The Marine Institute Singers were singing on high after emerging victorious in the inaugural Galway Choirfactor Competition which took place in the Radisson Blu Hotel on Friday April 12. Organised by the Corrib Lions Club as a fundraising initiative for Kilcuan Retreat Centre in Clarinbridge, the event attracted a capacity audience of more than 700 people.
Directed by Carmel Dooley, the winning choir saw off stiff competition from GUH Choral Society, the NUI Singers, The Medtronic Chorale, HP’s Harmonic Phonics, and the Galway Golf Club Choir to claim the Choirfactor trophy.
According to the competition adjudicators Brendan O’Connor, Maire Ni Dhuibhir, and Julie Feeney, the competitive standard was exceptionally high and they congratulated the Marine Institute Singers for their award winning performance.
Specially formed for the Choirfactor Competition, this was the first public performance for the Marine Institute Singers who are delighted with their success and are immensely proud of their achievement.
Choir director Carmel Dooley, an experienced choral conductor, paid tribute to the group of 19 singers who gathered just six weeks before the Choirfactor contest. “I am delighted and thrilled to bits that the Marine Institute Singers won this award. They have worked extremely hard over the past six weeks to prepare for tonight’s performance. I would also like to thank our accompanist Jackie Lillis who accompanied not one but four choirs performing at this event and worked with each conductor to support the choirs in their performances this evening.”
The Marine Institute Singers received a specially commissioned trophy and all choirs received a framed certificate and inscribed memento of the occasion.
Speaking after the event, Corrib Lions Club president, Liam Bluett, thanked the six choirs and the choir directors who participated in the event for their dedication and commitment to the novel initiative. “I’d like to especially congratulate Carmel Dooley and the Marine Institute Singers. They were the last group to begin rehearsals and what a wonderful achievement it is for them to win the top prize. I’d also like to thank the staff of Ballybane Enterprise Centre and in particular Trish Murphy for her work. A special word of thanks is due to the joint MCs Brian Duffy and Carmel Dooley, stage manager Pat Dennigan, and musical advisors John Grealish and Christine Canavan for their invaluable expertise.“
Funds raised from the Galway Choir Factor competition will be donated to a wide variety of groups such as carers, the elderly, multiple sclerosis sufferers, people living with cancer, and those bereaved by suicide, to benefit from healing therapies, and wellbeing workshops in Kilcuan Retreat Centre.
