Arts Week with Judy Murphy

Music for Galway’s 21st Midwinter Festival will take place from January 19-21 in Galway City. This year’s event is dedicated to the music of French composer Gabriel Fauré. And the city’s St Nicholas Singers are inviting people to get involved in a major community choral event being held as part of the festival. Everyone is welcome, regardless of experience or age.

Under conductor Mark Duley, the Singers will be giving a community performance of Fauré’s renowned Requiem at St Nicholas Collegiate Church. According to Mark, 80 members are ready for rehearsals and there’s scope for more.

“We had a group of more than 100 for a previous choral event and there’s no limit,” he explains.

For people who might have never done something like this before, “the aim is to make them feel comfortable”.

In fact, for those who aren’t used to choral singing, Fauré’s Requiem is a good place to start, as it has many entry points, he adds.

There is work involved, but it’s fun too.

“We want people to enjoy it because we would like to see them return.

Working with a community choir is different to working with a professional choir, Mark says, “but your hope is that the end result is not too different”.

There will be two big rehearsals where he and the singers will work “to find a common musical mind, a blend of voices, to get everyone on the same page, literally and figuratively”.

Featuring Moycullen soprano Saoirse Knauer and Swiss baritone Benoît Capt, the Requiem will take place at 4pm on Saturday, January 20, in the historic building.

All other events will take place in the ballroom of the city’s Hardiman Hotel.

Pictured: Conductor Mark Duley directing the St Nicholas Singers in a performance of Brahm’s Requiem. The community group is open to all.