THE PALESTRINA CHOIR
  • Home
  • About
    • History of the Choir
    • A Historic and Contextual Appraisal of The Palestrina Choir
    • Choir Team
    • Child Safeguarding
  • Blog
  • Choir Cd's
  • Music Lists
  • Friends of the Choir
  • Contact
  • Archive
    • Articles
    • Documentaries
    • Performances
    • Photo Gallery
    • 120 Years OF PALESTRINA CHOIR
  • Live-Stream
  • Parent's Hub
  • Chorister's Hub
  • Palestrina 500

Choir Blog

Boys working hard for their RSCM Exams

30/5/2025

0 Comments

 
Picture
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!
0 Comments

Seán Doherty Mass

30/5/2025

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
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!
0 Comments

Celebrating PALESTRINA 500

4/1/2025

0 Comments

 
Picture

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.

Picture
0 Comments

Seven boys are ADMITTED AS  CHORISTERS

26/11/2024

0 Comments

 
Picture
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.
Picture
0 Comments

christmas with the palestinra choir at national concert hall

21/11/2024

0 Comments

 
SATURDAY 14TH DECEMBER
MATINEE 3PM
EVENING PERFORMANCE 7PM
Picture
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.
0 Comments

Archbishop farrell's letter to the parishoners of the Pro-Cathedral - 9th June 2024

9/6/2024

0 Comments

 
Picture
archbishops-letter-to-the-parishioners-of-st-marys-pro-cathedral.pdf
File Size: 384 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

0 Comments

wednesday 26th june, 7.30pm  gregorian chant workshop with mons. pavan, director of              the sistine chapel choir

3/6/2024

0 Comments

 
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.
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:  PRO-CATHEDRAL TO BECOME THE CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL OF DUBLIN

3/6/2024

0 Comments

 
Picture
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/
0 Comments

AUDITION TIME

22/3/2024

0 Comments

 
We are currently auditioning for young choristers! This process will continue until end of April 2024. Please contact us for further information.
Picture
0 Comments

LIGHT UP A LIFE at the HOSPICE IN HAROLD'S CROSS, sunday 3rd dec.

5/12/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
It is always our great pleasure to sing for the "Light Up A Life" entertainment at Our Lady's Hospice in Harold's Cross. An annual event for the Choristers of the Pro-Cathedral, on Sunday, 3rd December, we sang a selection of festive carols to the many thousand present. And, we happened to bump into the Head Chorister of the Pro-Cathedral Girls' Choir who was helping with the "Light Up A Life" candles!
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Authors

    Blánaid Murphy - Dir.

    Archives

    May 2025
    January 2025
    November 2024
    June 2024
    March 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022

    Categories

    All
    Choral Highlights
    Updates

    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • About
    • History of the Choir
    • A Historic and Contextual Appraisal of The Palestrina Choir
    • Choir Team
    • Child Safeguarding
  • Blog
  • Choir Cd's
  • Music Lists
  • Friends of the Choir
  • Contact
  • Archive
    • Articles
    • Documentaries
    • Performances
    • Photo Gallery
    • 120 Years OF PALESTRINA CHOIR
  • Live-Stream
  • Parent's Hub
  • Chorister's Hub
  • Palestrina 500