Wednesday 19 December 2012

AGM 2012

After our AGM on Tuesday Dec 18th, the following are our officers for 2013: Chair - Rachael Cullivan, Vice Chair - Frances Galligan, Secretary - Carmel Gaffney, Treasurer - Aine Sullivan.

Cavan Singers join Christmas Choirs on RTE Lyric FM

Christmas as ever heralds our busiest season of the year - Carol Services in Cavan Church of Ireland, Cavan Cathedral, Cavan Baptist Church and Cavan General Oncology Unit, Cavan Town street singing (twice!) for charity, and a party in The Side Door, AND our AGM. As well as rehearsing for and partaking in all these events, we prepared and recorded for the RTE Lyric FM Choirs for Christmas Competition.
We received the following message from RTE: Cavan Singer’s recording will be featured on Thursday’s Niall Carroll’s Classical Daytime on RTÉ lyric fm (Thursday 20th December). Choirs will be broadcast at the following times daily – unfortunately due to the high entries we cannot guarantee the order in which the choirs will be broadcast though we will do our best to run to the order posted on our webpage. Listen in at 10.15, 10.45, 12.15, 12.45, 13.15 & 13.45
Enjoy!

Sunday 28 October 2012

Cavan Singers off to Wales again...

This weekend we compete again in the North Wales Choral Festival in Llandudno.
This is a very popular event with all members of the choir, and of course we have had our successes there in the past. Here we are pictured in the rehearsal room at Cavan Golf Club in our performance black.

Back Row L to R - Pamela Young (A), Aedine Browne (A), Irene Dunwoody (A), Dermot McM (B), Kevin O'Connor (B) Peter H. (B), Padraig Kelly (B), Brian McK (B), Pauric Corley (T), Colm Crowe (T), Gerry (T), Catherine Cusack (A), Selena Barry (S), Janice Robertson (A)

Middle Row L to R - Angela OM (A), Dara Hume (A), Ben Charles (A), Carol Watson (A) Carmel Gaffney (A), Rachael Elliott (A), Pauline Brady (S), Mags Amond (T), Carmel Lewis (T), Fidelma Sheridan (S), Tina Farrelly (S), Paula ONeill (S), Eileen Tackney, Lucilla OHanlon (S), Evelyn Kelly (S), Claire FInlay (S)

Front Row L to R - Phyllis McMonagle (A), MAry Haren (A), Sally McK (A), Dollé Cullivan (A), Martina Lee Boyle (S), Ann Smyth (S), Mary SUllivan (S), Maura Conlon (S), Marie White (S), Nollaig Amond Murray (S), Orla McCoy (S), Gay (S)

Missing from picture - LIz Murray (S), RIta Cullen (S), Fionnuala Duffy (S), Maura Kane (S), Nora Kennedy (S), MArina Burke (S),Eithne MCKay (S), Elena Brennan (S), Maeve Sheridan (S), Aileen Lalor (A), Annemarie King (A), Eva Fiebelkorn (A), Orla OSullivan (A), Áine Sullivan(A), Caoimhe O'Brien (A), Frances Galligan (T), Jim OLeary (T), Stephen Cooney (T), Vincent Mulvey (T), Hugh Tunney (B), Jimmy Mulcahy (B), Brian Derham (B), Tom Flynn (B)

As you can see below, we got there in one piece and everyone had a fantastic time:
A choir's eye view of Fleadh 2012 We had a great view of the 2012 Fleadh Cheoil as we performed with the Cavan Sinfonia in the arch at Newcourt again this year. Sue Donohue King, the Musical Director for both groups, put together a super showcase with a variety of Irish airs and songs for us to play and sing together. The crowds on the street seemed to enjoy it all, and to be honest so did we! Not only did Sue conduct us all, she played the accordion AND managed some lighting quick costume changes between songs. Pictured here is a 'choir's eye view' of the proceedings.

Sunday 1 January 2012

A very busy finish to 2011

The Christmas season is usually the busiest time of the year for Cavan Singers, and this year was no exception. We had formal and informal performances, made recordings and were heard on not just one, but two radio stations...

Concert in Kilmore Cathedral
We performed a concert of Christmas and sacred music, conducted by Sue Donohoe and accompanied by Eileen Tackney. Guest violinist was Sarah Young, soloists were Brian McKeever (Bass), Pauline Brady (Soprano), and Sally McKenna (Alto).



Lyric FM Choirs For Christmas Show




Our recording of seasonal favourites The Snow and Still Still Still was aired on RTE's Classic station Lyric FM on December 8th at 10am. We had recorded these (and other songs in preparation for Fleadh 2012) in November with the help and expertise of Sue Donohoe's Music Technology students in Cavan Institute, St Clare's, Main St, Cavan.



Carols in the community
On Saturday December 10th, Cavan Singers had two daytime outings. In the morning the annual Carol Service in the Oncology Unit of Cavan General Hospital was held for patients, staff and friends of the unit. This has become a very very important part of Cavan Singers' calendar, to which many people both in the choir and the hospital look forward each Christmas season.
In the afternoon, the Carol Singing for charity took place in Main Street, Cavan Town. Many friends of the choir look forward to hearing us sing in town, and it certainly adds to the atmosphere for all shoppers.

On the evening of December 11th, Cavan Singers joined the congregation of the Church of Ireland in Cavan to sing at the Christmas Service. This has become a solid fixture in our calendar also, and choir members look forward to partaking in this service, in particular to the Nativity Play presented by the students of Cavan No.1 School.




The Saturday Connection radio show with Charlie McGettigan on ShannonSide
Our last outing of 2011 was a whole new departure for Cavan Singers - singing live on the 'wireless'. The choir travelled by coach to the Shannonside studio in Longford, and joined Charlie McGettigan for his popular weekly show, Saturday Connection for some songs and chat. This was fun, and enjoyable for both choir, audience (and hopefully the host!). It made for a relaxing and happy end to what has been quite a challenging year for Cavan Singers.