Duhallow ChoralSociety
IN March of 1996 a mutual passion for singing brought together a group of people from across the Duhallow region with a vision of promoting music and culture across the region.
From that seed of an idea the Duhallow Choral Society was born and over the next two decades it grew to become one of the most respected ensembles of its kind in the country - performing for presidents, a presidential hopeful and the general public.
To mark the society’s 20th anniversary, and say ‘ thank you’ to all of the people who have supported it along the way, they held a special free concert in Scoil Mhuire, Kanturk during the autumn.
To add to the celebration the society issued an invitation to past members, friends and supporters to attend the evening, which saw them perform with a 60-piece string German orchestra from Differten in Germany.
Asked by the Corkman for the reason behind their remarkable popularity, society PRO Sandra Piggott said it was a combination of elements.
“For people living in the heart of rural Ireland the choir offers opportunity to explore and challenge they’re many cultural talents and abilities”, said Sandra.
“Over the years the key to our success has been the high level of training, dedication and commitment of each member, enabling the choir to achieve a high standard of excellence while maintaining spirit, vision and perhaps most importantly of all, enjoyment,” Sandra.
It is that high standard of excellence, achieved through the involvement of an impressive array of musical directors, accompanist’s and support artists, that has helped bolster the society’s enviable reputation.
The current musical director, South-African born Sharon Reidy, is a point in case. She moved to Kerry in the 1980’s and has worked for years teaching voice, drama and theatre studies, performed leading roles in numerous operettas and musicals and has worked with the Irish Operatic Repertory Company.
The society’s eclectic mix of sacred church, popular, classical and traditional songs has earned it numerous awards and invitations to perform in front of dignitaries at venues across the world.
It has performed for President Higgins, Hilary Clinton, Cardinal William Levada in Rome and the former European Parliament president Pat Cox in Brussels and at the Irish College in Leuven.
The society has also performed at other prestigious venues across Europe and in New York with firemen at Ground Zero, at the St Patrick’s Day celebrations on 5th Avenue, in Grand Central Station and at the Irish Famine Memorial in Manhattan.
Closer to home they have performed concerts with Cara O’Sullivan and the Irish Chamber Orchestra at the Kanturk Arts Festival, won prizes at festivals in Kenmare and New Ross, sang with choirs from across the world at Cork Choral Festival.
“We are also proud of our long history of performing numerous concerts for charity both regionally, nationally and internationally,” said Sandra.
“Of course none of this success would have been possible without support and we are grateful to IRD Duhallow, Kanturk Credit Union, Cork County Council, local businesses and the wider Duhallow community for their support over the years,” she added.