The Tralee based Opus 96 Chamber Choir performed selections from its extensive repertoire for the benefit of Castleisland Day Care Centre in a concert at the River Island Hotel on December 3rd last.
Concert guests on the occasion included local traditional musicians Ann and Nicky McAuliffe and friends and the Michael Murphy Dance Academy.
Just last week choir representative Renée Fitzgibbon travelled to the centre to present management and staff there with a cheque for €1,500.
As the name suggests the Opus 96 Chamber Choir was founded in 1996 and the versatility of its members allows for a faster turnover and new inclusions in its repertoire.
Family Involvement
All or most of the members read music and this in itself has opened up the opportunities to take on more than the staple choir output.
“We were very anxious to do something for the Castleisland Day Care Centre as I am very aware of what it means to the community through a family involvement with the centre.
“The concert in Castleisland was a lovely, lovely occasion and Marcella Finn and the staff here were a huge help in organising it. I’m delighted to say there was no hesitation by any member of the choir when I threw it out there that we would do the River Island concert as part of our pre Christmas programme,” said Renée
Levels of Generosity
“As part of the fundraising drive everyone supported the raffle and the level of generosity from the business people in Castleisland was very much part of the success of the night.
“The choir consisted of 22 members and our musical director, Martina Ryan Murphy. We rehearse on Tuesday night’s in Tralee and we’re like a small family really.
“We do a nice variety of music but we always have an established Christmas programme for occasions like the Castleisland concert.
“One of the highlights of our Christmas programmes over the years is that we have been booked by Muckross House for the past 24 year or so to perform a Christmas concert for its patrons and trustees.
“That’s a ticket event and whatever tickets are left over are sold to members of the public and it’s always a different but lovely night,” said Renée.
The Choir’s Musical Agility
As testament to the choir’s musical agility, last year and because of Harry Belefonte’s death in May, Ms. Ryan Murphy decided to introduce a feature on his life and music to the choir and its repertoire.
This added songs he made famous like: Mary’s Boy Child and I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.
The choir has also included the Christmas creations of prolific, London born composer John Rutter. The possibility of a return visit to Castleisland before next Christmas is not being ruled out if the busy schedule of the Tralee based choir and its members will allow.
Thanks from the Day Centre
For her part, Castleisland Day Care Centre nurse / manager Marcella Finn conveyed her thanks on behalf of all at the centre to the choir through Renèe Fitzgibbon.
“We appreciate the fact that they took time out of their busy pre-Christmas schedule to travel to Castleisland and perform to beautifully and wholeheartedly for us and for our community here at the centre. And we must also thank Helen Pembroke for her part in organising the concert,” said Marcella.
Click here for a clip of the Opus 96 Chamber Choir performing the music and song In a Monastery Garden from the early 1900s by English composer Albert William Ketèlbey. You’ll see a couple of familiar faces including Tim McCarthy and former Castleisland Garda Sergeant Bill Corcoran in th line-up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU4PzSJ9fXU
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