Gardiner Street Gospel Choir

Last updated

Gardiner Street Gospel Choir
OriginDublin, Ireland
Genres Gospel
Years active2000–present
Website Gardiner Street Gospel Choir Website

The Gardiner Street Gospel Choir is a Gospel music choir based in the Jesuit Saint Francis Xavier Church [1] on Gardiner Street in Dublin, Ireland. The award-winning choir is made up of volunteers who perform at services, and on other stages around Ireland. [2]

Contents

History

The choir was founded in 2000 by Trinity College music graduate Kevin Kelly and Edmond Grace SJ. [3] [4] Beginning with a smaller group, as of 2011, there were 40 voices backed by 8 musicians. [4] As of 2020, the musical director was Cathy McEvoy. [5]

Over the years, the group have played in a number of venues, including Vicar Street, the National Concert Hall, the Olympia Theatre, the Phoenix Park, at the Dublin City Soul Festival, [6] [ better source needed ] at the women's prison, the Dóchas Centre, and for the Dublin Docklands Authority.[ citation needed ] In May 2008, the choir performed at Irish Aid's 'Africa Day' in Dublin Castle, where they collaborated with Kíla. [7]

Recordings and prizes

The choir is accompanied by some instruments, including keyboard, guitar, percussion and brass. [4] The music played includes gospel and contemporary, including pieces by U2 and Bob Marley as well as traditional gospel. [8]

In 2002, Gardiner Street Gospel Choir made radio and television appearances and launched a CD named One Love. [9] This CD was recorded live at a concert in the O'Reilly Hall, at Belvedere College, Dublin.

Twice since its foundation, the choir has won the top Gospel Choir prize at the annual Festival of the Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS). [9] [ dead link ] They subsequently won the Gospel Choir competition at the AIMS choral festival in New Ross. [4]

In 2003, Luka Bloom performed with the choir, [10] [11] and the choir provided backing vocals for two tracks on his Eleven Songs album. [12] They were recorded in the Ignatian Room, at the back of Gardiner Street Church. [10] [12]

The choir have recorded with Juliet Turner, [13] and also sang live on RTÉ's "In Concert" series, [14] [15] and the group has appeared on Channel 4 television. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

William Michael Joseph Whelan is an Irish composer and musician. He is best known for composing a piece for the interval of the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. The result, "Riverdance", was a seven-minute piece of original music accompanying a new take on traditional Irish dancing that became a full-length stage production and spawned a worldwide craze for Irish music and dance. The corresponding soundtrack album earned him a Grammy. "Riverdance" was released as a single in 1994, credited to "Bill Whelan and Anúna featuring the RTÉ Concert Orchestra". It reached number one in Ireland for 18 weeks and number nine in the UK. The album of the same title reached number 31 in the album charts in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christy Moore</span> Irish folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist

Christopher Andrew "Christy" Moore is an Irish folk singer, songwriter and guitarist. In addition to his significant success as an individual, he is one of the founding members of Planxty and Moving Hearts. His first album, Paddyon the Road was recorded with Dominic Behan in 1969. In 2007, he was named as Ireland's greatest living musician in RTÉ's People of the Year Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anúna</span> Irish choral ensemble, led by Michael McGlynn

Anúna is a vocal ensemble formed in Ireland in 1987 by Irish composer Michael McGlynn under the name An Uaithne. Taking the current name in 1991, the group has recorded 18 albums and achieved a high level of international success, including a significant role in Riverdance from 1994 to 1996. Almost all of their repertoire is composed or arranged by McGlynn. Despite having been based in Ireland since their foundation and providing training to many Irish singers, McGlynn announced in December 2022 that the group would cease public performance in Ireland, while continuing in Northern Ireland and beyond.

Julie Feeney is a singer-songwriter, composer, actress, and record producer from Galway, Ireland. She produces and orchestrates her own work, composing both instrumental and electronic music, with full orchestrations. She is a three-time nominee for the Meteor Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year, winning in 2006 for debut album 13 songs. She has released three studio albums on her own label 'mittens': 13 songs (2005), pages (2009), and Clocks (2012). Clocks entered at No.1 on the Irish Independent Albums Chart and No. 7 on the Main Irish albums charts making it her highest-charting album to date. Previously she worked as a professional choral singer and educator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric Picnic</span> Music and arts festival held in Stradbally, County Laois, Ireland

Electric Picnic is an annual arts-and-music festival which has been staged since 2004 at Stradbally Hall in Stradbally, County Laois, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Francis Xavier Church, Dublin</span> Church in County Dublin, Ireland

Saint Francis Xavier Church, popularly known as Gardiner Street Church, is a Catholic church on Upper Gardiner Street near Mountjoy Square in Dublin, Ireland. The church is run by the Jesuits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eimear Quinn</span> Irish singer and composer (born 1972)

Eimear Mary Rose Quinn is an Irish singer and composer. She is best known for winning the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 with the song "The Voice". Since then she has toured and performed extensively internationally and has released four albums of her work, the most recent being Ériu, recorded with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and released in 2020.

