Male Voice Choir set for 72nd concert

The long established choir retains its enthusiasm for a wide range of male voice singing under their well known and experienced Conductor Margaret Brown of Ballycastle. She has brought a life time of music to the Ballycastle area and beyond and had taught in Ballycastle Primary School for almost 40 years. For a number of years she had been the accompanist to the Male Voice Choir in Ballymoney and also assisted with the choirs of the WI, Young Farmers Clubs, and Presbytery, Church and Cross Community choirs. After retirement she became the Conductor for the Route Singers and since 2008 for the Male Voice choir. She is also accompanist at Coleraine Music Festival and organist in Ramoan and Culfeightrin C of I Churches.

The Male Voice choir is accompanied so expertly as usual, and since 2012 by Amanda Davies of Coleraine. She has been playing the piano since the age of seven and won the Music prize at Coleraine High School at the age of 15 years. She is renowned as a music teacher in Coleraine and has been the accompanist to the Route Singers choir for 17 years. Amanda is also the Musical Director in Ballywatt Presbyterian Church where she trains the Church Choir.

The Male voice Choir will again perform in the concert this year bringing some old favourites and some new pieces to their audience. Two of the pieces have just been performed last week at the Ballymena Music Festival and they are “March of the Men of Harlech” famous not least for its arrangement in the famous 1964 film, “Zulu” and also in the Film “How green was my valley”. The other piece from the Festival will be “E’en as a lovely flower” by Sir Hugh Roberton. Some of the other choir pieces will include “Close thine eyes” and “the Chorus of the Hebrew slaves” from Nabucco by Guiseppe Verdi.

The special guest soloists this year are the Soprano, Andrea Delaney and the Tenor Brian McNamee with their accompanist Ben McGonigle.

Andrea Delaney is a versatile soprano from Tandragee. She has completed her first young artist’s programme and performed in four of NI Opera’s productions: Wagner’s “Flying Dutchman”, Verdi’s “Macbeth”, Donizetti’s “Elixir of Love” and Puccini’s “Turandot”. She has toured extensively across the USA, China, Canada, Netherlands, Belgium and Scandinavian countries with both Celtic Woman and Anuna.

Brian McNamee is a Tenor from Sixmilecross, Co.Tyrone. He graduated with a First Class Hons. Degree from the University of Ulster. He has undertaken numerous roles on the Opera stage, most notably at home with N.I. Opera appearing in the chorus of Puccini’s “Tosca” and Wagner’s “The flying Dutchman” as well as playing the role of “Sailor” in Purcell’s “Dido and Aneas” and “Bill” in “A hand of Bridge”. Oratorio performances have included Handel’s Messiah, requiems by Mozart, Masses by Haydn, Schubert and Beethoven and in June last year he made his debut with The Ulster Orchestra singing Bach’s “Magnificat”.

Ben McGonigle is the accompanist to both soloists. Ben lives in Londonderry and is the organist at Christ Church and is very much in demand as accompanist in Recitals.

The concert commences at 7.30pm and tickets are available from Gault’s Shop in Church Street in Ballymoney or from members of the choir. Part proceeds from this year’s concert will go to Alzheimer’s Society in the area

The concert will take place at The Parish Hall of St Patrick’s Parish Church in Queen Street in Ballymoney. Car parking area adjacent.