Our Ensembles

Altus - High-Voice Choir

Altus - Maynooth University Ladies’ Choir
Director: Dervilla Conlon-Maloney
Contact: conlondervilla@gmail.com
Repetiteur: TBC

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.

REGISTRATION
Register online at https://tinyurl.com/MU151Performance2020

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 7th of May.

MUSIC SCORES
Members of Altus will be required to pay a deposit of €50 to contribute to the cost of purchasing music scores. The deposit will be refunded at the end of the year, subject to the returning of the copies in good condition and with only soft pencil markings. 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.

First Rehearsal Date:
Wednesday 2 October 2019

Chamber Choir

Conductor: : Michael T. Dawson

Email: michael.dawson@mu.ie

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?
If you’d like to audition for the Chamber Choir, please complete the following FORM https://forms.gle/9thRMHVyX4HNXEWL7

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.

Co-Founder, Irish Institute of Music & Song
Artistic Director, Fingal International Festival of Voices
Director, Maynooth University Chamber Choir
087 213 9056
www.irishinstituteofmusic.com
www.fingalfestivalofvoices.com

Choral Society

Maynooth University Choral Society

Director: Dr John O'Keeffe
Email: John.oKeeffe@mu.ie

Repetiteur: David Grealy

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).

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What is it?

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 which begins in Callan Hall on Monday 7 October 2019 at 18.30.

First year students: Register online at https://tinyurl.com/MU151Performance2020

Performances 2019-2020:

Annual Carol Services on 16, 17, 18 December 2019.
Annual Choral Concert at 4pm on Sunday 8 March 2020, featuring Haydn’s Creation, with orchestra and distinguished soloists.

Musical Scores:

Scores (deposit €50) should be collected from Music Dept Office in advance of first rehearsal. The deposit will be refunded at the end of the year, subject to the returning of the copies in good condition and only with soft-pencil markings.

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

Monday 7
Thursday 10
Monday 14
Thursday 17
Monday 21
Thursday 24

November

Monday 4
Monday 11
Monday 18
Monday 25

December

Monday 2
Thursday 5
Monday 9
Thursday 12

December Carol Services ^{Note 1}

Monday 16
Tuesday 17
Wednesday 18

Semester 2

February

Monday 3
Thursday 6
Monday 10
Thursday 13
Monday 17
Thursday 20
Monday 24
Thursday 27

March

Monday 2
Thursday 5

Saturday 7:
14.00–17.00 ^{Note 2}

Annual Concert*

Sunday 8 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)

Early Music Vocal Ensemble

Director: Cathal Twomey Email: http://cathaltwomey93@gmail.com

Rehearsals: Mondays 18.45-20.45, Gillen Room (Logic House)

What is it?

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.

Registration
First year students: Register online at https://tinyurl.com/MU151Performance2020

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:
Monday October 7 2019
Monday October 14 2019
Monday October 21 2019

November:
Monday November 4 2019
Monday November 11 2019
Monday November 18 2019
Monday November 25 2019

December:
Monday December 2 2019
Monday December 9 2019
Monday December 16 2019[TBC]

Semester 2:

February:
Monday February 3 2020
Monday February 10 2020
Monday February 17 2020
Monday February 24 2020

March:
Monday March 2 2020
Monday March 9 2020
Monday March 23 2020
Monday March 30 2020

April:
Monday April 6 2020
Monday April 20 2020
Monday April 27 2020

Lunchtime Concert: Thursday April 30, 13.00

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.

Traditional Group

Maynooth University Traditional Music Group

Director: Aisling Ní Choisdealbha
Email: aisling_costello@hotmail.com
Rehearsals: 19.00-21.00, Bewerunge Room + extra rehearsals for concerts if required.

Traditional Ensemble - Maynooth University

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What is it?

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. The first will take place on Thursday 5th December 2019.