麻豆社

Carrickfergus Grammar School Choir sang:

Sing Me A Song - Orazio Vecchi

Cadenza sang:

The Whole Bright World Rejoices Now - Lasst uns erfreuen聽- arr R.V.Williams

Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah - Cwm Rhondda - John Hughes

Be Thou My Vision - Downpatrick - Michael McCracken

There鈥檚 A Wideness In God鈥檚 Mercy - Corvedale - Maurice Bevan

Nearer, My God, To Thee - 聽Excelsior聽- Lowell Mason

Bangor Ladies Choir sang:

Chariot鈥檚 Comin鈥�聽- Trad.

Guys and Dolls sang:

Sailing聽聽- Sutherland聽- 聽arr Karen Diamond/Matt McGinn

Bridge Over Troubled Water聽- Simon聽- arr Karen Diamond/Matt McGinn

Carrickfergus Grammar School Choir聽are directed by Edward Craig and their strong ethos of non-selective membership is drawn from throughout the school. They broadcast regularly and enjoy going away together on tour.聽 They have just returned from a short tour in Dublin where not only did they give a recital in Christ Church Cathedral and visit St Patrick鈥檚 Cathedral and Maynooth, but they also sang for President Michael D. Higgins in 脕ras an Uachtar谩in. This award-winning choir has sung in many magnificent venues in countries including France, Holland, England, Scotland and Ireland.

This choral group of around 25 singers was founded in Belfast in 1995 by Michael McCracken. The singers are all keen amateurs and meet once a week to rehearse currently in Saint Columba's Parish Church, Knock. They perform music in a wide range of styles from the Renaissance period until the present day in both the sacred and secular idiom.

Over the years Cadenza has broadcast on television and radio including the 麻豆社's 'Songs of Praise', 'Daily Service' and 'Sing Carols'. As well as giving local concerts the Group has sung in Berlin, Sherborne Abbey and Listowel, Co. Kerry ( a town twinned with Downpatrick). Singing at weddings is another facet of its musical diversity and some years ago another very successful CD was recorded along with Down Cathedral Choir.

When Cadenza joins forces with Down Cathedral Choir the whole group is known as Cathedra. In Holy Week each year a major work is performed. In the past,聽 Faur茅 Requiem, Durufl茅 Requiem and Howard Goodall's Eternal Light Requiem have been done. Needless to say Stainer's Crucifixion and Maunder's Olivet to Calvary are also in the repertoire.

After making such a successful Hymn CD 'Nearer , my God, to thee' in Down Cathedral,聽 the next project is to record over seventy hymns for the new Church of Ireland Hymn Book Supplement. The first hymn CD has sold almost one thousand copies and 拢1,000 has been donated to Macmillan Cancer Care.

It is hoped that in the future a trip to sing in Paris can be arranged. Events like this are tremendous for bonding the 'spirit' of the Group both musically and socially. If anyone would like to audition to sing in Cadenza they should contact Michael McCracken on mikemusic.mccracken@gmail.com.

In the recently newly restored Cathedral in Downpatrick congregations may have been quite small over the years (except when the many visitors supplement the numbers for regular Sunday worship).

However,聽 there has always been a very good musical tradition with a very dedicated and loyal choir. Week by week a team of boys, girls, ladies and men offer up some very fine music. One of the tenors, now in his sixties, has been in the Choir since being a boy.

Hymns, canticles, psalms and anthems/ service settings are the main diet of the Choir. It would also sing at Evensongs, Carol Services, Weddings etc. and the like on various occasions. Then the Cathedral Choir joins with Cadenza to form a larger group called Cathedra. One of the many highlights over the last few years was performing at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Service in the Cathedral. This included great works such as Handel's' Zadok the Priest 'and Parry's 'I was glad'.

Also worth mentioning is that Down Cathedral houses one of the most beautiful organs in Ireland. An appeal is about to be launched for its enhancement and refurbishment - a very exciting venture!

If you would like any information on becoming a member please contact the Director of Music, Michael McCracken at mikemusic.mccracken@gmail.com.

Michael McCracken commenced his musical training at the age of eight as a chorister in the Choir of St. Mark's, Dundela, Belfast. At the age of sixteen he took up his first聽organ/choir appointment at St. Martin's Church in East Belfast. After three years he went聽to Glasgow and studied piano, singing and flute at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music.

Teacher training followed at Moray House in Edinburgh alongside singing as a Lay Clerk in the Choir of St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral and the study of organ with the late Dr.聽Dennis Townhill OBE.

After serving as Head of Music in Wallace High School, Lisburn for eight years and other church appointments, Michael decided to go freelance in 1986. He was appointed Director of Music of Down Cathedral in 1985. His private teaching work now consists of piano, organ and singing. Other facets of his musical life include adjudicating, composing,聽arranging, accompanying and running choral workshops.

He broadcasts frequently on 麻豆社 television and radio both locally and nationally. One of the largest concert events he聽has ever organised was the bringing of the celebrated composer John Rutter to Belfast's聽Waterfront Hall in September 2010. This event raised almost 拢17,000 for the Down聽Cathedral Restoration Appeal and was a great success. Michael's interests outside music include flying and photography.

The 60+ strong Bangor Ladies Choir continues to go from strength to strength under their Musical Director Paul Briggs. In addition to their well-established annual Charity concerts at Culloden Hotel (pre-Christmas) the choir last year performed with soprano, Lesley Garrett, and have performed with many world-renowned musicians.聽 And, they continue to give performances for organisations, churches and charities.

Working with the Festival Committee they also play a significant role in the Bangor International Choral Festival by volunteering to help in all sorts of capacities.

Guys and Dolls are a group of adults with learning and/or physical disabilities who attend day care facilities in Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. Over several years they have attended music therapy sessions provided by the NI Music Therapy Trust. In music therapy sessions they have been encouraged to express themselves and to develop increased self-esteem and self-confidence. This has been achieved as they choose their own repertoire,create and record 聽their own songs and perform as a choir in a variety of venues. The aim of this work as in all music therapy sessions is to see the 'ability in disability'.