilkenny Youth Orchestra. I made my way up the ricketty wrought iron steps to the St. Kieran's College theatre, received a viola and a desk partner, Jane. Little did I know, this 2-5 slot of music-making on a saturday each week would become one of the most important features in my life. Little did I know I would make some of the bestfriends I have ever had.
Even though classical music has had an abnormally large place in my heart since I decided aged three that I would someday play the violin, I never expected that the music in my heart would be shared with a group of beautiful and amazing young people like the KYO. The truth is that while during the week we all go our seperate ways and engage in different grás and studies, the bond forged by those three hours of our weekend is unparalleled outside of the orchestra.
In KYO people are open and welcoming. I immediately felt like part of a family when I joined, and I hope and trust that the frindships I have made will last long after the final cadence dies away.
Our trips away will forever hold pride of place in my memory, particularly the Hamburg exchange. Who can forget how shaky and nervous we were unloaded at the Rudolf Steiner Schule to meet our "new Families"? Five days later, there were tears to say goodbye..
And tonight, the 23rd of May 2009 I shed more tears to know that The Overture To William Tell would be the last piece I would ever perform as a violinist with the KYO. But I shed even more reading the beautiful letters that my best friends wrote me on my departure. I hate that I have to leave and grow up and move on. But I know that the music will never die out.
Perhaps "Sorrow" is the melody playing in my mind right now, but I know that in the future when I look back it'll be more like the Radetski March as I board a bus home to meet up with my ol' youth orchestra chums.
So I guess all I really want to say to everyone is: Thank you so so much for being fantastic examples of human beings!! No, seriously, thank you for just being yourselves and thank you all for being my friends. I will never forget ye.

Audrey.