The following are some updates from Sacred Heart Secondary School, Tullamore, Music Department, which were kindly shared by Regina McCarty, Music Teacher and choir/orchestra conductor and teacher Siobhan Keogh.

National Youth Orchestra of Ireland

Congratulations to sisters Ellen and Clodagh Reilly (pictured above) who, following very competitive auditions, have been selected for the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland.

They will participate in an intensive week of rehearsals in January culminating in a performance in the National Concert Hall, Dublin.

Under the baton of Gearoid Grant the girls will perform repertoire from Brahms, Saint-Saens and Shostakovich.

This will be followed by a summer course specialising in repertoire from Ravel, Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev under the baton of American conductor Ilych Rivas. We wish Ellen and Clodagh all the best. Enjoy the experience!

Harvest Festival Broadcast

In September, to celebrate the Ploughing Championships coming to Tullamore, our Senior Choir (pictured above) performed in a live ‘Harvest Festival’ broadcast from St. Catherine’s Church in Tullamore.

On this occasion some past choir and orchestra members performed with the girls.

Diocesan Carol Concert

Recently our Junior and Senior Choir members performed at a concert in the Church of the Assumption, Tullamore.

Under the direction of Ms. Regina McCarthy and accompanied by Loreta Mackelaite the students entertained the congregation with such favourites as ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire’, ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Carol of the Bells’, among others.

It was indeed a night to remember!