Ormond Octaves to hit high note for Christmas Concert
SAINT Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh will reverbrate to the sounds of festive carols and a delightful programme of music and song when the Ormond Octaves present a very special Christmas concert to mark their tenth anniversary on Friday, December 14th, at 8pm.
Since founded by its Musical Director Niamh Ryan a decade ago, the annual Christmas concert by the choir of over 60 members has raised substantial funds for charity and numerous local causes – and this year will be no different with proceeds going to two very worthy recipients, the Friends of Nenagh Hospital and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
The concert itself promises to be the very best ever presented by Niamh Ryan and the Ormond Octaves as they have pulled out all the stops to mark their celebration of their first decade in true style. The event will bring togehter some of Tipperary's top musicians and singers for a night to be remembered. It will be a fitting way to welcome in the start of the Yuletide season, filling the grand old church with the spirit of festivity.
Given the auspicious occasion, the choir is delighted to welcome back their special guest and fellow Tipperary native Derek Ryan, the leading bass baritone and member of the acclaimed Two and a Half Tenors group, whose wonderful singing has thrilled audiences at past Christmas concerts of the Ormond Octaves.
Come travel on a musical winter wonderland journey with the Derek and the choir who will bring you the songs of the season, in addition to a superb programme of classical and contemporary pop and rock numbers as well as spiritual songs that will fill your heart with delight.
The choir will pay homage to the late Freddie Mercury and his band Queen by performing a rousing version of their hit song Bohemian Rhapsody. There will be a Simon & Garfunkel medley and Abba will be remembered with a lively rendition of Super Trouper.
Other favourites performed by the choir will be Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah; the Joni Mithcell hit, Both Sides Now and John Denver's Perhaps Love, as well as a nosatalgic medley from the famous Broadway show, My Fair Lady.
Rock, pop and contemporary renditions will be counterbalanced by beautifully soft, spiritual singing as the choir perform soul raising versions of Verdi's Speed Your Journey (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves); the traditional American folk song, Shenandoah, and also Requiem, the song written by Eliza Gilkyson in memory of the 260,000 people who died in the tsunami in Indonesia in 2004.
Special guest Derek Ryan will perform a selection of his favourite solo numbers, such as Phil Coulter's The Town I Loved So Well, and there will also be much anticipated solo performances by Peter Walsh, Vinni Ravnkilde, Willie O' Brien and Toomevara's Munster Fleadh winner, Mary Meagher. Mary and Liam Brennan, will also perform exquisite numbers with backing support from the choir.
Another special guest back by popular demand after his stunning violin playing at last year's concert is Ed Dwan from Thurles. A much sought after music teacher, Ed, who performs with the group Seskin Lane, has a wealth of experience, having toured with various ensembles all over the world – his solo performance as well as his accompaniments to many other songs that will be performed on the night are much anticipated. . . he truly makes the violin sing!
The church will become enveloped in the spirit of Christmas as the final section of the concert is dedicated exclusively to songs of the Yuletide season, including Derek Ryan's rendition of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and Willie O' Brien's emotionally charged delivery of the moving war song, 'Christmas 1915', followed directly by the four-part choir singing 'Silent Night' and building to a crescendo finish with Derek Ryan and the entire Ensemble joining together for what promises to be an amazing rendition of Oh Holy Night.
After ten years on the go it will be a time when the Ormond Octaves reflect on all the the good times and the few sad, remembering especially on their big night past members like the late Gerry Slevin, Bernadette Ryan, Mícheál Collins and Stephen Toohey who contributed so much to the choir in their time.
Tickets, €15, are available from any member of the Ormond Octaves and can be purchased at the entrance door to the church on the night of the performance.