Hey blog!!! Aweiye here, welcome back to another issue of THE Sing Ireland Youth
Committee Blog.
This month, I’ve decided to look into the experience of young choral singers in Ireland and who better to hear from than the young people themselves? I spoke with three talented individuals: Meadhbh from Lumina (Waterford), Alex from Glór (Cork), and Darragh from the UCC Singers (Cork) on their experiences as young choral musicians in this country. I asked them about their individual choir journeys, their favourite aspects of being in an Irish choir, advice for potential members and finally a question I was personally nosy about, their favourite Irish choral piece. Even though these singers come from different backgrounds and are in various choirs, their insights gave some shared opinions (alongside unique perspectives) into the experience of the young Irish chorister.
The first question I asked seemed basic, but I think it was the most important question to
start off with: “What brought you to choir?”. Each person had their own unique musical
journey into the world of choir but they each had one thing in common. From a young age,
they were always drawn to music. Meadhbh told me that her love of music was passed down
from her mother who also sings in choirs saying that “it was always a thing I had growing up”
showing the importance of sharing your hobbies and passions with your children. Darragh on
the other hand, started taking his choral hobby more seriously when he started college at
UCC and decided that the Choral Society was the “perfect opportunity for me to get involved,
so I did”. Finally, Alex took a slightly more alternative route as he started off with joining a
stage school, solely because they offered singing as one of the activities and eventually
when the choir rehearsal clashed with that of his stage school, he made “the easiest choice
in the world” and progressed on with his music hobby so much so that it became his career
as he is now studying voice at the Cork School of Music.
Seeing as these young choristers each sing in an Irish-based choir, I thought it best to ask
them what they enjoyed most about the Irish choral scene specifically. Was it the Irish music
that connects them to their heritage? Was it the atmosphere at the Irish competitions or was
it simply the welcoming environment, coupled with friendliness that is widespread throughout Irish culture. Each musician told me that they truly valued the community aspect of an Irish choir, meeting and becoming friends with those that they otherwise would never have crossed paths with. They also told me of the importance of community and how much they value connecting with others who have the same interests as them. Meadhbh talked about the fun she has on trips or at the céilís often used as choir social events saying that they just have a “different vibe” to them which I am sure you will all agree with. Alex told me that being able to meet others from “different walks of life, different upbringings and different perspectives on the world and music” is something he finds truly special. He is especially grateful to Sing Ireland programs such as the Irish Youth Choir and the Conducting Summer School for providing a space for him to connect with other like-minded individuals. Darragh spoke about how his favourite aspect of an Irish choir is the "camaraderie built, regardless of how much experience you have… regardless of ability”. A statement which rings true. Throughout my experience as a choral singer, I have met people who are pursuing music with professional intent as well as those who are only starting off for fun as a hobbyist. We may be divided in our goals as musicians, however, when we are all standing in front of the same conductor, on the same stage, we are a team that’s united, not because of our skill set, but for our shared love of music.
On the topic of advice for those potentially looking into joining a choir, my interviewees took
a leaf from Nike’s book, and the main takeaway was ‘Just Do It.’ The scariest part of the
process is “putting your name down on the audition list,” Darragh told me, which I completely
agree with. Usually, the hardest part of starting anything is taking the first step but once you
start on your choral journey, it is hard to look back. Trust me. Darragh said that joining a
choir would "genuinely be the best thing to happen to you… and that it is very good for your mental health” which is a point which is not spoken about enough in my opinion. That boost of dopamine you get when successfully singing a tricky passage of music. Or the release of oxytocin that you receive as a result of the bonding that group singing brings as well as the
endorphins that are released, and how they can turn any bad day into a good one is
something you just can’t explain. Meadhbh’s piece of advice was “Just talk to people, there
is no use in going to choir if you’re just going to sing and leave… most of the fun is in the
people” further highlighting the sense of community that group singing brings. I think it is
safe to say that, at least from these chorister’s experiences, that friendships bonded by
music have a special place in their hearts. When speaking to Alex, he gave a reminder that
joining a choir doesn’t have to be a competitive venture, he spoke about whether it is “Your
local community choir, your college society choir, whether it is a church choir. There are so
many ensembles which have so much to give and you’ll never know how you feel as a
member or what you can achieve as one unless you just join”. Truer words were never
spoken in my opinion.
My final question, the one I was most excited to hear about, was each of my interviewees’
favourite Irish choral piece. Both Alex and Meadhbh stated that ‘Geantraí’ by Michael
McGlynn was their favourite piece with Alex saying that “It is quite simple” but that doesn’t
take away from its charming nature. Darragh’s favourite song on the other hand is ‘An Irish
Blessing’, arr. James Edward Moore and similarly to Meadhbh and Alex’s answers, is that “It
is quite a simple piece and it just sums up Ireland and Irish culture” showing that a personal
connection to the music is much more important than its complexity.