Published on : Friday, July 11, 2014
The university campus at Maynooth has a growing reputation as an ideal rehearsal and performance base for visiting choral groups.
Conveniently located just 40 minutes from Dublin Airport and 30 minutes from Dublin city centre, the charming university town of Maynooth is attracting international choirs, orchestras and other musical events.
A combination of on-campus facilities and services is particularly appealing for choral groups with demanding rehearsal schedules: a range of large and small spaces in which to practise; almost 600 en-suite bedrooms (with 300 more due in 2016); two large dining-rooms; two major performance venues for sacred and secular concerts; a beautiful and atmospheric campus guaranteed to inspire choral singers.
Berkshire Choral Festival, based in Sheffield, Massachusetts, ran it’s first ever Irish programme at Maynooth from 21 June 2014, culminating in a performance of Handel’s Jephta in the magnificent College Chapel on 28 June.
The Irish Church Music Association held its 45th annual summer school from 3-6 July. In recent years Choral Music Experience from Canada and Irish Vocal Master classes have run summer programmes in Maynooth.
Berkshire Choral Festival is scheduled again for 2015 and two other large-scale events are in the pipeline.
Bill Tinley, manager of on-campus conference and accommodation services for St Patrick’s College and NUI Maynooth, suggests that the college environment seems to suit choirs. “Music is in the air here. I think choral groups pick up on that culture.
The university’s Music department has a high reputation, and has numerous award-winning choirs in its ranks, including the Chamber Choir, Seminarians’ Choir and Schola Gregoriana
. In the summer the hustle and bustle gives way to more tranquillity. So it’s an inspiring place for committed singers to do some quality rehearsal.
” He adds that, just outside the gate, Maynooth town offers a range of relaxing restaurants and pubs for evening down-time, while the cultural riches of Kildare, Dublin, Wicklow and the Boyne Valley are within easy reach for day-trips.
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Tags: Tourism Ireland, Tourism News
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