Ballintubber Sings! Choirs from Indiana, USA, Galway and Mayo to perform in Ballintubber Abbey
Ballintubber
Claremorris
Ballintubber Sings!
Choirs from Indiana, USA, Galway and Mayo
to perform in Ballintubber Abbey
Wed 22nd May, 2019.
The 8th Mayo International Choral Festival
Córfhéile Idirnáisiúnta Mhaigh Eo
The concert will feature St Mary-of-the-Woods College Madrigals Choir, Indiana, USA and Dunmore Church Choir, Galway. The concert will also feature the ever-popular Ballintubber Abbey Choir, and the extremely talented Westport Youth Choir and the Westport Children’s Choir.
Tickets: €15 and €10 from Corley’s Ballintubber, IT Music Casltebar or online at www.eventbrite.ie or at the event.
Visit www.mayochoral.com, Facebook or phone 094 90 2 30 40
The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Madrigals is an auditioned choir interested in performing diverse, challenging, and a cappella repertoire. Comprised of music and non-music majors, the Madrigals have toured throughout the USA and in Canada, Germany, Austria, Italy, France and Ireland. The members have also recently performed several world premieres, including works by faculty member John McIntyre, and the commission of ‘La Providence’ by internationally-celebrated composer Sydney Guillaume. Though from a small rural college, the Madrigals aspire to achieve great things while maintaining a focus on a quality educational experience and a strong sense of community. Musical Director is Michael Boswell.
Dunmore Church Choir was formed in 1969 and sings at all major Church ceremonies in Dunmore and regulary sing at the National Novena to Our Lady of Knock. The choir’s repertoire includes choral works by Mozart, Bruckner, Handel and Vivaldi and it has performed concerts in many of the churches and cathedrals in Connacht. The choir have also performed in Brittany, Florence, Rome, Vienna, Toronto, London, Prague, Krakow and in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York and recently performed Fauré’s Requiem alongside Pfizer Phonics Choir in Cork’s North Cathedral. Joan MacDonnell has been Musical Director for over 30 years. The Choir previously came 2nd in the Sacred Music Competition in the festival.
Ballintubber Abbey Choir
This choir is in existence for over 100 years and was re-invigorated some six years ago, when it was very fortunate to acquire the services of it’s then musical director Sr Frances McMyler. The choir has since featured in the annual concert during this festival, and has supported Mass from Ballintubber Abbey on St. Patrick’s Day 2015, which was televised internationally. The choir performs regularly at local Masses and liturgical events in the Parish. The choir members are very proud to be associated with Ballintubber Abbey – founded in 1216, it is an important sacred Irish historical site and celebrated it’s 800th year anniversary in 2016. Conducted by Maria Spellman, the choir’s musical director is Janine Hoban, with accompanist Sr McMyler.
Westport Youth Choir
Westport Youth Choir was founded in September 2016 with former members of Westport Children’s Choir and auditioned singers. It is a nine-voice vocal ensemble ]exploring the current music scene as well as diverse music styles. The members are encouraged to take responsibility for the musical direction of the choir, under the guidance of Eriko Hopkinson. The choir have been involved in many performances including The Sligo International Choral Festival where they came second in the youth category, and their performance of ‘Genre-Defying Acapella’, at Matt Molloy’s Yard in December. This year’s choir members are really looking forward to taking part in the Mayo International Choral Festival.
Westport Children’s Choir
Fresh from the stage of Carnegie Hall, New York, Westport Children’s Choir presents the wonderful, pure voices of 25 talented children from West Mayo! Their repertoire spans a wide range of genres, including Baroque, pop and musical theatre. Formed in 2011 under the direction of Eriko Hopkinson, with the aim of giving the children of the area the opportunity to experience the joy that comes from singing in harmony with others. The choir also aims to increase the children’s understanding of other countries and cultures, through the global language of music. In 2015 the choir attended the World Peace Choral Festival in Vienna and at the Young Bohemia Music Festival in Prague in 2017 they achieved a silver award. Last year the choir sang at Carnegie Hall for the world premier of the children’s choral suite ‘La Cigarra y La Hormiga’.
