Stephen Cummins, president, Mullingar Choral Society.

Choral society promise night of inspiring music for jubilee concert

For 50 years Mullingar Choral Society have entertained the people of Mullingar and its environs with some of the highest quality choral works ever composed.

During those years many sopranos, altos, tenors and basses from every walk of life came together annually to form a well drilled, accomplished choir.

They brought with them their individual personalities, enthusiasm and love of choral music and, under careful and professional direction, they have created a standard of performance which has been admired and appreciated by thousands over 50 wonderful years.

The ad Mullingar Choral Society placed in the Westmeath Examiner in March 1969.

In addition, Mullingar Choral Society have been keen to appreciate and showcase the talents of many soloists down the years.

Some of these voices were already known and well established when they performed with the choir.

Included in this category are Virginia Kerr, Regina Nathan and Ronan Tynan – to name but a few.

While recognising the well established performers, Mullingar Choral Society also pride themselves in promoting and encouraging those climbing the ladder towards national and international recognition such as Ailish Tynan, Sarah Brady and Emmett Cahill.

Add to that the many children from a variety of local schools who have performed with the choir, and it is clear to see how Mullingar Choral Society have become part of the musical fabric of the town.

Their upcoming Concert on March 3 is a wonderful mix of the well known, the not so well known and the new.

The well known includes Antonio Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’, Karl Orff’s ‘O Fortuna’ from Carmina Burana, Schubert’s ‘Ave Maria’, ‘Christus Factus Est’ by Anton Bruckner, ‘Benedictus from Karl Jenkin’s ‘The Armed Man’.

The not so well known includes ‘Song Of The Universal’ by Ola Gjeilo (being performed by the choir for the first time) and the new includes a work composed by their musical director Fergus O’Carroll, entitled ‘Slane’ dedicated to the members past and present of Mullingar Choral Society.

The soloists for the concert are Joanna Fagan (soprano), Paula Kilmurray (soprano) and Miriam Blennerhassett (alto), all amazingly talented Mullingar-based artists, and the society members are delighted to welcome back Owen Gilhooly (tenor) and Adele Dwyer (cello) to perform with them.

They invite the people of Mullingar and beyond to join them on Sunday March 3 in the Cathedral of Christ the King for an evening of uplifting and inspiring music.

Mullinagr Choral Society, photographed in early February, 2019.