Coole Harmonies, the young choir of Coole Music & Arts’ school made history last month when the group won the Youth Choir category at the Ennis Choral Festival, achieving the highest mark of the entire festival.

This was the first time the choir had ever taken part in any competition, which makes their achievement even more exceptional, according to the administrator of Coole Music and Arts, Ellie Farrell.

Their music director, Richard Pomfret took over in 2023 following the retirement of their previous director, Noreen McDermott, and he had to build up the choir from virtually nothing as most of the group’s older members had all completed their Leaving Cert and had moved onto the next stage of their lives.

Seventeen months later, Richard entered his small group into the Youth Competition and they hit the jackpot on January 31.

The judges declared that their performance was ‘All that one would wish for in a choral sound’ describing it as ‘Delightful and charming’. One praised the ‘Beautiful ensemble sound . . . care for balance and precision’, Commenting on the ‘Character and classiness’, they observed that ‘the youth of Coole should be battering the doors down to sing in this fab choir’.

Richard is passionate about choral singing.

“I’d like them to experience a wide range of styles and ages of choral music, much of it ‘a cappella’, and to perform it with confidence and understanding,” he says of his young charges. “Ideally, I’d like to expand the group to at least 30 singers across the 10-18 age range”.

As the group moves towards a new term of repertoire the choir is inviting any singers aged 10-18 who would want to be part of this award winning experience, to contact 086 346 7245 for details.

Pictured: Sheila Lynch of Ennis Chamber of Commerce presenting Richard Pomfret and ‘Coole Harmonies’ with the Youth Choir Trophy at the Spring Into Song Ennis Choral Festival. Coole Harmonies are part of Coole Music and Arts school, and are inviting new applicants aged 10-18 years.