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Back to Rehearsals

By all these lovely tokens,
September days are here,
With summer’s best of weather,
And autumn’s best of cheer.

Helen Hunt Jackson

September has arrived and it has decided to be a summer month this year. And while we will enjoy every ounce of sunshine that we get, we will still be singing Christmas songs come Wednesday night! Why? Because Kerry Choral Union are back to rehearsals at Collis Sandes House at 7:30 pm. Members, you know the drill, bring the music that you have, your water and a pencil. New members, you are always welcome! Come along fifteen minutes early and we will sort you out. Sharon will get you to sing a few scales to figure out what line you’re in and we’ll take it from there. There’s no obligation to join on the first night, you can give it a few weeks to see how you like it. Come for the music, stay for the craic!

See you all on Wednesday!

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September – A month of new beginnings

September is upon us, and there’s a whiff of autumn in the air. It’s a great month in fairness. It’s certainly a better time of the year than January to try something new. Perhaps this is the year that you try a new hobby, something that will introduce you to new people, bust stress and elevate your mood – like choral singing!! Well we can help you with that. Kerry Choral Union is back to rehearsal next Wednesday, September 7th and new members are always welcome. At the moment we are particularly short of men, so if you’ve ever thought of joining a choir, to sing, have the craic, meet new people and just get out of the house on a Wednesday evening, why not come along to Collis Sandes House and see what we’re about. There will be tea and refreshments on our first night back to ease us into the new term. Rehearsal starts at 7:30 p.m. sharp (but if you’re new, come a little earlier, say 15 minutes).

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Sharon’s 20th Anniversary

Willie Keane, Sharon Reidy and John Baily. Photo by Steve Baker

Sorry for the delay folks but I am finally getting around to sharing some more pictures from our first night back which also marked Sharon’s 20th anniversary as our conductor. Thanks so much to John Bailey for his warm and funny presentation speech and for providing the committee with that program from Sharon’s first concert. Thanks to Linda for organising the framing and the cake. And to Steve Baker and Kate Falvey for the photographs. And most of all thanks to Sharon for her talent and patience and for everything she has done to make us the choir we are today. Thanks Sharon!

  • Photo by Steve Baker
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Beannachtaí Nollaig na mBan oraibh uilig!

To mark Women’s Christmas, I am posting a video of one of the ladies only songs that we do in the choir. I would like to wish all the ladies of Kerry Choral Union and all your family and friends and all those who support our choir and our concerts the very best for the coming year. Gentlemen of the choir, remember you have to wait hand and foot on the ladies in your life today!

The Famous Nuns’ Chorus from ‘Casanova’ (Johann Strauss). Performed by Kerry Choral Union in April 2019. St. Brendan’s Church. In aid of Recovery Haven. Soloists: Iris Barry & Charlotte Calleja O’Halloran. Accompanist: Aine Murray (Piano). Director: Sharon Reidy. Filmed by: EmmaJude Lyons & Malachy Scanlon

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New season ahead

That first breath that a band or choir or orchestra takes together, a breath filled with focus, intention and emotion, a breath unified for no other reason than to make something beautiful together … there is simply no better way to demonstrate the core of who we are, and the best in all of us.

Eric Whitacre

I came across this quote the other day from Eric Whitacre (he of the gorgeous Seal Lullaby and so much more) and it perfectly expresses that moment, the deep breath before the notes are formed, a moment full of possibility, before we all dive into the music together. It is a wonderful thing to experience and you can too. Our first night of rehearsals is next Wednesday, September 4th and new members are always welcome. There will be tea and refreshments so we can all catch up after the summer in style and to allow Sharon time to take new members through a few scales. Practice is at 7:30 p.m. (but if you’re new, come a little earlier, say 15 to 10 minutes) in Collis Sandes House as usual.