More to the point, however, there was never really an argument to begin with.

A small committee, whose agenda it is to bear the best interests of Ireland's young musicians in mind, made a hasty and rash decision at a board meeting and outraged the nation in doing so. That the decision could have been upheld amid the ensuing floods of letters and petitions and protests was a virtual impossibility.

Inevitably, and thankfully so, the committee has listened to the concerned voices of the young musicians and has now righted its outrageous wrongdoing with a pledge to reinstate both orchestras to their former capacities and structures in 2008.

The position of general manager, which has been vacant for almost a year since the departure of the inimitable Joanna Crooks, has also been filled. Zoe Keers, a young psychology graduate from Co Down, takes up the charge, an unenviable one at this point in time but the fresh and unbiased perspective that she will bring to the table is, at the very least, exactly what the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland needs.

Naturally, there is now a certain onus on the Irish music community to keep this vital orchestra, the under-18s, in the forefront of our minds and support its efforts in whatever way we can. If the reinstatement of the younger orchestra is not more than a token gesture of placation which is wont to expire when financial problems or otherwise resurface, the Irish music community needs to be similarly poised to speak out again and this time more vociferously in favour of the formation of an entirely new committee.

The National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, as it stands at the moment, gives three concerts next weekend in a popular programme of Smetana's overture to 'The Bartered Bride', Beethoven's piano concerto no 5 with soloist Michael McHale and Shostakovich's symphony no 5.

The first performance, under Gearoid Grant's baton, is in the College Street Chapel, Waterford (29 June) followed by UCH Limerick (30) and the NCH Dublin (1 July).

Speaking of young musicians, a Music Network concert this week (27) will intrigue those who are concerned with the future of classical music in Ireland. Music Network was established by the Arts Council in 1986 with a view to improving the promotion of live music to every corner of the country and to support the career development of young Irish and international artists.

The Young Musicwide Award has played a major role in the determining of the latter objective, an award that has sought to support young instrumentalists in the pursuit of careers in chamber music by way of all of the necessary administrative, managerial and promotional support . . . a worthy cause indeed.

In a showcase concert at the Coach House, Dublin Castle on Wednesday (27) at 6pm, the 2006 recipients of this award will give a performance in advance of the beginning of their three-year programme with Music Network.

Triocca are a flute, viola and harp trio, in the persons of Riona O Duinnin (flute), Nancy Johnson (viola) and Geraldine Doherty (harp).

Irish audiences will know Doherty from her position as principal harpist with the RTE Concert Orchestra as they will O Duinnin in her role as principal flute with the Wexford Festival Opera orchestra. Johnson's impressive resume, a Master of Music from the Julliard School, is certainly in keeping with the highest of standards.

Everyone's favourite work for this combination of instruments, the Debussy trio, will inevitably be the highlight of the evening, though the Arnold Bax equivalent and a transcription of a Telemann trio sonata will give Claude a run for his money.