Gospel Choir taste success for second time in a row!
Members of Tullamore Gospel Choir have learned this week that success tastes even sweeter the second time around! Having won the Gospel Choirs Competition at the prestigious Sligo International Choral Festival on our inaugural outing last year, the Choir returned to
The 90-strong Choir sang two challenging Gospel pieces, the first being “Gloria Hallelujah” by Jean Luis Guerra, which featured the exceptional vocal talents of keyboard player, Paul Skelton, and a strong chorus sung entirely in Spanish. The second piece, “Thou Oh Lord” by Lisa Ireland, featured part-singing in close harmony by all sections of the Choir.
The two Adjudicators for the Gospel Choirs Competition, Mr. Joe McKee, Head of City of Belfast School of Music, and Mr. Mark Duley, renowned Conductor and Organist who holds the posts of Chorus master with the RTE Philharmonic Choir and organist of the Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas in Galway, were fulsome in their praise of Tullamore Gospel Choir describing their performance as “very impressive with a huge wall of choral sound.” They went on to say that the Choir showed “a terrific sense of balance” and displayed enthusiasm that was “genuinely infectious.” They also praised the “terrific singing” of Choir members who showed a great sense of “style and verve” and were tremendously impressed with the “stunning conclusion” to the second Gospel piece chosen by the Choir “Thou Oh Lord.”
The vocal talents of Paul Skelton, who has been the keyboard player with Tullamore Gospel Choir since its launch six years ago, were singled out for special mention by the Adjudicators. “You are very fortunate in the talents of your accompanist… He is a terrific asset” stated the Adjudicators in their comments. They also praised the “sensitive, competent and accomplished” percussionist in the Choir, Tony Dowling, for his handling of both musical pieces. The Choir also has a second accomplished percussionist, Brendan Coyne, who was unable to travel to
In his opening comments to the Choirs who had taken part in the Gospel Choirs Competition at the Sligo Festival, Mr. Joe McKee spoke of the “revolution” which has taken place in Church music over the past number of years, and spoke of the important and central role which music has to play in the celebration of the Liturgy.
“Music touches the soul in a way that cannot be put into words” he said “and it is wonderful to see Gospel music being represented here today in such a truly meaningful and spiritual way… It is exciting, colourful and vibrant and it exposes the listener to possibilities and ways of praying that he may never have dreamed of before.”
He spoke of a
Musical Director of Tullamore Gospel Choir, Brendan Keeley thanked each and every member of the Choir for their “extraordinary commitment” to the grueling rehearsal schedule in preparation for their participation in the Sligo Choral Festival, and also for their commitment to the Parish of Tullamore and to their charity concerts all around the country.
“When you consider that each and every member of the Choir is there in an entirely voluntary capacity, it speaks volumes for the dedication that all of us have to spreading the Gospel message through our love of music” added Brendan.
Despite their second successive win in
We are currently busy rehearsing our Christmas music programme in preparation for the Christmas Eve Mass at 7.30pm on December 24th, and our next charity concert takes place in St. Patrick’s Church in Castlerea, County Roscommon on Wednesday, November 25th next, to raise funds for the provision of a Roscommon Respite Centre for Alzheimer’s patients which is currently going through the planning process.
For further information on any aspect of Tullamore Gospel Choir, please contact PRO Geraldine Grennan at: 086-3616121 or at ggrennan@eircom.net
