A concert of international standard was performed by a selection of guest musicians and artists at the Patrick Cassidy Summer School Tribute Concert held at the McWilliam Hotel, Claremorris on Friday night last.
Top class performances from Limerick School of Music Orchestra, the Maynooth University Chamber Choir and the Music Generation Mayo Harp Ensemble, together with Harry Meyer, Harry Carpendale, Anne Marie Gibbons and David Lynn, left the audience in awe, captivated by the high quality recitals, some of which were composed by the globally renowned and Claremorris native Patrick Cassidy.
Introduced by Compere, Vivienne Lee, the evening’s entertainment began with performances by three sections of the 60 strong member Limerick School of Music Orchestra, conducted by Cecilia Madden, Anna Jane Ryan and John O’Shea. The performance featured music from Handel, Carmen, Queen, and The Proclamation, from Patrick Cassidy’s 1916 Irish Rebellion soundtrack.
Eighteen members of the Maynooth University Chamber Choir led by Michael T Dawson followed, who sang seven short choral pieces of a multi-cultural and multi-national nature. Local singer, Elizabeth Murphy, is part of this choir.
After the interval, 19 young members of the Music Generation Mayo Harp Ensemble enthralled the audience with traditional airs, some written by group leader Grainne Hambly from Claremorris and her husband William Jackson.
Harpist Harry Meyers from the Blessington Millennium Choir played six extracts from Patrick Cassidy's early Children of Lir recording and following that, Meyer also recited poetry from W B Yeats and made a special presentation of a recently published book chronicling the Millennium Choirs’ European Children of Lir tour.
The concert concluded with a grand finale with all acts uniquely participating together to perform Patrick’s aria Vide Cor Meum, accompanied by soloists, mezzo soprano Anne Marie Gibbons from Louisburgh and tenor David Lynn from Ballina, in a performance that won a lengthy standing ovation.
Heartened by the great reaction and appreciation of the audience, Jarlath Sweeney, on behalf of the organisers, stated: "The event was truly a most memorable occasion, lending to a moving and emotive experience and providing moments of escapism. We have high levels of young musical talent in this country, which augers well for the future."
Commenting after the event, Patrick Cassidy said: "It was wonderful to return to Claremorris after three years away due to the pandemic. Claremorris is a very special place for me and this concert cemented even more my affection for this town where I was born."
