The BIG TIME

After the trip to Arklow it emerged that someone had tried to buy our CD after the Concert and was surprised to find that we didn't have one. It seems every dog and devil has a CD to flog after an appearance and we are the exception. So this must be addressed.
Last Monday we met in the hallowed shrine of St Mary's and started recording for a CD to be produced sometime in the future. St Mary's was picked for it's special acoustic and because it is so cold that we had no difficullty in staying awake during the process. This was important because we didn't realise that a recording took so many repeated attempts to get right. I think that the County Emergency Plan was having a trial run in Church St. from the number of Ambulances that went NEENAHing by.
We finally finished ("for now" as Donagh ominously said) and packed up. Very interesting and tiring as it is very intense and concentrated.
And that was only four or even three and a bit pieces done and ( this is added 3 weeks later) none of them were suiteable. Back to the drawing board

Super Sunday in Arklow

What a day we had in Arklow. After years of trying and achieving a measure of success we finally hit the big time with two major wins, two cups, two gold medals, a brace of highly commended certificates and enough complimentary remarks from the adjudicators to turn the heads of even the most sober of us. It was one of those days when we got it right at the right time. We also find that the harder we work the luckier we get in these competitions. And we worked as hard as ever we worked at pieces for this competition.

Things started with the Madrigal Competition for the Sean Bonner Cup which was won in great style by the Madrigal Group singing "Now is the Month of Maying" and the hilarious "Weep O mine eyes". Ninety two marks, more then we ever scored and a vindication of all Donagh's work going back years.

We then took on seven other Choirs in the Open Mixed and again managed to come out winners with "Deep River" and " Why do fools fall in love?". This time we scored 91 marks and were delighted by the adjudicator's remark. Which was quite interesting because he wasn't too keen on our performance last year. What a difference a year makes !

We celebrated back home in the Enoteca and had a very enjoyable night of eating drinking and more singing

This is dynamic Chairman John Burke-O'Leary debriefing the troops and giving us our marching orders for the next event which is the Centenary Celebration Concert in the Enniscorthy Golf Club on the 21st April.

Centenary Celebration Concert

Enniscorthy Golf Club

21st April at 8.00

Tickets available from all members . Price 10 Euro

Proceeds to the Hospice Care Centre.

Countdown to Arklow

THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A NICELY PHOTOMERGED PICTURE OF CONCENTRATION AND DEDICATION.

AND IT WAS TOO.

BUT IT WAS 27 MEGS ( much too big) AND BLOGGER JIBBED AT TAKING IT.

So what we have are two pictures of concentration and dedication. The Choir , without Donagh but with John stepping onto the breach, getting an extra bit of practise in before the big day.

The best moment of all is when you sing the piece and, for the first time as a choir , get it right . It may not be completely right but you know that you have made it. From now on the worry is about perfection. It is truly satisfying and I suppose what keep's choiristers at it. All the grinding and repetition can be forgotten . That transcendant moment when you start hearing the other sections and how they relate to your section, when you feel part of something greater then the sum of it's parts, when you all really make music, that's it.
I think I reached that moment last Friday although the rest may ahve done it on the previous Monday as I missed that rehearsal.
Anyway, we are coming to hand just at the right time with the Music Festival in Arklow on next week. We had a good do there last year winning the Clandillon Cup so we back as defending Champions. That should give us an edge.