An exhilarating performing year has come to an end for Chamber Choir Ireland, concluding with four outstanding performances of Handel’s Messiah with our friends in the Irish Baroque Orchestra last weekend.
It has been such a joy to be back performing for live audiences, and to journey together to some uncharted choral waters. This year we’ve taken a Brief Descent into Deep Time, swayed along to some sea shanties, headed for Scandinavia and the Northern Lights, visited the underworld with Orpheus, encountered the storms of the Adriatic Sea, and had a little summer fun with the Birds and the Bees—and a lot more in between. We hope you’ve enjoyed travelling the world with us, dipping into some truly wondrous choral music from near and far.
We have been learning too, with composers writing Choral Sketches in a collaboration with the Contemporary Music Centre, exchanging Choral Postcards with the incredible talents of teenage composers from across the country, singing along with local community choirs from Carlingford to Valentia Island, and starting new musical Pathways for Ireland’s next generation of choral singers with Sing Ireland.
Now sixteen tired singers, a heavy-armed artistic director, and a weary office team are taking some well-earned rest and relaxation for Christmas and the New Year.
We are heartened and deeply grateful for the support you all have given us throughout the year whether you bought a ticket to a concert, became a friend, shared our posts on social media, or generally spread the good word about what it is you love about Chamber Choir Ireland – it spurs us on to do more great things and we’re very much looking forward to sharing our 2023 plans with you early in the New Year.
On behalf of the Board, Executive and Artists of Chamber Choir Ireland, I wish you and yours a very restful and peaceful Christmas.
Majella Hollywood
CEO