The RTÉ Concert Orchestra is one of the two full-time professional radio orchestras in Ireland that are part of RTÉ, the national broadcasting station. Since its formation as the Radio Éireann Light Orchestra in 1948, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, has grown from a small studio-based recording group to become an active 45-strong orchestra performing over eighty concerts annually. It is part of RTÉ Performing Groups. The orchestra performs classical, popular and big band evening and lunchtime concerts, covering a range of music from baroque to contemporary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cór na nÓg</span> Irish childrens choir

Cór na nÓg is an Irish children's choir. Originally coordinated by RTÉ, the choir has been overseen by the National Concert Hall (NCH) since early 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra</span> Orchestra conducted by Derek Gleeson

The Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra (DPO) is an orchestra based in Dublin, Ireland. It was founded in 1997 and operates under the auspices of the Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra Association, a corporation limited by guarantee and Irish charity, The former Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra was active from the 18th century to the 1930s. The famous violinist, conductor and impresario Pierre Van Maldere conducting from 1751. The present music director and conductor is Derek Gleeson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RTÉ Performing Groups</span> Irish classical orchestra groups

RTÉ Performing Groups was a performance group, operating over many decades, of five classical ensembles that were part of the Irish broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). All but the string quartet are based in Dublin. In January 2022, three of the member groups were moved from RTÉ to aegis of the National Concert Hall by the Irish government. RTÉ continues to host the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Brophy (conductor)</span> Irish conductor

David Brophy is an Irish conductor.

Mark Duley is a choral director and organist from New Zealand. He is the chorus master of the RTÉ Philharmonic Choir.

TradFest Temple Bar is an annual music and culture festival that takes place in late January in Dublin, Ireland. Founded by the Temple Bar Company, a not-for-profit organisation who work on behalf of businesses in the cultural quarter of Temple Bar, Dublin, it celebrates traditional Irish and folk music and cultural offerings and was launched on January 26, 2006. One of the few independent events of its type in Ireland, it has become a major draw for international audiences travelling from the US, UK and Europe - attracting almost 25,000 visitors in 2017. Ticket prices are kept to a minimum price to ensure value for money for those attending. The festival has established its reputation by attracting some of the biggest names internationally in folk and traditional Irish music such as Billy Bragg, Donovan, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Martin Carthy, Maria McKee, Fairport Convention, Eddi Reader, Sarah Jarosz, Ralph McTell, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Steeleye Span and Levellers. Notable Irish acts who have performed include Glen Hansard, Aoife O’Donovan, Damien Dempsey, Declan O’Rourke, Paul Brady, Mundy, Mick Flannery, Maura O’Connell, Finbar Furey, The Dublin Legends, Clannad, Altan, Beoga, Martin Hayes, Kila and Stockton's Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dirty 9s</span>

The Dirty 9s are a band from Dublin, Ireland, who have been writing and recording music together since 2008. They are currently recording their second album with record producer Karl Odlum, the album is due for release in early 2013.

Bernie Sherlock is an Irish choral conductor, adjudicator, teacher, and lecturer in music.

Philip Hammond is an Irish composer. He has also been a teacher, writer and broadcaster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir</span>

Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir is a London-based, auditioned gospel choir whose mission is "to spread a message of faith, hope, and love through contemporary gospel music; to create performances full of life-affirming joy and soulful celebration, collaborating with other artists and art forms; and to support and work with a diverse range of like-minded churches, charities, and communities."

Our Lady's Choral Society is an Irish choir founded in 1945, composed of members of Catholic church choirs in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin. It was founded by Vincent O'Brien, the composer and director of music at St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin. Vincent O'Brien was succeeded as musical director by his son Oliver, and in 1979 Oliver O'Brien was succeeded by Proinnsías Ó Duinn. Every year the choir performs Handel's Messiah, in Fishamble Street, Dublin, commemorating the first performance.

Bernard Geary was an Irish composer, teacher and pianist.

References

  1. "Can gospel choirs bring Mass appeal?". Irish Times. 4 April 2004.
  2. "Events". GardinerStreetGospelChoir.com. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  3. Michelle O'Keefe (25 April 2004), "Mass with a gospel beat", Sunday Mirror, London: MGN Ltd via TheFreeLibrary
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Gospel Masses". Magis Ireland (Jesuit's website). Archived from the original on 16 July 2011.
  5. "About The GSGC". gardinerstreetgospelchoir.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020.
  6. Colin Dilnot (April 2007). "Dublin City Soul Festival" . Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  7. "Martin kicks off Africa Day – RTÉ News". Rte.ie. 26 May 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  8. "The Gardiner Street Gospel Choir". IrishTourist.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011.
  9. 1 2 P45.net – The gig at God's gaff Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  10. 1 2 "Luka Bloom Bio". Bar None Records. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  11. Rena Bergholz. "Luka Bloom – I Am Not at War With Anyone". Rbergholz.net. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  12. 1 2 "Short Notices". AMDG Newsletter (Jesuit Weekly Newsletter. 4 November 2008. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011.
  13. "Gardiner Street Gospel Choir @ The Heilx". Culch.ie. 14 May 2009.
  14. "Gardiner St Gospel Choir's 2008 Performance in Mountjoy Dochas prison, as featured on RTE Radio 1 show "In Concert"". RTÉ.[ permanent dead link ]
  15. "Gardiner St Gospel Choir's Easter concert, as featured on RTE Radio 1 show "In Concert"". RTÉ.[ dead link ]