O Holy Night at Cathedral with Mullingar Choral Society
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The children’s of St Kenny National School played a vital role in the concert.Image 2 of 8
Patrick Pilkington, society president, with John White, music director.Image 3 of 8
The brass ensemble, Brendan Kennedy, Patrina Mills, Paul Kiernan Snr and Paul Kiernan Jnr.Image 4 of 8
Getting ready to perform, Teresa Kelly and Susan Hogan.Image 5 of 8
Ulrika and Veronica Maher at the cathedral for the concert.Image 6 of 8
Lynda Martin, Joe Higgins, Anne Byrne and Christy Dunne at the concert on Sunday.Image 7 of 8
Patricia Kiernan and Lucy Kiernan.Image 8 of 8
Teresa Kelly, secretary, Patrick Pilkington, president, and Claire McTiernan, treasurer, Mullingar Choral Society, at the annual concert in the Cathedral of Christ the King on Sunday.The much-anticipated Mullingar Choral Society’s Carol Concert took place in the Cathedral of Christ the King last Sunday week. The building, as usual, was packed as MC, Mary Hughes, welcomed the audience. The evening began with John Rutter’s spectacular Gloria. The Lir Brass Ensemble began the piece with a tumultuous introduction.
The children’s choir of St Kenny NS played a vital role in the concert. They began with the traditional Advent carol, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, adapted by music director, John White, and accompanied by the society’s choir. Various Christmas songs and medleys followed throughout the evening.
Joanna Fagan, solo soprano, sang an aria from Handel’s Oratorio, Messiah. Afterwards the children sang the Spanish Vilancico Carol, Riu Riu Riu, followed by the Catalan Fum Fum Fum. The society accompanied the St Kenny choir, in the charming Czech Zither Carol, to end the trilogy.
The second showstopper was O Holy Night by Adolphe Adam. Although he wrote 14 well received operas and several ballets including the ballet Giselle, this is the only piece of music anyone seems to have heard of! This was again sung by Joanna Fagan.
The secular music began with ‘It’s the most Wonderful Time of the Year’ and Joanna following on ‘Winter Wonderland’.
Mary Hughes introduced the new Mullingar Choral Society president, Patrick Pilkington, to give his speech.
At the end of that, presentations were made to Joanna Fagan, soloist; Angie Lynch and Ann Caulfield, repetiteurs; John White, director, and Adam Collins, organist.
Mr Pilkington then made surprise presentations of flowers to two the committee members, Teresa Kelly and Muire Earley who, year on year, are unstinting in their service to the society.
Ray McDonnell added to the lustre of the evening with his expert lighting skills and committee member tech expert, Tony McNerney was responsible for the text on the screens. Special thanks also should go to the people at the doors and those that handed out the programmes. The concert ended with the South American ‘Feliz Navidad’ and then ‘Merry Christmas’ from the movie ‘Home Alone 2’.
The appreciative audience applauded the two choirs and the Lir Ensemble to end a wonderful evening and send us all on our way home.