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The Department of Music is renowned for its long and proud tradition of communal music making.
Our rich concert life is underpinned by the steady rhythm of rehearsals and concerts supplied by our diverse ensembles. There are eight professionally-directed ensembles within the Department that currently contribute to our Approved Ensemble Programme. In 2017-2018 the Choral Society will supply the focus of the programmes for the three annual Carol Services and a large-scale choral concert in April. The Maynooth University Orchestra explores a variety of repertoire leading to its concert in May, while the Chamber Choir regularly tours and enters choral competitions. Altus provides an opportunity for first-year female singers to work together, while the Guitar Ensemble, New Music Ensemble and Irish Traditional Group each work toward public concerts in their schedules. The Schola Gregoriana , a joint Maynooth University/SPCM project, is an all-female vocal ensemble specializing in plainchant performance.
For more about all of these ensembles, including their rehearsals, memberships and repertoire, please follow the links below.
We encourage the formation of smaller ensembles, vocal and instrumental. This allows students to develop their performing abilities across a wide range of repertoire whether or not they are focusing on performance as part of their studies.
If you are a member of the University staff, a student or a member of the local community and you are interested in becoming involved in one of our ensembles please do contact the Music Department Office for further information.
Rehearsals: Wednesdays 12.00-14.00 Riverstown Hall during term time plus extra rehearsals for concerts if required.
What is it?
Altus (Maynooth University Ladies’ Choir) is an approved ensemble for module MU151/MU152 for first-year ladies.
Rehearsals will take place during term time Wednesdays 12.00-14.00 in Riverstown Hall. Participants are expected to be actively involved in preparing and practising the material outside rehearsals. The principal focus of the choir’s work for this academic year will be a lunchtime concert on campus in Semester 2, Thursday the 27th of April 2023.
MUSIC SCORES
Scores will be made available to members at the first rehearsal.
GENERAL GUIDELINES
To obtain maximum credits, students are expected to attend all rehearsals. Medical certificates may be produced to cover absences. Punctuality is a prerequisite for efficient rehearsals. Members must bring their own copies of music to rehearsals. Late attendance or failure to bring scores may mean a reduction of available credit for any given rehearsal. Full engagement with the work undertaken during rehearsals is essential.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals are held every Tuesday of term time starting promptly at 6.30pm and ending at 9.00pm.
Sign Up - https://www.muchamberchoir.com/
How do I sing with the Chamber Choir?
Venue Aula Maximus, South Campus
Audition Process
Please send an unlisted video of you singing without accompaniment to michael.dawson@mu.ie. Once received you will get a confirmation and within a week will receive information on whether you have made it to round 2 of the audition process.
Round 2 - Involves a range test, interview, ear & sight-reading tests. Sight-reading is required but can help with the success of your audition. Please do not let the sight-reading deter you if you are a strong singer.
For any questions you might have about the audition, please do not hesitate in contacting the director Michael T. Dawson at michael.dawson@mu.ie
Audition Results
A list of the successful applicants will be emailed at the end of October
About the Choir
The Choir is a selection of the best singers from the University who work on challenging and rewarding material throughout the year. In 2013 the choir performed in Armagh Cathedral and toured New York, Albany, Indiana and Chicago. In 2014 the choir participated in the Canta en Primavera International Competition 2014 in Malaga. In 2015, the choir won one of the most prestigious competitions in the world earning the title “Choir of the World” in Llangollen Wales. In 2016 the choir toured USA and China. In 2017, the choir were awarded 1st prize in both the Mixed Voice and Church Music categories at the Cork International Choral Festival and last year in March 2018, the choir won the top prize at Feis Ceoil. The choir contributes to the Christmas Carol Services and also performs a major end-of-year concert in April.
Who is it for?
The Chamber Choir is open to all students of Maynooth University. The Choir is suitably aimed at singers who want to achieve very high standards in choral singing. This comes from the decision made by all members to commit to practicing their music outside of rehearsal time so that when the choir gathers together, more is accomplished. While having a good voice and good musicianship are both important, ultimately, singing in a choir is all about team work and members need to be willing to invest time and effort into perfecting a challenging repertoire as part of a group. The ideal chorister will be able to display individuality and passion in their singing. Choral singing is one of the most rewarding exercises any musician can engage in, and there are many benefits in the development of general musicianship and performance practice.
What is involved?
In order to achieve the international standard of excellence the choir strives there is a strict commitment policy. Places in the choir are highly valued, therefore any singer that misses three or more rehearsals will be replaced by someone else.
Rehearsals: Mondays and selected Thursdays (see schedule) 18.30 – 20.30. The venue for the full choir rehearsal is Callan Hall. Sectional rehearsals will take place in Physics Hall (Soprano), Callan Hall (Alto), O’Callaghan Room (Tenor) and New Music Room (Bass).
