FUN for all the family is key to a big choral and military band event taking place on Sunday December 20 at the concert hall. It’s an afternoon Christmas concert, set for 3pm and one for which interaction with the audience will be paramount. The mighty Band of the 1 Southern Brigade and the Irish Chamber Orchestra Chorus lead the way in Carols for All.
Director of Cultural Vision at UCH, Martin Barrett, explains the concept as the first in a series of co-productions between the concert hall and the Association of Irish Choirs, now based in Plassey.
Essentially, Carols for All is part of a wider scheme to make the concert hall more accessible to and involved with the community and every age group in terms of arts, cultural and leisure initiatives.
“The audience will be given sheets of programme music as they take their seats. Carols for All will include not just Christmas favourites such as Silent Night and Oh Come, All Ye Faithful, there will be film music – ET, The Snowman – and popular music for the audience to interact with and sing along with. All the children will be invited up on stage to sing Away in A Manger. At Carols for All, your audience becomes your performance”.
Family friendly tickets at €25 for four is fanning enthusiasm for this heart-warmer. The military band and ICO choir will be joined by Santa Claus and Limerick Panto Society characters from Cinderella and CentreStage Theatre’s Aladdin for the “Oh, yes he will” sort of craic.
“We are also going to have some seasonal readings to intersperse the music, with Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea doing one. Professor Micheál O Suilleabháin will play that lovely Irish air, The Wexford Carol, on piano,” Mr Barrett elaborates.
The Irish Chamber Orchestra Chorus is comprised of 31 hand-picked singers tutored under choral director Maire Keary-Scanlon. Their part of the orchestra’s community engage programme, while the Band of 1 Southern Brigade is accomplished at international level, invited to festivals in France and for St Patrick’s Day parade to Toronto.
Call to box office at UCH to book Sunday 20, 3pm seats or go online at www.uch.ie. Limerick can look forward to further joint productions with The Association of Irish Choirs around Easter, May Day and St Patrick’s day in celebration of our traditions, seasons and culture.
