 We are so thankful for the hard work that Diarmaid has put in to being the Head Chorister of the Palestrina Choir this year.
He has been a wonderful leader, showing how we expect the boys to behave with kindness and humility. We hope he returns next year to join us in our tour to Rome in November to celebrate the Jubilee of Choirs and Palestrina 500! Thank you Diarmaid!
0 Comments
 10 of our boys have been working really hard to prepare for their RSCM Silver and Bronze exams!
They have been putting in extra time at choir to make sure that their singing and music theory are progressing so that they will fly through their exams! The staff have been working hard to make sure that the boys have all the resources available to make them stand out! We want to celebrate the boys on how much effort they have been putting in and how much they have improved! We wish them the best of luck!   We were delighted to have Seán Doherty join us for the launch of his Mass, commissioned for the Palestrina Choir's 120 year.
On the 4th of May, we invited Parents, Congregation and friends to join us for some Tea and Biscuits to celebrate the Launch of the Mass on streaming platforms after hearing the Mass performed during the 11am Solemn Mass that day. The boys were so happy to meet the person who composed the mass and got to enjoy some juice and biscuits too!  Throughout 2025, the Palestrina Choir will sing the music of G.P. da Palestrina (1525 - 1594)The 500th anniversary of the birth of the Italian composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina occurs in 2025. Giovanni Pierluigi, named after the town of Palestrina where he was born, became one of the most influential composers of the mid- 16th century Catholic Reformation. The election of the Cardinal Bishop of Palestrina as Pope Julius III changed Giovanni Pierluigi's fortunes. The new pope summoned him to Rome to work at the Vatican. Pope Paul IV decreed in 1555 that singers were to be clerics. Giovanni Pierluigi, who was married with children was forced out of his position. On the death of his wife he remarried a wealthy widow. Palestrina composed a large corpus of music including 105 Masses, 68 Offertories, more than 300 Motets, 72 Hymns, 35 Magnificats, 11 Litanies, and four or five sets of Lamentations.. In addition, he composed at least 140 Madrigals. He is famous for his beautiful polyphonic (many voiced) settings. Palestrina's ethereal music continues to inspire to the present day. "He is the real king of sacred music and the eternal father of Italian music." Giuseppe Verdi The Palestrina Choir was founded at Dublin's Pro- Cathedral in 1903. Now, 121 years later, the choir continues to sing at the Latin Mass every Sunday morning. Composed of over 20 boys and 10 men, the choir is preparing a series of concerts, recordings, broadcasts, national and international visits to celebrate the life of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina in 2025. This will all happen alongside music by Palestrina weekly at the 11am Solemn Latin Mass at the Pro-Cathedral.   A very special day last Sunday. On a day when we welcomed back choir alumni, our seven senior probationers who have been busy learning the choir routine and lots of repertoire were admitted as full members of the Choir. A proud day for their families and for all at the Pro-Cathedral. Everyone wishes these young choristers well as they begin their journey as fully-fledged choristers.  SATURDAY 14TH DECEMBER MATINEE 3PM EVENING PERFORMANCE 7PM  Following the phenomenal success of last year’s sold-out concert Christmas with the Palestrina Choir, Musical Director Blánaid Murphy returns to the National Concert Hall for a matinee and evening performance of The Glory of Christmas with the Palestrina Choir on Saturday 14th December, a dazzling concert which promises to entertain and celebrate the glory of Christmas. At the matinee performance they will be joined by the lovely young voices of St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Girls’ Choir and at the evening performance by award-winning Continuum Youth Choir, made up of former boy and girl choristers. In addition, at both performances, they will be joined by Irish award-winning soprano Ava Dodd, famed Irish Actor Aidan Gillen, with accompaniment from the renowned Dublin Brass ensemble, this concert features family-favourite carols such as O Holy Night, O Come all ye Faithful, Hark the Herald, Twelve Days of Christmas and many more. The audience will also feature in the music making, guided by the wonderful TV personality Mary Kennedy.  
This is a unique and special opportunity for musicians from all over the Archdiocese of Dublin and throughout the country. It is a great honour for the Palestrina Choir and for the Pro-Cathedral, that Monsignor Pavan is coming to Dublin. DO NOT FORGET TO BOOK YOUR PLACE FOR THE PUBLIC WORKSHOP ON 26TH JUNE.    FEAST OF ST KEVIN - 3rd JUNE 2024
"I am asking the Holy Father to designate St Mary’s as the Cathedral for Dublin... This will involve having St Mary’s and St Andrew’s, Westland Row, as twin pillars for the worthy celebration of Catholic life in Dublin." Homily of Archbishop Farrell: https://dublindiocese.ie/st-kevin-2024/ We are currently auditioning for young choristers! This process will continue until end of April 2024. Please contact us for further information.  |
AuthorsBlánaid Murphy - Dir. Archives
May 2025
Categories |
||
RSS Feed