Friday 29th April – McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris – 8pm
Tickets €25 on sale at tickettailor.com
A festival of traditional, classical and contemporary music and song is in store for attendees at the forthcoming Patrick Cassidy Summer School Tribute Concert on Friday 29th April, at the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris, from 8pm.
Following the welcome address by Partick Casssidy on stage, Compare for the evening , Vivienne Lee will introduce the various acts which includes:
Limerick School of Music Orchestra
Maynooth University Chamber Choir
Harry Carpendale, Harpist, Blessington
Anne-Marie Gibbons: Mezzo Soprano & David Lynn: Tenor
Music Generation Mayo Harp Ensemble
Profiles on the musicians and choir performing:
Limerick School of Music Orchestra
The Limerick School of Music (LSOM), under the auspices of Limerick & Clare Education Training Board (LCETB), was founded in 1962. With an enrolment of 1,500 students and a staff of 45, LSOM is the largest provider of music education in the mid-west region and currently has three orchestras, as well as numerous other choirs and ensembles. Over the past number of years, the senior orchestra has performed all over Ireland, highlights including the National Concert Hall Dublin, City Hall Cork and UCH Limerick.
The orchestra currently consists of 60 of the Limerick region’s finest student musicians, ranging in age from 12 to adult. Two sections of the Orchestra will be performing, with the Limerick School of Music Senior Orchestra, featuring compositions from Carmen, Queen and Patrick Cassidy, while the Limerick School of Music Chamber Orchestra recites from GF Handel’s Solomon.
Maynooth University Chamber Choir
The award-winning Maynooth University Chamber Choir, under the direction of Michael T. Dawson, consists of a selection of the best singers from the University. In 2013, the choir performed in Armagh Cathedral and toured New York, Albany, Indiana and Chicago. In the following year, the group participated in the Canta en Primavera International Competition 2014 in Malaga.
It won one of the most prestigious competitions in the world in 2015, earning the title “Choir of the World” in Llangollen Wales, before going on tour in the USA and China. In 2017, the choir were awarded 1st prize in both the Mixed Voice and Church Music categories at the Cork International Choral Festival and, in March 2018, the choir won the top prize at Feis Ceoil. On this occasion, the choir will a sing a number of renowned classical pieces.
Music Generation Mayo Harp Ensemble
The Music Generation Mayo Harp Ensemble provides opportunities for young harpers from throughout County Mayo to play and work together. The Harp Ensemble operates under the musical direction of Gráinne Hambly from Claremorris and William Jackson, both acclaimed musicians and composers with many years of experience performing worldwide. The Ensemble has performed on RTÉ, at Mayo International Choral Festival, Westport Mac Luí Children’s Arts Festival, National Harp Day performances, Achill International Harp Festival, An Chúirt Chruitireactha, Tionól for Harps and Pipes and most recently at St Patrick's Festival 2022 in Dublin. They are currently preparing to attend the World Harp Congress 2022 in Cardiff, Wales. Grainne has put together a range of self-composed traditional Irish airs with her husband William Jackson and other melodies, especially for the night.
Harry Carpendale – Harpist, Blessington Millennium Choir
Harry Carpendale is a retired primary, secondary and special needs teacher who joined Blessington Millennium Choir in 2012. His beautiful harp playing has been added to many solo pieces on the group’s programmes, and greatly appreciated by singers and audiences alike. Harry holds a Master’s Degree in Music Education from TCD and has regularly performed at home and abroad with the traditional Irish ensemble, The Aer Lingus Group. Mr. Carpendale will perform some harp pieces from Patrick’s classic and traditional Children of Lir album.
Anne Marie Gibbons – Mezzo Soprano
Louisburg, County Mayo native Mezzo Soprano Anne Marie Gibbons studied at the Conservatory of Music & Drama, Dublin, and the Royal Northern College of Music. She has made numerous appearances with the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, London and as Company Principal with English National Opera roles. Further appearances were made across the UK, Ireland and Spain.
Anne Marie’s discography includes Zulma Elvida and Abra Il diluvio universale for Opera Rara, Sister Mathilde The Dialogues of the Carmelites, Zulma The Italian Girl in Algiers and as Guest Soloist on Gerald Finley’s Great Operatic Arias for Chandos. With the Limerick School of Music and the Maynooth University Chamber Choir, Anne Marie will sing Patrick’s beautiful aria, Vide Cor Meum with David Lynn.
David Lynn – Tenor
David Lynn from Ballina, County Mayo has studied at the Dublin Conservatory of Music & Drama, privately with Robert Dean, and at the Alexander Gibson Opera School, Glasgow under the tutelage of Scott Johnson and Philip White. He was a Northern Ireland Opera Young Artist 2015/16, a Les Azuriales Young Artist 2017, and has worked with Wide Open Opera, English Touring Opera, Wexford Festival Opera, Scottish Opera, Opera Theatre Company and Opera North. Core roles include Ferrando Cosi Fan Tutte, Fenton Falstaff Flute A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Quint The Turn of the Screw, Alfredo La Traviata and Pang Turandot. He has most recently been an Alvarez Young Artist with Garsington Opera 2018, appearing in Capriccio, Falstaff and Magic Flute, covering the role of Fenton Falstaff and singing 3rdDiener Capriccio. More recent roles include Wexford Festival Opera, singing L’Indovino L’Oracolo, English Touring Opera, singing Malcolm Macbeth and covering Leicester Elisabetta Regina d’Ghilterra and Scottish Opera, singing Young Sailor and covering Dr Richardson in the European Premiere of Breaking the Waves. Since COVID, David has established the Lynn Academy of Music, a hub for music education and performing arts in North Mayo. David will join Anne Marie Gibbons on the Vide Cor Meum ‘Finale’ performance.
The Patrick Cassidy Summer School 2022, is being held in association with Home to Mayo, DeCare, Claremorris Credit Union, Martins Coaches (Limerick), Touchstore & the McWilliam Park Hotel.
*Patrick is available for interview by request
Issued by Patrick Cassidy Summer School Committee, Jarlath Sweeney, Chairman; 087 2439239; Jarlath@fleet.ie