18/05/2014
John Anderson meets Shaun Ryan and the University of Ulster Choirs from Derry, plus Derek Collins and the singers from Counterpoint, with performances from both.
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Programme music includes excerpts from :
The University of Ulster Choir
Jerusalem Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýM McGlynn
Quisquis erisÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý M McGlynn
(soloist: Kerry Stamp)
Five Hebrew Love Songs Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýE Whitacre
The Beatitudes Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý P Mealor
The Seal Lullaby Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý E Whitacre
Gloria Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýF Poulenc
(soloist Shonagh Lyons)
Ìý
Conductor Shaun Ryan,Ìý
Accompanists Gail Evans and Stewart Smith
Counterpoint
Deep River Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Traditional Spiritual
Mass in G Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Schubert
Beati Quorum Via Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Stanford
God is Gone UpÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Finzi
Conductor Derek Collins
Organ Ian Mills
Shaun Ryan (conductor)
Shaun Ryan is a lecturer at the University of Ulster Music Division, Magee College in Derry.Ìý In 1996, as a member of the Dalriada Piano Trio, Shaun won the coveted ‘Overall Exceptional Performance Prize’ at the Belfast Festival.Ìý As a result of this, the Trio represented Belfast at the ‘Champion of Champions Festival’ held in Warwick, England later that year, where they won a gold medal and were subsequently invited to perform at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on London’s Southbank.Ìý In 1999, Shaun became the first student to direct the University of Ulster Choir, a position he has since held.ÌýÌýAs part of Derry/Londonderry’s UK City of Culture celebrations, Shaun conducted the combined chamber choirs of the Universities of Ulster and Aberdeen together with the London Southbank Sinfonia in performances of Laurence Roman’s new oratorio, Columba Canticles; commissioned by St Columb’s Cathedral, Londonderry to mark the 400th anniversary of the establishment of the cathedral.
The University of Ulster Choir
The University of Ulster Choir has gained considerable popular and critical acclaim for its distinctive and dramatic performances presented in beautiful ecclesiastical settings. Shaun Ryan, Lecturer in Music and Choral Director, has been instrumental in developing the reputation of the Choir over the last ten years.Ìý At our public concerts we like to present a programme of music that will be attractive to audiences but may also introduce them to something a little more unusual, ideally, something unknown to them. Hence, we will often perform a well-loved ‘classic’ such as Vivaldi’s Gloria or Fauré’s Requiem, but present it alongside a contemporary work that will be new to the audience. We also feel it is important to perform in a range of settings and to reach out to a wider audience. In recent years the Choir has performed in Londonderry, Belfast, Enniskillen, Coleraine, Sligo, Dublin and London, and this year we are preparing for a tour to Scotland, where will perform in Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
Derek Collins (conductor)
Derek Collins, originally from Lisburn, has spent the last ten years as Head of Music at Limavady Grammar School.Ìý His varied musical pursuits include concerts and recitals as an organist and piano accompanist, conducting, arranging, research and composition.Ìý He is a former organ scholar of Belfast Cathedral and of Queen’s University, from where he holds Bachelors and Doctoral degrees in Music.Ìý Having studied conducting in the Czech Republic, he directed Queen’s University Choir and Orchestra regularly for over a decade.Ìý Increasing interest in choral composition brought a recent commission of Evening Canticles marking the 400th Anniversary on the Irish Society in Ulster.Ìý Derek sings in St Columb’s Cathedral Choir and has completed his first year conducting Counterpoint.
Counterpoint
Counterpoint is an adult mixed-voice choir based in the Coleraine area.Ìý The choir promotes a regular Christmas and Easter Concert and perform at a various other events.Ìý Counterpoint was founded in 1975 and from then until this last season was under the distinguished direction of Reggie Patterson.Ìý The choir was formed among a group of friends to purse their love of singing and excellence in choral music.Ìý This ethos remains and at the core of Counterpoint’s repertoire is the canon of great choral masterpieces dating back to the Renaissance.Ìý Alongside masses and oratorios, motets and anthems, the choir performs madrigals, folksongs and partsongs.Ìý Counterpoint meet on Monday evenings, 7.30 – 9.30pm in St Patrick’s Church Coleraine from September to June, and are keen to welcome new members.
Broadcasts
- Sun 18 May 2014 16:30³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Ulster
- Tue 20 May 2014 19:30³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Ulster & ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Foyle