The Rathdown Choral and Music Festival

February 24th and 25th

The choral evening was a wonderful event with choirs competing from Greystones, Brittas Bay, Enniskerry and Rathdown. After a close battle, first place was won by Rathdown Cantorial with a joint second place awarded to Greystones and Brittas Bay Choirs. It was a very exciting event and a fantastic feast of choral music. We hope to expand this part of the festival with more choirs taking part over the years to come as the reputation of the Rathdown Choral and Music Festival widens and grows. Our adjudicator Sonya Keogh was delighted with the standard and gave excellent feedback and encouragement to all the competitors.

The individual instrumental and vocal competitions took place on Saturday. The competitors started as young as 6 years old and ranged in ages to 17 years old. There were categories in piano, voice, wind and brass, strings and chamber music. There were awards made in each competition and the winner of each category were invited to compete again for the overall award of ‘Best Musician of the Festival’.

After a nail biting and wonderful show of the best of the talent from the earlier competitions, the award was made to young classical guitarist Cathal O’Floinn who is a student of Darragh O’Neill. He performed a piece called ‘The Juggler’ composed by his teacher Darragh. The adjudicator Sonya Keigh says it was a difficult decision but felt that Cathal had the overall most impressive ability. Rathdown School   Principal Anne Dowling presented him with the beautiful trophy and cash prize of €50.

Many students from Rathdown School were awarded medals for their achievements in the festival.

Julia Carrick, the festival organizer was delighted with the success of the festival and said ‘I am very excited about the future of the music festival which is a great platform for young musicians to showcase their talent, gain performance experience, hear other young musicians and get constructive feedback. I hope that the festival goes from strength to strength over the next few years and that Rathdown School can use their wonderful facilities to host this fantastic annual event.

Thank you and well done to all the performers and to the parents and teachers for supporting and encouraging these talented young people.

Music truly is food for our souls and should be an integral part of education. It is proven to ignite imagination, creativity and discipline whilst building confidence and social skills, all of which is of huge importance to the nurturing and shaping of young people into well balanced and positive adults.

FOR FULL LIST OF WINNERS CLICK HERE

***************************************************************************************

Friday and Saturday

24th & 25th FEBRUARY

Rathdown Choral and Music Festival will take place on Friday and Saturday 24th & 25th February.  The Festival is open to both junior and senior music students and offers competitions in all instruments, singing, choirs (junior, senior and adult), chamber music and orchestra.  The aim of the festival is to give music students the opportunity to perform in an encouraging and friendly atmosphere with constructive feedback.  Prizes will be awarded in all categories and a special award will be made to the Overall Best Musician of the Festival.  The winner of each category qualifies to take part in the ‘winners competition’ to compete for this special award.  A cash prize and trophy will be presented to this student (junior or senior).

Application forms are available from the Music Office, the Main Senior School Office, the Junior School Office and the individual Music Teachers in Rathdown,  Applications close on Monday February 13th.

WEDNESDAY 14TH DECEMBER:

The Rathdown Choir will be performing at the National Library, Kildare St,
Dublin 2 on Wednesday 14th December at 8pm. The evening will also feature
readings by Roddy Doyle (who will be on hand for some book-signings afterwards).
Admission free – donations for the charity Fighting Words (www.fightingwords.ie),
set up by Roddy Doyle will be welcomed.

MONDAY 19TH DECEMBER:

School Carol Service, on Monday 19th December at 7.30pm, in St Paul’s Church, Glenageary.

Royal Irish Academy of Music Exams

Several Junior and Senior School girls from Rathdown Music School
took music exams, run by the Royal Irish Academy of Music, in the
Music School last week. The exams, in piano, singing, violin and clarinet
represented a range of age groups, from P1 to 6th Year, and at levels
from Elementary Grade up to Grade 8. The Music School acts as a local
centre for these exams three times a year, in December, March and May.

European Piano Teachers’ Association Festival

Piano students from Rathdown Music School will be taking part in
a festival organised by the European Piano Teachers’ Association (EPTA)
next February in the National Concert Hall. Girls from the Senior School
will complete in different categories, according to their school year, and
we wish them all the best of luck!

Rathdown Senior Orchestra Choir at Powerscourt

The Rathdown Senior Orchestra, led by Ms. Jude Stamper, will be performing
Christmas music at Powerscourt House, Enniskerry, on Saturday 18th December (2-4pm)
and collecting for the SUCH Charity fund.

RATHDOWN CHORAL AND MUSIC FESTIVAL

24TH & 25th FEBRUARY

Instrumental, vocal and choral competitions for both Junior & Senior Level

For more information download brochure and application for here