Tag Archive for: Choir

The Feis Ceoil returned to the RDS after a covid enforced hiatus and our musicians took enormous pride in representing their school at the largest and most prestigious music competition in Ireland. There was both individual and collective success for College musicians, including the top prize for Emily McCarthy in the Girls’ Vocal Solo (A) and the Cailíní A (U18 Girls, ag canadh as Gaeilge) and, in the Alice Yoakley Quirk Cup for school choirs, the College’s Veritas choir (pictured above) were ‘Very Highly Commended’, finishing in joint 3rd place.

The College was extremely proud to have large numbers of pupils competing and performing at the Wesley Interschools Music Festival last Saturday, March 4th 2023. Over thirty pupils performed and really did themselves, their teachers and the school proud. Ms Duggan, our Director of Music, was particularly proud of them, their efforts in practice and their performances on the day. Congratulations, in particular, to Emily McCarthy in Form VI for 1st place in the Herbert Pembrey Cup for Over 17 Solo Singing Classical. Thanks also to Mr. McDonald for his work with the excellent Chamber Choir, who were Highly Commended for their performance. A full breakdown of the results can be found below.

Emily McCarthy – 1st Place Herbert Pembrey Cup, Solo Singing Classical.
Rachel Shaw – 2nd Place Strings.
Lauren Ng -2nd Place Classical Singing.
Lauren Ng – 2nd Place Piano Solo.
Matilde Matera – 2nd Popular Singing.
Lauren Ng – 3rd Popular Singing.
St. Columba’s College Chamber Orchestra – Highly Commended.
Steven Kou – Highly Commended, Cello
CoCo Xu – Highly Commended Piano Solo.
Liam Campbell – Highly Commended Strings.

Yesterday afternoon, two Carol Services took place for the pupils and staff. While there was no congregational singing this year, those in attendance were treated to some wonderful performances from the various College choirs and musicians. A musical ensemble, Joshua Chan, Monty Walsh and Liam Campbell, played two beautiful instrumental pieces to open up the services which were followed by the Chamber Choir performing the haunting Irish carol Suantraí. The Sine Nomine choir sang a beautiful arrangement of the Coventry Carol along with a more traditional rendition of Joy to the World, while the Chapel Choir sang Three Kings. Finally, there was an organ solo (Il Dulci Jubilo) from Harry Powell, Form III.

You can watch the recording of the service below. Merry Christmas!

The College Virtual Choir launch their performance of Bob Marley’s ‘One Love’ tomorrow morning at 11:30am. Be sure to check it out on FireFly here or by watching below (when it goes live).

 

Members of the College “Virtual Alumni Choir” were on Scala Radio in the UK yesterday morning singing Vivaldi’s “Gloria” with Stay at Home Choir and members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Today they will begin the 2nd Stay at Home Choir project: “And So I Goes” by Billy Joel with The King Singers!

But what about our current pupils I hear you say? Well, Sine Nomine Competition Choir (pictured above at the recent Wesley Feis) members have been invited by Boston Children’s Chorus to collaborate with it and other choirs in a ‘Virtual Sing’ this weekend. They will sing a piece called “We Are One” by Brian Tate and they, and the College will be acknowledged for this contribution in a video. Incidentally, below are Sine Nomine members Tania Stokes and Josepha Westphalen receiving their 2nd place certificate at the Wesley Feis.

The Wesley Interschools Music Festival took place over the weekend with St. Columba’s pupils competing in a wide range of events, both as soloists and in groups. The big success came on Friday night when the senior chamber choir, Sine Nomine, took home the William J Watson Cup for Best Four-Part Choir. Sakhile Khumalo came second while Songyon Oh was ‘Highly Commended’ in the Popular Song prize. In addition, Oscar Yan, Imogen Casey, André Stokes and Tania Stokes were all awarded ‘Highly Commended’ in their respective competitions.