2020

St Agnes' Christmas Concert

Here We Go A-Caroling

The St Agnes Community Choir meet every week on Zoom and it finished off the year with an virtual sing along.
Jennifer Grundulis choir Director.
12 Dec 2020

Singing along
Fall for Music Online concert
Memory Lane on Zoom

 

The Memory Lane Choir for those diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease/dementia their carers and their families meet every week on line under the tutelage of Gerry Noonan

Up Down Zoom Around Summer Camp Poster
Up Down Zoom Around Summer camp July 6th – 23rd

A very successful Up Down Zoom Around Summer Camp was held for string players 7-12 years old in July/. UP DOWN ZOOM AROUND is all about good string playing, making music, together and having some summer fun as well – stories, artwork, puzzles and more.
It was directed by Ciara Cavanagh violin/viola with assistance Shane Cavanagh, cello
There were three lessons per week  starting at 6 pm.
Mon 6th, Tue 7th, Thu 9th July
Mon 13th, Tue 14th, Thu 16th
Mon 20th, Tue 21st, Thu 23rd July
Participants included children from Crumlin, Howth and Phibsborough.
Click below are some of the poems composed by participants.
Summer Camp Poetry

The Musical Society - Puss in Boots- Saturday and Sunday the 11th and 12th January
Another colorful production delivered by the St Agnes' Musical Society. The performers were very busy as they delivered three shows over two days. There was a marvelous attendance at all performances. Saturday 11th January. the performances were stage managed by the talented Clíona Frost. Thanks to Ursula Herbert - for the creative Set Design,  Jennifer Grundulis  for the exciting choral direction and Aengus Ryan pianist.

Fyodor Strigoun as Puss in Boots

The Lea Larsen Trio
The Lea Larsen Trio from Glasgow visited the St. Agnes' CCMA performed  for an enthusiastic crowd on  23rd January at the CCMA. They were sponsored by Live Music Now, Scotland

Lea Larson Trio perform at the CCMA in January 2020

Céilí-time. 28 January 2020
The CCMA started its programme of Céilí dancing. Despite the early start, 11 am, those who attended energetically danced for two short hours  Marcella and Phyllis and other CCMA members demonstrated a number of tradition céilí dances for the group.

Céilí dancing at the CCMA

IAYO Festival of Youth Orchestras, National Concert Hall. Saturday 13th February 2020
Some members of the St Agnes’ Primary School Orchestra and St. Agnes' Teenage Chamber Orchestra performed in this years’ Festival. It was a wonderful experience for them to play in front of a large audience in such a prestigious venue.

International Forum of Late Starter Orchestras

St. Agnes' CCMA and the IAYO hosted an International Forum of Late Starter Orchestras - Connecting people through music. Friday and Saturday 21st, 22nd  February 2020
Adult amateur musicians from a score  of countries and cities gathered at St Agnes’ CCMA including musicians from Scotland, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, England, the United States of America and of course, Ireland.  The delegation from Singapore could not come due to the Coronavirus but linked in to the occasion via Whatsapp.

The international visitors got a great Irish welcome on Friday night

On Saturday a Round Table Forum took place and topics discussed included: music rights for adults of any age, as expressed by the International Music Council,  and participants shared their experiences to form an international network of Late Starter Orchestras, enable future networking opportunities and exchange of musicians between orchestras to rehearse and perform together in a Celebration Concert.
The events were hosted by St Agnes’ CCMA, IAYO -Irish Association of Youth Orchestras.

The guest musicians who came to Crumlin,  represent Late Starter Orchestras in their home cities and countries and  members of the Parents’ String orchestra opened their homes to the international guests.
The Late Starter International Forum and weekend had participants from:

  • Belgium, Brussels-UCCLE Late Starters Ensemble
  • England. Cobweb Orchestra, 
  • East London Late Starters Orchestra,
  • Hackney Community Orchestra,
  • Yorkshire Late Starter Strings, 
  • CoMA Contemporary Music for All
  • Germany. Happy Strings, Tomatenklang Musikschule, Berlin
  • Ireland.  Offbeat Ensemble, St Agnes Parents String Orchestra, Sounds Ensemble
  • Netherlands. Het Betuws Dagorkest
  • Scotland. Glasgow Senior Citizens Orchestra
  • Singapore. Da Kapo Late Starters Orchestra could not come due to the coronavirus
  • Spain. Orquesta Crescendo, Tres Cantos, Madrid
  • USA. New York Late Starters Orchestra, Houston Texas

10th Anniversary of St. Agnes Parents’ String  Orchestra  concert. Sunday 23 February 2020
The international guests and Dublin based players combine forces on Sunday to for a  Concert celebrate the 10th Anniversary of St. Agnes’ Parents’ String  Orchestra. The concert was  attended by President Michael D Higgins and Mrs Sabina Higgins.

A packed hall listened to  music that ranged from the heavenly and ethereal  ‘Aria’  sung by  soloist Jennifer Grundulis to the thrilling and dramatic 8th Symphony by  Dvořák and as a complete contrast Irish polkas arranged by St Agnes Parents’ String Orchestra conductor, Seamus Doyle.
Seamus Doyle, conductor, knew that things were going well when President Higgins didn't want to leave at his appointed time but stayed until the end of the concert.
Guest conductor and former St. Agnes' Parent’s Orchestra, Eimear O’Grady, conducted ‘Barcarolle’ and ‘O Mia Bambino Caro’, two exquisite pieces. Terry Clancy conducted Beethoven’s expressive ‘Egmont Overture’ and the well known ‘Hallelujah’ from ‘Messiah’ by Handel.  The Parents’ String Orchestra were joined by Sounds Ensemble from Tallaght, members of the Crumlin Community Choir and members of the St. Agnes Musical Society. The choir sang ‘Gloria’ by Fredrick Handel and Schubert's ‘The Trout’ with full orchestra.
What a sound, what a day.

President Higgins addressing the orchestras, choir and audience
St Agnes' Parents' String and Community String Orchestra at the 10th Anniversary celebration concert. (Marc O'Sullivan pic)
President Higgins with Sister Bernadette some staff members and volunteers