A new partnership between Magee College and the Classical Music Society in Derry starts today with a cultural weekend. This includes performances by the Medici String Quartet and an ensemble described as "outrageously different", Red Priest.
Mr Kevin Murphy of the classical society said the link-up aimed at providing better music for audiences in the north-west. In its 13 years the society has built audiences at its celebrity concerts, opera performances and orchestral series "from a handful" to an average of more than 250. At times the 1,000-seat Rialto centre has been filled.
For Magee College, which is undergoing expansion, the partnership will help it to tap into the cultural life of the city and play its role in enhancing it.
The Provost of Magee College, Prof Fabian Monds, said it would allow both organisations "to maximise the use of resources in order to develop and extend the programme of music in the area".
One of the aims of the society, which has received a Better Ireland award, is to bring music to the people, and events have been staged in shopping centres, offices and old people's homes.
It also provides training for young people, and this weekend's events include a string ensemble course to be given by the Medici String Quartet. Among those attending are members of the Donegal Youth Orchestra.
Performances start tonight at Magee College with Red Priest playing baroque and early music. The Medici String Quartet plays tomorrow night in Christ Church, Derry, with a programme featuring Beethoven's Hymn of Thanksgiving and the Irish premiere of Nigel Osborne's Quartet No 1.
On Sunday the South Korean pianist Young-Choon Park plays at Magee, and the percussion group Ensemble Bash will perform there the following night.