Founded by Father Noel Watson in 1969 and directed by Professor Gerard Gillen from 1985-2007, the Maynooth University Choral Society has gained widespread acclaim for its annual performances of major choral works. Its successes have been founded on a solid tradition of hard work, based on the mutual co-operation of Departmental staff, students and singers from across the campus and local community.
The Choral Society programme of activities is directed towards its Annual Choral Concert (Semester II) together with participation in the Annual Carol Services in the College Chapel.
It is an Approved Ensemble for modules MU151/MU152 (men only) MU253, MU319 and MU369.
How do I join?
New members should attend the first rehearsal. Date for 2023 TBC
Performances 2022-2023:
Annual Carol Services on 13th and 14th December 2022.
Annual Choral Concert at 4pm on Sunday 26th March 2023.
Musical Scores:
Scores should be collected from Music Dept Office in advance of first rehearsal. Scores must be returned to the office at the end of the year.
John O’Keeffe
Dr John O'Keeffe is Director of Sacred Music at the National Seminary of St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where his duties include lecturing, training of cantors, choir and organists, and the preparation of music for college liturgies. As Maynooth University’s Director of Choral Groups, he conducts the University Choral Society and oversees the activities of the Maynooth University Chamber Choir, Schola Gregoriana Maynooth (a joint SPCM/MU project) and the Maynooth University female choir, 'Altus'.
Prior to his appointment to Maynooth, he was Choirmaster at St. Mel’s Cathedral, Longford, having already served as Organ Scholar of Westminster Cathedral and Dublin’s Pro-Cathedral. His organ teachers have included Rev. Frank McNamara, David Sanger, Ben Van Oosten and Gerard Gillen. He holds Master’s degrees in Organ (MU) and Chant Performance (UL) and his doctoral thesis The Masses of Seán and Peadar Ó Riada: Explorations in Vernacular Chant was recently published by Cork University Press.
Active also as a liturgical music composer (his Mass of Saint Mel was commissioned in 2015 to mark the restoration of Longford Cathedral) and editor (the second volume of his church music series, Feasts and Seasons, has just been published), he directs postgraduate and diploma courses in liturgical music and chant at both St. Patrick's College and Maynooth University. In 2018, he was appointed Director of Music for the Papal Mass, held in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, to mark the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland.
General guidelines
To obtain maximum credits, students are expected to attend all rehearsals (please see rehearsal schedule). Medical certificates may be produced to cover absences due to sickness.
The efficiency of the rehearsal process depends on punctual attendance and on students having their own music at rehearsal. Late attendance or failure to bring your score may mean a reduction of 50% of available credit for any given rehearsal.
A spirited, generous and professional engagement with the work of rehearsal is expected of students of the module. To encourage this and to protect the integrity of the rehearsal process, credit penalties such as that already outlined above will be imposed for chatting, mobile phone texting, or non-participation during sessions.
Rehearsal Schedule
Rehearsal Schedule Semester 1
October
Please contact the office for details.
November
Please contact the office for details.
December
Please contact the office for details.
December Carol Services Note 1
Information for 2023 will be released in October 2023
Semester 2
February
Please contact the office for details.
March
Monday 2
Thursday 5
Saturday 7:
14.00–17.00 Note 2
Annual Concert*
Sunday 26th March (14.00 – 19.00)
*Limited choir seating: places will be allotted on the basis of rehearsal attendance.
Note 1: College Chapel rehearsal at 18.00 each evening, for 19.30 performance.
Note 2: Final Rehearsal (Compulsory)
One of the approved ensembles of the music department, the Maynooth University Early Music Vocal Ensemble gives students the opportunity to explore a lively and engaging repertoire of sacred and secular music from the Middle Ages to the Baroque. However, its primary focus remains the secular music of the Renaissance: madrigals, chansons, frottolas, catches etc. Since its founding in 2014, the ensemble has performed for lunchtime and evening concerts in the music department, as well as on live radio on RTÉ Lyric FM as part of European Early Music Day.
How do I join?
The ensemble is open to any interested singers, within or beyond the music department. Voice placing sessions will be held September 30 and October 1 2019, from 18:45 to 20:45 in the Gillen Room, logic House, South Campus. These are NOT auditions, merely opportunities to meet the director and ensure you are assigned to the correct line for your vocal range. Voice placing will consist of a few basic range tests and exercises. Feel free to bring a pre-prepared piece, but this is not a requirement. If you do prepare something, just use a song that you feel shows off your voice. Singers who cannot make the voice placing sessions are still welcome to come to the first rehearsal; a short voice placing can easily be done during the break. Interested singers, whether or not they can attend the voice placing, are invited to contact the director at cathaltwomey93@gmail.com
What is involved?
