Chorale Plena Voce Came to Town!
We were delighted to welcome our friends from Plerin-sur-Mer/St. Brieuc back to Northern Ireland in early May. It had been too long! After a baking masterclass at Ditty's bakery in Castledawson, we had a sell-out joint concert on Friday 10th May in Lurach Centre in Maghera. The show was organised by the family of our own Davy Austin, on behalf of Alzheimer's Society. Our Youth Choir also joined us so there was three choirs for the price of one!
The Choirs had a wonderul Saturday with a trip to the Giant's Causeway, Bushmills Distillery and finishing with a Dinner at Cookstown Hockey Club. Mid-Ulster Council Chairman Dominic Molloy attended the concert and the dinner and congratulated the choirs on a great event and weekend. Sperrin Choir Chair Alison Scott thanked Cllr Molloy for his words of support and for the Council's generous financial support for the visit.
We cannot wait to make a return visit to our friends in Plena Voce, already planned for 2026!
The Sperrin Choir has...
......its base in Christ Church, Castledawson. The choir has members from numerous surrounding towns, especially Cookstown, but also from Draperstown, Dungiven and Coleraine.
Sperrin Choir have been giving a number of concerts every year in different locations including the Burnavon in Cookstown, as well as concerts in Limerick, Sligo, Roscommon, Essex and Brittany (as part of the Town Twinning Scheme).
Poster for 2016 Parkanaur Concert with Plena Voce
The range of music performed is extensive, as our librarian will attest! Extracts from all the major Broadway shows,
compilations (eg James Bond themes, greatest hits of particular artists), folk music from around the world, pop and jazz,
negro spirituals and special Christmas music, both sacred and light-hearted. Our Musical Director, Sam Cuddy, is well-versed in sourcing music and compiling programmes which delight local audiences.
But what really sets this choir apart is camaraderie and enjoyment. Sam conducts weekly practices in a light-hearted atmosphere with plenty of banter. Alongside Sam, as conductor/arranger, the choir is most fortunate to have the continued dedication of Gail Evans as accompanist, despite her work with the Belfast Philharmonic and numerous other commitments. Gail, like many other members, retains a great loyalty and allegiance to the choir, where she first took on the role of accompanist as a 'youngster'. She is now also very committed to the Sperrin Kidz and Sperrin Youth Choirs, which are fortunate to also have Caroline Jones as Musical Director. The future of the Choir is in good hands!
We normally have two concert seasons, Christmas and Spring. We rehearse each Thursday from 8pm until 10pm at Christ Church Hall in Castledawson. As well as the pleasure of the company of visting choirs from time to time and performances with them, you could even find yourself travelling for weekend stays here and there, perhaps even abroad!
Contact us via Twitter, Messenger or Facebook using the buttons above. Or email using the 'Contact Us' link below. You will be assured of a very warm welcome.
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The Sperrin Choir is grateful for the support of Mid-Ulster District Council, LCDI, the Department for Communities and the Arts Council