Millennium Orchestra performance to get Christmas season underway in Clonmel
“Tipperary Millennium Orchestra are gearing up for their thirteenth consecutive annual Christmas concert to be held this year again in Ss Peter and Paul’s Church on Sunday 9th December. The orchestra have been entertaining audiences throughout the county and beyond since their formation in 2000 to mark the Millennium, as the name suggests. Since then, dozens of young musicians have been given the opportunity to showcase their musical talents in an orchestral environment, something which is not easy to come by. Many of the musicians specialise in instruments that need that specific outlet so to have an orchestra based in the county is a huge advantage. The upcoming concert, often referred to as the official launch of the Christmas season in Clonmel, has grown, both in popularity and entertainment value over the last several years and the constant updating of lighting and sound quality has resulted in a show of a very high professional standard. The orchestra have also been privileged to have had many wonderful soloists accompany them on stage. This year is no exception and to have one of their own, Kelley Lonergan, is indeed an honour and will certainly guarantee an unforgettable night.
Twenty-five year old Soprano, Kelley Lonergan is a native of Clonmel and was born into a musical family. During her teenage years she was a member of both Banna Cluain Meala and the Tipperary Millenium Orchestra, where she played the French Horn. In 2010, she was awarded a first-class honours BMus degree from CIT Cork School of Music, where she majored in piano performance. She then continued her education in Cork with a Masters in Performance under the guidance of Dr. Gabriela Mayer. However, her true passion has always been singing. She first started singing under the tuition of Maeve Carey and later studied singing with Mary Mac Sweeney at the Cork School of Music for four years. Kelley has just spent four months in Verona, Italy, on an Erasmus programme, where she was given the opportunity to study singing with Taiwanese Musician of the Year, Maestra Chu Tai-Li and repetiteur of the Arena di Verona, Michela Forgione. On returning from Italy, she won four vocal awards in the Sligo Feis Ceoil, including the overall senior vocal bursary prize. Kelley is currently studying Advanced Vocal Technique with Colette McGahon-Tosh in DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama. She received a master class from the world famous Sicilian soprano Nuccia Focile in November of this year. Kelley will be playing the role of Mrs. Grose in Benjamin Britten’s opera The Turn of the Screw in January 2013 under the baton of the RTE Concert Orchestra’s, David Brophy. Kelley has also had the honour of being accepted into the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition, which will also take place in January.
Joining Kelley this year as guest artists will be the members of the Gaudeamus Choir. The choir, made up of members of choral and musical societies from all over County Tipperary will be having their second outing with the orchestra and their return will be sure to delight anyone who has already experienced their unique talent. Their combined voices are a joy to behold and will leave audiences in no doubt but that choral singing with full orchestra is truly a magical experience. Their recent performances of “The Irish Ring” both in Tipperary Town and Clonmel proved to be a huge success.
Tickets for the concert are available from the usual outlets, Marians of O’Connell St., Better by Nature, Market Place and the Parish Shop, Ss Peter and Pauls, priced at €15.00 each. The concert will commence at 8.00 pm sharp and tickets will also be available at the door.”
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Weather for Clonmel
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North west
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Temperature: 10 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
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