If you love singing and want a challenge, Galway Choral Association wants to hear from you. The association, a mixed-voice community choir, has vacancies for men and women who want to sing music from the classical choral repertoire.
This season, the choir is working towards a January performance of Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle (Little Solemn Mass ) in early 2024, under the direction of Dr Darina McCarthy.
Former members, people who want to return to choral singing, and those who want to step up to the challenge of singing four-part harmony in a classical work are all welcome.
“Singing with a group is great for health and wellbeing,” says chairperson Tony Roe. “Participation in choral singing provides great personal satisfaction as well as the opportunity to develop your singing talent. Choral experience and ability to read music are helpful, but not necessary. New members often include people who last sang with a choir years ago, but we welcome all adult singers.
“As an established choir, we have a mature structure and very good relationships in the community including charity organisations,” he added. “We have expertise in organising major concerts, and we receive invitations to take part in choral and community events. As a choir we aim to achieve a standard of excellence in choral singing and work with accomplished musicians while providing high quality musical education for members and raising funds for local charities. It gave us great satisfaction to raise €2,000 for Claddagh Watch Patrol in a recent concert.”
Dr Darina McCarthy added: “I’m delighted to be doing the Petite Messe Solennelle. It was composed in 1863, just over 30 years after Rossini wrote his last opera, and is a heartfelt work which shows his extraordinary compositional capabilities: it is full of drama, pathos, colour and intensity. This Latin text Mass setting is accompanied by the unusual combination of two pianos and a harmonium.”
The new season is now beginning, and the choir rehearses on Sunday from 7.30pm to 9.30pm in St Patrick’s Band Hall, from September to June. New members are accepted in September and February. Prospective members may attend three rehearsals, to see if it’s the right choir for them.
For more information, see www.GalwayChoral.ie or www.facebook.com/GalwayChoralAssociation, or email [email protected]