Rehearsals are Monday evenings from 18:45 to 20:45, with a concert in the second semester. Members are expected to prepare individually, to practice material, and to contribute fully to rehearsals.
Returning students: please contact Music Department Office to register your ensemble.
Ensemble biography
As the most recent incarnation of the Stoyte Consort, the Maynooth University Early Music Vocal Ensemble gives singers the opportunity to explore a lively and engaging repertoire of sacred and secular music from the Middle Ages to the Baroque. However, its primary focus remains the secular music of the Renaissance: madrigals, chansons, frottolas, catches, and other such genres. Since its founding in 2014, the ensemble has performed for lunchtime and evening concerts in the music department, as well as on live radio on RTÉ Lyric FM as part of European Early Music Day. It has also collaborated with other ensembles within the department. The ensemble is open to any and all interested singers, within or beyond the music department, and is one of the approved department ensembles. Rehearsals are Monday evenings from 18:45 to 20:45 in the Gillen Room (formerly called the New Music Room), in Logic House, on the South Campus.
Rehearsal Schedule (all rehearsals 18:45 to 20:45 in the Gillen Room, Logic House)
Semester 1:
October: Please contact the office for details.
November:
Please contact the office for details.
December:
Please contact the office for details.
Semester 2:
February:
Please contact the office for details.
March:
Please contact the office for details.
April:
Please contact the office for details.
Lunchtime Concert: TBC
Ensemble Director
Cathal Twomey completed a Bachelor of Music degree at Maynooth University in 2015, majoring in musicology with a dissertation on English Baroque opera. Their master’s dissertation, on the vocal music of Boyce, received the inaugural Alison Dunlop Graduate Prize in 2016. They are currently engaged in PHD research on Handel, funded by the Hume Doctoral Fellowship. Cathal’s keen interest in early music encompasses a wide range of topics from the twelfth to the eighteenth centuries, including historically informed pronunciation and the linguistics of song. They have sung with the Charles Wood Singers, the Irish Youth Choir, the Irish Youth Chamber Choir, and the Maynooth University Chamber Choir. Cathal is currently co-director of music at St. Stephen’s ‘Pepper Canister’ church, as well as a freelance arranger and a member of Ensemble Tempro.
Director: Aisling Ní Choisdealbha
Email: aisling_costello@hotmail.com
Rehearsals: 19.00-21.00, Bewerunge Room + extra rehearsals for concerts if required.
The traditional group is an Approved Ensemble for modules MU151/2 and MU253 and for third-year performance students. The group will put on two lunchtime concerts during the year.
Who is it for?
Experienced traditional instrumentalists who want to develop their playing by preparing and performing an innovative and challenging repertoire.
How do I join?
Members will have to audition for the group.
Auditions will take place in the Bewerunge Room on Wednesday the 24th September from 19:00 to 21:00.
What is involved?
The group meets for weekly rehearsals of two hours. Members are expected to individually prepare and practice material and to contribute fully to rehearsals.
Participating outside the group
Another important way of developing your skills as a traditional player is to take part regularly in sessions, which are usually held weekly in Maynooth. More details are available from the Traditional Music Society at tradmusic@nuimsu.com
Registration
First year students: 2023 link currently not available.
Returning students: please call to the Music Department Office to register your ensemble.
Rehearsal Schedule Wednesdays19:00 - 21:00 during semesters
Maynooth University and Music Generation Offaly-Westmeath
present
SINFONIA
a regional orchestra combining second-and third-level students with professional musicians
Artistic Director: Andrew Synnott Assistant Director: Karen Ní Bhroin Assistant (Maynooth University): Ingrid Bogdan
Rehearsal/Concert schedule
Tue 15 October Gillen Room (Maynooth) 6pm-8pm
Sat 9 Nov Athlone IT 11am-4pm
Sat 30 Nov Riverstown Hall (Maynooth) 12pm-2pm
Tue 10 Dec Gillen Room (Maynooth) 6pm-8pm
Sat 8 Feb Riverstown Hall (Maynooth) 12pm-2pm
Sat 29 Feb Athlone IT 11am-4pm
Tue 10 March Gillen Room (Maynooth) 6pm-8pm
Sat 21 March Riverstown Hall (Maynooth) 12pm-2pm
Sat 28 March Concert at MU 12pm-6pm
Sun 29 MarchConcert at Athlone IT 12pm-6pm
Transport to/from Athlone IT provided for all rehearsals and concert 50 places available, all MU students and staff welcome to audition on any orchestral instrument
AUDITIONS: MONDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 5:30PM TO 7:30PM
Music students: select Chamber Orchestra when registering for performance options
Not a Music student? email music.department@mu.ie to register your interest and arrange an audition
