UCD Choral Scholars

A "THANK YOU" NOTE from a UCD CHORAL SCHOLAR

A lovely note from a member of the UCD Choral Scholars:

Dear Niamh and Charles,

A few weeks ago, I – with the rest of the UCD Choral Scholars – had the pleasure of performing in St. Peter’s, in the United States of America. This was a venue obtained by Artists Without Walls.

From the moment we arrived in the beautiful church, I was struck by the fine atmosphere and awesome acoustic of the building.

There was a great feeling of energy for the entire performance, as both the audience and the choir fed off the mutual energy and love of music expressed by each of the parties.

It was a delight to perform there, and I would like to express my thanks for the organisation which went into procuring this venue – an administratitive ability which was, indeed, felt throughout the tour of New England.

Sincerely,

Thomas (John) Fallows, a choral scholar who enjoyed singing for you at St. Peter’s recently!

P.S. I noticed, on your Facebook page, a tribute to the Irish poet, Seamus Heaney. Having studied Mr. Heaney’s poetry for the Leaving Certificate Examinations (and since then), I was sad to hear of his passing. The homage paid to the wordsmith was absolutely fitting, and perfectly written. Please pass on my thanks to Mrs. O’Donnell.

AWoW and the UCD CHORAL SCHOLARS in the IRISH ECHO

This week’s Irish Echo includes a very nice photo spread of the UCD Choral Scholars at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in the Chelsea section of New York City. The show was presented by Artists Without Wall. All photos were taken by Vera Hoar. (Click on the photo once and the following photo again for the largest image.)

"SONGS of FAREWELL: SAIL AWAY" A BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE by the UCD CHORAL SCHOLARS at ST PETER'S CHELSEA in NYC

“What a heavenly evening last night, a place to listen to the music of worlds we don’t always remember we inhabit. And what a program; unearthly voices singing songs of the ordinary life we know, love and quarrel with, and thrill too as well. Thank you to Artists Without Walls for putting all of us together – audience singers, music. What an inspiration. We are truly very grateful.” Kathleen Hill, author of “Who Occupies This House.”

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This past Saturday evening, Artists Without Walls presented the University College Dublin Choral Scholars at historic St Peter’s Episcopal Church in the Chelsea section of New York City. Led by Director Desmond Earley, the Choral Scholars performed a program entitled Songs of Farewell: Sailing Away. Beginning with Rachmaninoff’s “All Night Vigil,” followed by traditional and contemporary music, the Choral Scholars captivated the audience with their brilliant sound. Soloists Glenn Murphy, Emily Doyle, Sorcha Kinder, Susie Gibbons and Mark Waters were in fine voice and performed splendidly throughout the evening.

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One of the concert’s many special moments was historian and author Peter Quinn’s poignant story of his great grandparents leaving Ireland in 1847 during the Great Famine and making a life on the Lower East Side of New York, which was followed by Sorcha Kinder’s beautiful rendition of Brendan Graham’s “Orphan Girl,” the song of a sixteen year old girl, who dreams of sailing to Australia from Westport, Ireland.

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If you’d like to hear this wonderful collection of singers they will be making their final US appearance at Lehman College’s Studio Theater, 250 Bedford Blvd West, Bronx, on Tuesday, March 18, 6:30pm. We guarantee you’ll be enraptured by the music. Reception to follow.

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Here are a number of Vera Hoar’s photos, which capture the essence of this memorable evening.

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Soloist Glenn Murphy and the UCD Choral Scholars

Desmond Earley, Director of the UCD Choral Scholars

Soloists Susie Gibbons(center) and Mark Waters (far right)

Artists Without Walls’ co-founders Niamh Hyland and Charles R. Hale with the UCD Choral Scholars

The UCD Choral Scholars

Special guest Peter Quinn

The UCD Choral Scholars

Harpist Elsa Kelly

ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' MEMBERS "ON THE TOWN: WEEK OF 3/16/14

Kickoff your St. Patrick’s Day by tuning into NBC’s Today Show on Monday morning! Darrah Carr Dance will be performing on the plaza at 8:00am & 8:30am EST

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Artists Without Walls, Lehman College: The City and Humanities Program and The CUNY Institute for Irish Studies are co-hosting a concert by the University College of Dublin Choral Scholars on March 18, 6:30pm at Lehman College, 250 Bedford Ave, Bronx, in the Studio Theatre. Reception to follow.

