See House for Festival of the Dead 2016

We took part again in the See House performances as part of 2016 The Festival of the Dead. We worked with Eileen, Robbie Perry and his troupe of drummers to form a battalion of very spooky torch-wielding zombie soldiers who both greeted each audience as they arrived from town by bus, and shepherded them back out of the courtyard at the end of the show. It was a long day, between rehearsal, make-up, wardrobe and five performances we were on-duty from 2pm until 2am - but to be fair, we enjoyed every minute. The best fun was hiding in the woodland before each group arrived, watching for Pyrotechnic Paul to set of the flares and light our torches.
The imagination, drive, creativity, and planning that goes into this project is jaw-dropping...well done to Philip Doherty and the Gonzo crew, all of the Town Hall team, and from our musical perspective, Robbie Perry.
Roll on next Hallowe'en.

Sligo International Choral Festival

We travelled to Sligo Choral Festival last weekend, on Wharton's comfiest coach, and had a lovely meal together in the Glasshouse Hotel. On the morning of our competition, we had a short sharp rehearsal with Eileen, sorted our scarves and ties, before setting out to the Gillooly Hall. Our competition had 11 choirs, so it was a long but fabulous morning, each choir in turn singing for the others, for the audience, and for the adjudicators who gave us high praise for our 900 miles and Adiemus. Our section was won by Lumina from WIT (who were our, and the audience's, favourite by far).
Afterwards we had a great evening in the Glasshouse, dining together and singing into the wee small hours.
Well done to all organisers of the Sligo Festival - it was a terrific experience, and we will certainly return!

Songs of Praise in Ballyhaise

Thanks to the congregation in Ballyhaise Church of Ireland for inviting us to sing 'Songs of Praise' with them on Sunday November 6th, and for their generous hospitality afterwards.

Big start to the new singing year

We got the 16/17 year off to a big start DCU on Oct 1st. The 100 voices who sang on Easter Sunday reassembled to record A Nation's Voice with David Brophy and Shaun Davey, and the RTE National Symphony Orchestra. The CD will be available in the RTE Guide in November - so reserve your copy now!
Here we have Brid Brady (Sop) and Nora Kennedy (Sop and PRO) picture with Conductor David Brophy and composer Shaun Davey, after the recording in the Helix.

Cavan Singers - Rhythm of Life - May 19th 2016

Songs from the Silver Screen

Last night, Cavan Singers winter and spring of trojan work came to fruition for everyone in the choir, guest performers, and audience.

Eileen Tackney, our creative Musical Director put together a terrific program of music from movies old and new. Frances Galligan and the production team got the Kilmore stage, sound, lighting and AV to professional standard. Paul Henry and the staff of the Hotel Kilmore supported us in every request. And best of all, our friends, colleagues and families, who'd came out in their hundreds, were treated to a fantastic evening of music and song.

(Our interval raffle in aid of Cavan General Hospiral new Cystic Fibrosis unit was brilliantly supported as ever - watch this space for details.)

Here's our programme (thanks to Mags Amond, Carmel Gaffney and Nollaig Amond Murray), and some pictures from the evening (thanks to Mary Haren and Dara Hume for sharing these).

Overture When You Wish Upon A Star(comp. Harline & Washington, arr. Tackney),Cavan Singers & Cavan Sinfonia
Frozen Love Is An Open Door (comp. Anderson­Lopez & Lopez, Arr. Huff)
Shrek ­ Hallelujah (comp. Cohen, arr. Emerson)
Avatar ­ Adiemus (comp. Jenkins)
The Mission ­ Ave Maria Guarana (comp. Morricone)
Shawshank Redemption ­ Sull’aria (comp. Mozart), Duet: Pauline Brady & Martina Lee Boyle
The Big Lebowski ­ Lacrimosa (comp. Mozart)
Amadeus ­ Dies Irae (comp. Mozart)
Les Choristes ­ Vois Sur ton Chemin (comp. Coulais & Barratier)
Amelie ­ L’autre Valse d’Amelie (comp. Tiersen), Solo Accorodion: Ciaran Tackney
Blade Runner ­ Rachel’s Song (comp. Vangelis), Solo: Laura Kavanagh
Sweet Charity ­ Rhythm of Life (comp. Coleman & Fields, arr. Barnes)
Mission: Impossible ­ Mission Impossible Theme (comp. Schifrin), Cavan Sinfonia
Braveheart ­ Braveheart Theme (comp. Horner), Cavan Sinfonia
Wayne’s World ­ Bohemian Rhapsody (comp. Mercury, arr. Brymer)
O Brother, Where Art Thou? ­ Go To Sleep Little Baby (trad, arr. Welch); As I Went Down In The River To Pray (trad.); Man of Constant Sorrow (traditional, arr. Burnett), Song Sisters & Oh Brothers
Bond Movie Medley (arr. Ginsberg), Solo ­ Hugh Tunney
Once ­ Falling Slowly (comp. Hansard, vocal arr. Tackney), Duet ­ Conor Kiernan, Clare Reilly
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly ­ The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly theme (comp. Morricone, vocal arr. Tackney), Solo Ocarino: Tony Mc Mahon
Despicable Me 2 ­ Happy (comp. Williams, vocal arr. Tackney), featuring The Happy Alto Quintet
The Life of Brian Always Look on the Bright Side of Life featuring Irene Dunwoody, Brian McKeever, Song Sisters and Oh Brothers



