Portadown Male Voice Choir joins Barnstaple Ladies Choir for choral music evening
Portadown Male Voice Choir and Barnstaple Ladies Choir from north Devon will join together for An Evening of Choral Music at First Presbyterian Church, Armagh, on Friday, October 23 at 7.30pm.
Founded in 1926, Portadown Male Voice Choir is celebrating its centenary this year. A cross- community group of 45 members, it has won the National Class at the Cork International Choral Festival more times than any other choir.
The choir will be conducted by its new Director of Music, Rachael Power, with Steven Bell as accompanist, a role he has held for more than 25 years.
A link between the two choirs was established through a UK East / West initiative. Last year, Barnstaple Ladies Choir hosted the Portadown singers during their tour of Devon. Barnstaple’s Director of Music, Lorraine Homewood, also has a connection with Northern Ireland, having grown up in Ballycastle. She is now a vice president of Portadown Male Voice Choir.
Barnstaple Ladies Choir is visiting Northern Ireland for the City of Derry International Choir Festival, where both choirs will compete the following day. At the Armagh concert, the choirs will perform both separately and together.
The evening will also feature an organ interlude by Elise Crean, including a performance of Highland Cathedral with Dessie Moorcroft on bagpipes.
All proceeds from the concert will support First Armagh’s Stonework Restoration Appeal.
Tickets cost £10 and are available from church members or at the door. Everyone is welcome to attend what promises to be a most enjoyable evening.