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Mon 05 May 2007A chorus of discordThe resignations are piling up in the wake of the amalgamation of Ireland's youth orchestras, so will the board reinstate the two organisations, asks Michael DervanThe heat generated by the decision to amalgamate Ireland's main national youth orchestras is far from dissipating. The number of resignations from the board now totals four, with Donagh Collins (a director of the London arts management agency Askonas Holt, and brother of the pianist Finghin) and Una McMahon (orchestra manager of the younger national youth orchestra), being followed by Donagh Power (orchestra manager of the senior national youth orchestra) and Caitríona Ryan (principal flautist of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra). The online petition protesting against the decision (www.ipetitions.com/petition/nyoi1) has collected more than 1,500 names, and virtually every page identifies well-known figures from the ranks of professional musicians, conductors and administrators.