Looking back over the blog I have selected some of the most memmorable moments of 2010. Reviews on all items can be found in last year's years blog and can be found using the search button.
Conductor David Chase conductor gave a memorable performance with the La Jolla Chorus from San Diego at Glór, Ennis. They were wonderful and he had a charming and commanding presence. His erudite vocal introductions to a most interesting programme added much to the pleasure of the occasion.
Performance The Good Friday concert by Limerick Choral Union including a performance of Jenkins Stabat Mater was a highlight. Conductor Malcolm Greene created a hair raising experience combining many unusual elements. It was perhaps the performance I most enjoyed participating in I can't give a fully unbiased review as I was playing in the viola section!
Composer I was impressed with Sean Tyrrell's setting in a trad idiom of The Midnight Court at the Highway Inn in Crusheen
Best Pub Gig We really enjoyed Vladimir Jablokov Classical Twist gig upstairs in Dolan's Limerick . He is wonderful to watch and we look forward to seeing him in the Midwestern region again. Another Slovak young musician also impressed me at this venue, young Andreas Varedy is also one to watch
Best Venue NCH It is hard to beat the festive and grand air of the National Concert Hall. It gave me great pleasure to see assist in bringing two youth ensembles from Colaiste Muire Ennis and St Peter's College Dunboyne to perform at this prestigious venue at the IAYO Festival of Youth Orchestras. I was especially thrilled to see some of my beginners coming through from instrumental programmes I initiated in both schools. I enjoyed playing there in December myself as a member if the 1st violin section of the former Irish Youth Orchestra players under Gearoid Grant
Best Musical Shannon Musical Society for their production of Beauty and the Beast. The school hall was again as if by magic transported to a magical place for this scintillating production which was up to the usual high standards for this company with a wonderful band under direction of MD Carmel Griffin Best Male Singer
Clarecastle tenor Dean Power gave a wonderful farewell evening before he headed off to the Bavarian State Opera to join their Young Artist's Programme . It was an evening of arias and high emotions as his local community packed the local church to hear Dean and other fine singers perform.
Best Female Singer
I didn't post on this evening in Glor but Eddi Reader was a wonderfully relaxed and witty performer with a varied mix of repertoire and I look forward to hearing her when she returns in February
Best Newcomer Bilkees Saidi for her role as Reno in Anything Goes at Colaiste Muire Ennis . Geat poise and voice from this teenage performer .
In My Thoughts Friends of Anne Grennan were shocked and sad to learn of Anne's untimely death earlier this year. A wonderful teacher and choral director , she is much missed. Remembering also Josephine Healy who passed away in 2009 , also a wonderful teacher from whom I learned much by looking at her in action in Dunboyne
Although very cold and icy, I braved the elements to hear the Christmas concert offered by the Sing Out With Strings Programme running in primary schools in the Southill Area of the Limerick city. I took every turn off the Roxboro Roundabout except the one I needed and the concert was in full swing by the time I arrived at the large modern Holy Family Church. The ladies and gentlemen of the Irish Chamber Orchestra were in place and accompanying a childrens choir in a set of engaging jaunty songs on a Christmas theme, directed by Tony Hunter.