Our thanks to the entire Cast & Crew in order of appearance:

Musical Director: Eileen Tackney, Accompanist: Sue King

Cavan Singers:

Alto: Aedine Browne, Ben Charles, Mairead Conaty, Dollé Cullivan, Rachael Cullivan­Elliott, Catherine Cusack Ames, Irene Dunwoody, Liz Foster, Carmel Gaffney, Mary Haren, Sally McKenna, Phyllis McMonagle, Claire O’Reilly, Janice Robertson, Clare Smith, Áine Sullivan, Yvette Von Cramon, Carol Watson, Pamela Young

Bass: James Caffrey, Tom Flynn, Peter Howard, Peter McGrath, Brian McKeever, Tony McMahon, Kevin O’Connor, Hugh Tunney

Soprano: Nollaig Amond Murray, Bríd Brady, Pauline Brady, Eileen Connolly, Sheila Cooney, Áine Duffy, Jennifer Dunne, Gay Fannon, Tina Farrelly, Claire Finlay, Claire Harrington, Laura Kavanagh, Nora Kennedy, Martina Lee Boyle, Liz Murray, Amanda O’Connor, Lucilla O’Hanlon, Paula O’Neill, Fidelma Sheridan, Ann Smyth, Mary Sullivan, Gráinne Tierney

Tenor: Mags Amond, Colm Crowe, Frances Galligan, Malcolm Hopwood, Conor Kiernan, Carmel Lewis, Sean Maguire, Gerry O’Keeffe, Jim O’Leary

Guest Artists:

Cavan Sinfonia - Musical Director: Sue King & Leader,: Conor Kiernan

Song Sisters: Geraldine McDonnell, Geraldine McGrath, Paula Smith

Oh Brothers: Robert Perry, Shane O’Connor, Shane Carroll, Peter Denton

The Band: Sue King, piano; Jim Kelly, Patrick Gaffney, Bass guitar; Peter Denton, Lead guitar; Padraig Smith, Drums;

Ciaran Tackney ­ Accordion/Synth; Dara Mc Manus, Synth; Patrick Gaffney, Conor Flood, Acoustic guitar.

Production Team:

Staging - Frances Galligan, Alan McHugh, John Conlon, Gerry O’Keeffe

Light & Sound - Panic Hire

AV / Programme - Mags Amond

Front of House - Mark O’Hanlon, Colman Smith, Andrew Fannon

Road Crew - Gerry O’Keeffe, Colm Crowe

Sponsors
Hotel Kilmore, Farnham Hotel, Multisound, Eason, Cavan Gifts, Anglo Celt, Breifne College

What a versatile lot we are!

Cavan Singers are very versatile folk - some of our members have been having other other musical adventures recently...

Town Hall Theatre - following our debut collaboration at Halloween, it was great to have Mary Haren, Aine Sullivan, Amanda O'Connor and Ben Charles take part in Proclamation, a multimedia drama on the 1916 theme.

Crosserlough Choral Society - Martina Lee Boyle, Conor Kiernan and Mairead Conaty all took part in the wonderful One Voice Show at the Ramor Theatre Virgina over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Cavan Big Band - Aedine Browne and Tony McMahon are taking part in the Big Band Show Las Vegas Show in the Ramor theatre, tonight May 13th.