Mayo Male Voice Choir present Springtime Concert

AN exciting evening of song and music is promised when the 50-member Mayo Male Voice Choir and special guests take to the stage for the choir’s annual Springtime Concert, in the magnificent St. Mary’s Hall at the ATU, Mayo campus, Castlebar, on Friday, April 26.

Two very special guest will perform during the concert - Soprano Emma Nash and Brendan Collins, baritone.

Emma Nash has been described as ‘outstanding…with a vivid stage presence’ by The Arts Desk, ‘splendid’ by Opera Magazine, and a soprano with an ‘exciting, individualised vocal colour’ by Opera Today.

Emma graduated with distinction from the M.A. in Opera Performance course at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where she was winner of the Lee Freeman Scholarship Prize, the Dolan Evans Award and a Leverhulme Scholarship. Emma is back by popular demand, having performed at a number of the choir’s previous annual concerts.

Brendan Collins, one of Ireland's leading baritones, has performed across Ireland, the UK, Europe, the Middle East, China and America in Opera, Oratorio and on the concert platform. Lauded for his rich voice, dramatic skills and magnetic stage presence, he has performed in many of the world's leading venues, including the Royal Albert Hall London, the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Kennedy Centre Washington D.C., Wexford Opera House, National Concert Hall Dublin, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Sadlers Wells London, Stephansdom Vienna, Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg and Opéra de Lausanne, to name but a few.

Formed over 21 years ago, Mayo Male Voice Choir has grown from strength to strength, and is now one of the leading male voice choirs in Ireland.

The choir's musical director since day one is Deirdre Lee. The choir's accompanist is Rebecca Cresham Heneghan. Choir members hail from all over Mayo.

The choir have had a busy 2023/24 with performances with Welsh choir Meibion Marchan in Westport, Christchurch in Castlebar, the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough, Ballintubber Abbey and Ireland West Airport.

Said chairman Jim Tiernan: “We have been working so hard rehearsing over the last few months. We are really excited at the way it is all coming together and can’t wait to be on stage, performing with our special guests Emma Nash and Brendan Collins, such professionals.

“We do hope you will join us - it is always a most enjoyable evening.”

Other upcoming performances include sharing the stage with a number of other choirs on April 20 in St. Brigid’s GAA Centre, Athlone, Co Roscommon, as part of a fundraising concert in aid of Mayo Roscommon Hospice. On Saturday, May 18, the choir will sing on Market Square, Castlebar, as part of Mayo Music Street Performance Hub. The choir will also perform in the Home to Mayo - a Transatlantic Journey Home at the TF Royal Theatre on May 24.

The annual springtime concert will take place in St. Mary’s Hall at the ATU, Mayo campus, Castlebar, at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 26. Doors 7 p.m.. Tickets, €20, from any choir member or at www.eventbrite.ie (online booking fees apply).

* Pictured above, The Mayo Male Voice Choir who will perform at their annual springtime concert on Friday, April 26, at the ATU Mayo campus (ft. First Tenor; st, Second Tenor; fb First Bass; sb Second Bass).

At front, from left: Roddy Moran, ft, Martin Carney, ft, Finian Joyce, ft, Peter Cartwright, musical director Deirdre Lee, chairman Jim Tiernan, fb, accompanist Rebecca Cresham Heneghan, Brendan Duffy, fb, David Loring, fb, Padraic McKeon, fb, and Niall Kilbane, fb.

Second row: Sean Gavin, st, Michael Killeen, st, Michael Brett, st, Tony Conway, st (president), Martin Lydon, fb, Jimmy Murphy, fb (treasurer), Gerry Needham, fb, Steven Brady, fb, and Frank Larkin, fb (secretary).

Third row: Anto Heneghan, st, Henry Garvey, st, Joe Nestor, st, Peter Jennings, st, Luke O’Malley, sb, Lar Davis, sb, Patsy Murphy, sb, John O’Donnell, sb, Ciaran Fitzpatrick, fb, and Tommy O’Malley, st.

At back: Declan Durcan, st (PRO), John O’Donohue, st, Jackie Clarke, sb, Michael Golden, sb, Eugene McCormack, sb, Pat Friel, sb, Michael Tiernan, sb, and Kieran Kirrane, sb.

Missing from photo: Joe Cuddy, st, Don Dillon, sb, Iain Douglas, st, Jarlath Duggan, st, Jimmy Feeney, ft, Michael Lyons, sb, Michael Mongan, ft, Pat McHale, st, Tony McNulty, fb, Frank Murray, fb, Michael Murray, sb, Conal O'Cuinn and Tom O’Hora, ft. Photo: John Mee