Choir takes musical journey across the decades

VOICES of Bray Community Choir played to full houses on each night of their recent three-night run at Mermaid Arts Centre.

Last week, they presented a cheque for €4,500 to the Parents’ Association of St Catherin’s Special School.

The atmosphere in the theatre was incredible on each of the three nights. There was even a fire alarm in the interval on Thursday night and although the second half of the concert was delayed by almost an hour, a full audience returned for the second half.

The choir practised each Wednesday night from early September 2017 until early June 2018 in preparation for this summer season of concerts. They also practised on a number of Sunday afternoons in March and April. Along the way they took part in the North Wales Choral Festival in Llandudno in November 2017, held a Christmas concert in St Fergal’s Church to a capacity audience on December 10, and took part in Wicklow Sings festival on April 21.

Under the guidance of their Musical Director John Ivory, and with the addition of their new accompanist Justin McCann, the choir took on its most ambitious programme to date this year, featuring more challenging arrangements, introducing live piano accompaniment for many

Yvonne Connolly, Ger Noona, Mary McNiece, Eilish Carroll, Shiela McNiece and Ger Curham.

Ciaran Condren, Tony Kelly, Rosemarie Kelly, Oonagh Hodkinson, Karen Perry and Roseanna Doherty.

Denis Murphy, Catherine Murphy, Sr Denise Harvey, Colette Nolan, Paula Nolan and Shiela Maher.

PHOTOS BY BARBARA FLYNN Jo Scanlon, Denise Olin, Monique Jolly and Claire Brown.

Anne Irwin, Heather Mayberry, Sandra Sheridan and Tracy Wilson.

Kilian and Theresa Ivory.

Mick and James Doyle.

Mafi Ocmapo, Eileen Earls and Anne O’Brien from Voices of Bray.