Ulster choir to wow city audience again

Under the gifted and inspired direction of Dr Shaun Ryan, Lecturer in Music and Choral Director, the choir has, over the past decade, gained considerable popular and critical acclaim for its distinctive and dramatic performances presented in beautiful ecclesiastical settings.

On occasion audiences unexpectedly find their emotions moved to the point of tears.

After one particularly memorable performance in Sacred Heart Church, Strabane, one slightly teary visitor explained “It was just so beautiful.”

For this season’s series of concerts the choir is delighted to be joined by Gail Evans (piano) in performances of Morten Lauridsen’s sumptuous Lux aeterna.

Also included in the programme are works by Howard Goodall and Eric Whitacre.

Based, since 2003, at the University of Ulster’s School of Creative Arts, on the university’s Magee campus, Londonderry - and previously at the University of Ulster’s Music Unit, Jordanstown - Shaun has also worked with the Chapel Choir of Trinity College Dublin, The Dublin Gospel Choir, and the Ulster Youth Choir.

Accompanist and répétiteur Gail Evans is official accompanist with the Belfast Philharmonic Choir and Phil Kids and has also worked extensively with Tosini, the Bel Canto School of Singing, and NI Opera.

In recent years the University of Ulster Choir has performed in Londonderry, Belfast, Enniskillen, Coleraine, Letterkenny, Dublin and London.

An established, cherished contributor to Ulster’s choral music scene the University of Ulster Choir is composed primarily of B Mus. undergraduates - but also includes other UU students, staff, and choral singers from the wider community.

With a wide ranging membership crossing class, creed and generations, the University of Ulster Choir’s existence has been instrumental in forging strong relationships both within and between the university and its wider community - ultimately enriching, immeasurably, the cultural life of the first ever designated UK City of Culture 2013.

Past and present members of the choir speak eloquently of the sheer joy they experience while singing under Shaun’s direction and the transformative impact participating in his choir has on their day-to-day lives and wellbeing.

The UU Choir will be performing in St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry Thursday 19th April at 8.15 p.m

Admission to the concert is free.