The annual Association of Irish Musical Societies Awards nominations were announced last week and Ballinrobe musical society has been nominated in six categories, including the coveted Best Overall Show category, for its production of Chess.
It is the society’s first time to be nominated for Best Overall Show in the premier Gilbert Section of the awards scheme. “This nomination places us in the top five shows presented anywhere in the 32 counties,” said society chairman Pat McGovern. “All aspects of the production are taken into account for an overall show nomination – lighting, singing, sound, music, production, stage, and front of house management, acting, and everything else that goes into making a great show. To achieve this in a school auditorium is very significant, in view of the fact that we are competing with societies who have state-of-the-art facilities, unlimited resources, and populations many great times greater than Ballinrobe and its hinterland.
“Were it not for our loyal local sponsors, who in the current economic climate still came up trumps, and a great sense of community the show simply would not go on. It was a difficult year for the society as our much-loved musical director of 15 years, Noel Kirrane, passed away in September, shortly before rehearsals commenced. Noel’s death cast a long shadow over the society. However, we were very lucky that a man of the calibre of Philip Short was available to step into the breach, and he did a marvellous job with what is recognised as a difficult show, Chess.”
The five other nominations were for Best Musical Director, Philip Short; Best Female Voice, Sinead Heneghan, Best Programme, Liam Horan and Pat McGovern; Best Front of House Management, and Best Modern Opera. The awards ceremony will take place in the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, on Saturday, June 13.