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Honor Finnegan will be appearing at the BWC Coffeehouse at the Bronxville Women’s Club, 135 Midland Ave., Bronxville, NY, Friday March 21st 8:00 – 10:30. Honor will be co-billed with Kelly Flint and will be accompanied by guitarist Aviv Roth. $5 suggested contribution.

Honor will be appearing at the Acoustic Cafe, at Our Lady of Mercy Church, Park Ridge, NJ, Saturday, March 22nd, 8pm. Tickets are $20 in advance and $22 at the door. Proceed benefit the OLM Haiti scholarship fund. Aviv Roth will accompany Honor on guitar.

FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT, GREAT VALUE, SATURDAY NIGHT in NYC: THE UCD CHORAL SCHOLARS

Looking for some top-notch family entertainment this weekend? Here’s a great choice: This Saturday, March 15, 7:30pm, Artists Without Walls presents the UCD Choral Scholars at historic St Peter’s Episcopal Church in New York City.

The University College Dublin Choral Scholars is Ireland’s leading collegiate choral ensemble and is embarking on its first tour of the United States. Eighteen high-achieving, gifted students are awarded a scholarship each September by a panel of professional musicians following a competitive selection process. UCD’s repertoire ranges from popular music to the medieval to the contemporary.

Do you have young singers in your family? The sound of the UCD Choral Scholars is guaranteed to inspire them… and at a small price. The cost of an adult ticket is $20. But, if you have high school or college students their tickets are $10; if you have children between the ages of 6-12 they are admitted free of charge. For tickets click here.

Here are the Choral Scholars singing Parting Glass which quickly moved to #2 on the charts in the Irish World Music category. Parting Glass is a YouTube hit as well, garnering well over 200,000 views. Listen to Parting Glass

Net proceeds from the sale of tickets to this event will benefit the Artists Without Walls’ mission, which is to inspire, uplift and unite people and communities of diverse cultures through the pursuit of artistic achievement.

St Peter’s is located at 346 W 20^TH Street in the Chelsea section of Manhattan.

THE UCD CHORAL SCHOLARS with SPECIAL GUEST PETER QUINN: SATURDAY MARCH 15

This Saturday, March 15th, 7:30pm, Artists Without Walls will be presenting the University College Dublin Choral Scholars in an event called Sailing Away: Songs of Farewell. The evening will be hosted by Niamh Hyland, a former soloist with the UCD Choral Scholars. “It is an exciting program filled with songs of love, loss, parting, immigration and the sea,” Niamh said of the event, which will take place at the historic St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 346 West 20th St., New York City.

Listen to the Scholars rehearse the “Skye Boat Song.”

St Peter's Episcopal Church — **St Peter’s Episcopal Church**

UCD Choral Scholars is Ireland’s leading collegiate choral ensemble and is embarking on its first tour of the United States. Eighteen high-achieving, gifted students are awarded a scholarship each September by a panel of professional musicians following a competitive selection process. UCD’s repertoire ranges from popular music to the medieval to the contemporary. Their Parting Glass EP quickly moved to #2 on the charts in the Irish World Music category. Parting Glass is a YouTube hit as well, garnering well over 200,000 views.

Listen to the Scholars hit song, “Parting Glass“

We are also pleased to announce that our special guest and Artist Without Walls’ member, historian/author Peter Quinn, will share stories of his family’s immigrant experience. “Peter Quinn is a poet and an historian and one of our finest storytellers,” said National Book Award winner Colum McCann.

Click here to purchase tickets. Tickets for the event are $20.

ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' MEMBERS "ON THE TOWN": WEEK of MARCH 9, 2014

Brendan Connellan’s DEATH, PLEASE!, which is directed and produced by Brendan, is opening on Tuesday, March 11th at Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd St., NYC. There will be six shows running through Sunday, March 16th. Evening shows on Tuesday at 7, Wed-Sat at 8. Afternoon matinees Wed and Sat at 2 and Sunday at 3. The cast (in alphabetical order) are Alessia Sushko, Amit Gupta, Brendan Connellan, and another AWoW member, John Moran. No intermission. 70 minutes

For AWOW, instead of the $21.25 cost via Telecharge, go to www.broadwayoffers.com the ticket price is $17.25 with a lower service fee! Use the code TRAWOW.

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Peter Quinn, Honor Molloy and others will be discussing “Dagger” John Hughes and the Rise of Irish New York at the Museum of the City of New York, 1220-1227 Fifth Avenue, Thursday, March 13pm, 6:30pm. Free for museum members, $12 students/seniors, $16 general public.

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Eamon Loingsigh‘s new book “Light of the Diddicoy” will be released at Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St. in NYC’s Greenwich Village on March 12, 6pm. It’s a free event and books will be available.

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Join IFNY, The Irish Film Board and Under the Milky Way for a screening of the critically acclaimed film Good Vibrations in celebration of the iTunes release of four Irish films this March. Where: Wythe Hotel Screening Room, Wythe Hotel, 80 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn. When: Friday, March 14th @ 7:30 pm. Tickets: $10.00 (available for purchase online http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/594198)

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Artists Without Walls will be presenting the University College Dublin Choral Scholars in a fund raising event called Sailing Away: Songs of Farewell, a program filled with songs of love, loss, parting, immigration and the sea at St. Peter’s Church Chelsea, 346 West 20^{th St.,} New York City, Saturday, March 15th, 7:30pm.

Listen to “Parting Glass”

Special guest, historian/author Peter Quinn, will share stories of his family’s immigrant experience. “Peter Quinn is a poet and an historian and one of our finest storytellers,” said National Book Award winner Colum McCann. Click here for tickets $20

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Honor Finnegan will be performing in a tribute to Patty Griffin at Rockwood Music Hall, 196 Allen Street, NYC, on Saturday, March 15, 8pm.

AWoW PRESENTS the "UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN CHORAL SCHOLARS" in NEW YORK CITY

On Saturday, March 15th, 7:30pm, Artists Without Walls will be presenting the University College Dublin Choral Scholars in a fund raising event called Sailing Away: Songs of Farewell. The evening will be hosted by Niamh Hyland, a former soloist with the UCD Choral Scholars. “It is an exciting program filled with songs of love, loss, parting, immigration and the sea,” Niamh said of the event, which will take place at the historic St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 346 West 20th St., New York City.

Desmond Early Director of UCD Choral Scholars — **Desmond Earley, Director of UCD Choral Scholars**

In May 2013, the UCD Choral Scholars won first place in the National Open Competition for Church Music at the Cork International Choral Festival. Their Parting Glass EP quickly moved to #2 on the charts in the Irish World Music category. Parting Glass is a YouTube hit as well, garnering close to 200,000 views. Listen to Parting Glass

Click here to purchase tickets. Tickets for the event are $20.

THE UCD CHORAL SCHOLARS at LEHMAN COLLEGE sponsored by ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS

The University College of Dublin Choral Scholars will be at Lehman College for a concert on March 18. The event is being co-sponsored by The Cities and Humanities Program, the CUNY Institute for Irish-American Studies and Artists Without Walls. AWoW cofounder Niamh Hyland was a member of the Choral Scholars when she attended UCD.

Last year the widely acclaimed and highly honored UCD Choral Scholars recorded “The Parting Glass” and it went to #2 on the Irish Music charts, an incredible feat for a choral group. Have a listen:

The “Friends” theme song, “I’ll Be There for You” was released 48 hours ago and already has 180,000 hits. Don’t miss these three lads and the rest of the UCD Choral Scholars when Lehman and AWoW host them in concert, March 18, 6:30pm.