91福利社

Queen鈥檚 University Chamber Choir:

Didn鈥檛 My Lord Deliver Danuel/Wade In The Water听 -听arr. P.Hunt

The Heavens Are Telling -听贬补测诲苍

Doo Ron Ron -听叠补谤谤测/骋谤别别苍飞颈肠丑/厂辫别肠迟辞谤

Siuil A Ruin -听M. McGlynn

Ubi Caritas -听骋箩别颈濒辞

Yesterday -听尝别苍苍辞苍/惭肠颁补谤迟苍别测

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Methodist College:

Gaude Mater -听arr M. Neaum

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The Clare Chorale:

Festival Gloria -听Randall Johnson

Caledonia -听MacLean arr S Greer

Let It Be Me -听Becaud arr S Greer

Over The Rainbow -听Arlen arr T Chinn

Spiritual Jubilee -听arr L Spevacek-Avery

Queen鈥檚 University is an international centre of research and education as well as being a major part of the fabric of Northern Ireland. It is in the top one per cent of global universities and a member of the Russell Group of 24 leading UK听research-intensive universities, alongside Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College London.

The University Chamber Choir is rooted in the Music Department but brings together students from many different areas of learning. By its very nature, the membership changes each year and even each semester as each student鈥檚 situation changes and so the choir must be flexible in its repertoire and ambition.

Edward Craig, a Music graduate of Queen鈥檚, has directed the choir since 2011 and encourages a rich and varied repertoire amongst the young singers seeking to expose them to wealth of choral music of our history. He actively encourages performances of contemporary pieces, arrangements of folksongs from throughout Ireland and trying out new compositions by some of its members.

Each year they perform Winter and Spring Concerts, provide entertainment at other university events. An annual highlight is leading the worship at the University Carol Service held on a Sunday before Christmas in the Great Hall.听 Edward is always happy to hear from students, staff and members of the local community who might be interested in singing in the choir either from October to December or February to April.

For over twenty years Edward Craig has been associated with directing choirs and promoting singing in Northern Ireland. Much of this was inspired since coming under the influence of the late Ronnie Lee at Grosvenor High School听 and his years spent at Queens.听 He formed the multi-award-winning choir Grosvenor Chorale in 1993, has worked with church choirs and for the past twelve years has been Head of Music at Carrickfergus Grammar School. He is also Music Associate with Voices of Ireland and was appointed as Director of the Queen鈥檚 University Chamber Choir in 2011.听 A native of Saintfield, Edward is married to Siobhan and has a young son, George.

Formed in 2003, the Clare Chorale and was originally known as The Old Ballyclarians鈥� Association Choir, from a group of former pupils of Ballyclare High School who wished to continue the great tradition of choral singing of the school. With its rise in popularity, the membership was extended to anyone wishing to join and so a new neutral name was adopted.

The choir membership has grown from a mere thirteen enthusiasts to around 45. There is a wide age range and it draws people from many professions, none of whom are involved in the music profession. The choir takes on a healthy number of engagements each season which are both secular and sacred. The repertoire is varied and offers both a spiritual and entertaining dynamic according to the occasion. The choir continues to seek membership in all sections and welcomes those with a good singing voice and a reasonable sight reading ability.

Sheelagh Greer is best known to as a Mezzo Soprano, but in fact started on her musical career playing piano at a young age. 听She is a freelance musician and combines a busy schedule of singing, accompanying, directing and conducting choirs and holding the position of organist in her local church. She also has a private teaching practice and enjoys hearing the advancement of new young singers and pianists.

She was a pupil of the late Irene Sandford, and more recently with Patricia McMahon in Glasgow and Maria Jagusz in Cheltenham.听 Singing engagements take her all over the province, to other parts of the UK and as far as Italy and India.

She has been delighted to have been involved in the formation of The Clare Chorale and to have enjoyed its development over the last number of years. 鈥� There is nothing quite like music to bring people together in such a strong and powerful way and to enjoy such a universal language.鈥