Ailish Tynan in concert for her old alma mater

On Sunday November 13 music enthusiasts will have a treat in store as world renowned opera singer and Mullingar native Ailish Tynan takes to the stage. She is to sing at a special concert at the Cathedral of Christ the King at 8pm in aid of her alma mater, Loreto College Mullingar.The concert, in aid of the school's development fund will be compered on the night by Eileen Dunne of RTÉ.Ailish will be supported by Loreto College Choir, the Cathedral Choir and the Midlands Youth Orchestra. The programme includes highlights from Vivaldi, Puccini, Gilbert and Sullivan, Mozart, Brendan Graham, David Downes and Frank Wildhorn.As part of the school's multi-million euro building and refurbishment project, which began in March of this year, a long awaited sports hall will open in January, a new administrative block in May and by next September an AstroTurf pitch will be complete. A general purpose area and two new science labs are also part of the project. A new ICT suite is now in use. Funds raised will provide equipment for the new specialist rooms and a refurbishment of other room, not being catered for in the building project.Tickets, at €20, are available from Loreto College (044) 9342055, Days Bazaar, Fagan's Bookstore, The Cathedral shop and will also be available on the night at the cathedral. A fantastic evening of Music and Song is promised.Ailish studied at Trinity College, Dublin, The Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.Her recent highlights include the opening night of the BBC Proms with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The RTÉ Symphony and Concert Orchestras and the Ulster Orchestra.Opera engagements include performances with Opera Ireland, Houston Grand Opera, Opéra Comique, Royal Swedish Opera, Opéra de Rouen, Grange Park Opera, Royal Opera House Covent Garden and La Scala Milan. Ailish has also given recitals at the West Cork Music Festival, Music for Galway, The Isle of Man Festival, The Wigmore Hall, Edinburgh International Festival, City of London Festival, Cheltenham Music Festival, London Symphony Orchestra, St Lukes and St John's Smith Square London as well as in studio for BBC Radio 3.Support on the night will be provided by Mullingar Cathedral Choir, Loreto College Choir and the Midlands Youth Orchestra.Mullingar Cathedral Choir is directed by Gerard Lillis, and has an extensive rep ertoire of sacred choral music, ranging from plain chant and early polyphony to recently composed works from both Ireland and abroad. They sing in the Cathedral each Sunday morning, and also for major ceremonies throughout the Church's calendar. The choir also performs regularly on both RTÉ radio and television and has produced a number of successful CD recordings. They have won the RTE Lyric FM Choirs for Christmas Competition and have guested on Lyric FM's Christmas Choral Extravaganza at the University of Limerick Concert Hall.Loreto College Choir will also be part of the concert. Directed by Lynda Morgan, this group of Leaving Cert students have been members of the Loreto Choir for the past five years.They have participated in school Masses, concerts and events throughout their years in Loreto. They have performed in a spectacular concert with Fr. Liam Lawton in Mullingar Arts Centre last December and are delighted to be performing with Ailish Tynan this evening.