Newpark Feis

Columbans have had an extremely successful week at the Newpark Music Feis. Winners from various levels throughout the school will be taking part in the Winners' Concert in the John Field's room of the National Concert Hall this Sunday the 16th May.

The performers will include Lingfan Gao (IV) who won first place in the U16 Piano competition with an astounding 92%! Siobhán Brady (II) came first in the U16 Classical Singing, and was also very highly commended for her Cello in the U18 Concerto Cup. Molly Buckingham (II) won first place in the U14 Singing competition. Last, but certainly not least, Antonia Esses (I) also won first place in the U14 Piano solo with a mark in the 90s.

Very well done to all who took part and especially the winners. The concert on Sunday promises to be an excellent affair.

The Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition 2010

Congratulations to Old Columban Benjamin Russell who took part in the final concert of the 6th Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition, 2010, last Tuesday evening. The evening was a very prestigious occasion boasting performers from all over the world and audience members such as her Excellency, President Mary McAleese. Benjamin gave a great performance and was very popular with the audience. Benjamin, despite being the youngest competitor by a large gap, came 5th and was also awarded the Dame Joan Sutherland Prize for the most promising young singer.

The Finals will be broadcast on LyricFM at 11am on the 10th and 11th February. On the assumption that they will broadcast the 6 finalists in the order in which they performed on the night, and as Benjamin sang first, we expect to hear his singing at 11am on the 10th.

There is a chance for all of us to hear Benjamin sing live, along with Ms. Anna Brady, at A Valentine’s Evening of Song on Friday the 12th of February at 8pm in the Grand Hotel, Wicklow Town. This is a great opportunity to support these extremely talented performers and have a very entertaining evening too.

RTE Cooperation Ireland Choir Competition

Despite a sterling performance the St. Columba's College Choir were unsuccessful obtaining a place in the RTE Cooperation Ireland Choir Competition Finals. The choir performed admirably and were a fantastic example of the musical talent the school can boast. Well done to King's Hospital on their achievement. Siobhán Brady wrote a short article on her experience of the competition.

The St. Columba's Choir recently took part in a choir competition for RTE. We had to make a CD of two songs which we did one evening in September. We recorded "For the Beauty of the Earth" by John Rutter and the "Glory Train", a spiritual song. We found out a few weeks later that our choir had gotten through to the Regional Finals of Dublin along with four other schools: Notre Dame, Alexandra College, King's Hospital and Mount Anville. We were told that that this was going to be televised. Before the live competition RTE visited the college to take a few pictures and videos. They filmed people having lunch in the Dining Hall and lots of shots in the Cadogan. Robbie Hollis, Jessica Beresford and myself had to walk around Chapel square a few times and up and down Cloisters for the camera man. (Click here to read more...)