The Army Band of 2nd Brigade, based in Athlone, will once again provide the main musical support for the 31st Annual Gala Samaritan Christmas Concert to take place within the surrounds of the Franciscan Friary on Wednesday, December 6, at 8pm.
The Athlone based Army Band of the 2nd Brigade, which has been so loyal in its support of the concert since its inception, has been an integral part of the cultural life of the Midlands and West of Ireland since its own formation in 1936, performing a large range of Military, State and Civilian engagements each year. It has the distinction, unique among Irish Military Bands, of having served a six month tour of duty with the United Nations in Cyprus in 1966 and it was also the first Defences Forces Band to perform in the United Kingdom. Captain John Carpenter has recently been reappointed as Conductor of the Band. He last conducted the Samaritan Concert in 2015 and makes a welcome return to the Franciscan Friary.
The Band will be accompanied by Mezzo Soprano Gemma Ni Bhriain, Athlone A Cappella and the ever popular Athlone Pipe Band. Gemma Ní Bhriain, opera singer, completed her BA in Music Performance in 2014 at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, where she studied with Dr Veronica Dunne. She went on to become a member of the Atelier Lyrique Opera Studio at Opéra National de Paris, followed by two years with the International Opera Studio at Zurich Opera House in Switzerland. She recently performed the role of Siebel in Charles Gounod’s renowned Faust, with the Irish National Opera Company.
Tickets, priced €18 each, are available from Cunninghams’ Pharmacies, Dublin Road and Monksland, Midland Sound Equipment and Mulligans, Roscommon Road.
The Samaritans are available 24hrs on freecall 116 123 for anyone who is lonely, troubled or simply needs to talk to someone in confidence.
