LOCAL TEENAGERS JOIN FAMOUS NAMES OF MUSIC WORLD ON FUND-RAISING ALBUM
Local teenagers join famous names of the music world on fund-raising album
THE angelic voices of Omagh teenagers will be heard alongside the famous names of those who have come together to create a fund-raising album of music in the aftermath of the Omagh bomb on August 15.
Teenagers from fifth and sixth years in the seven secondary level schools in the town have recorded the title track of the album "Across the Bridge of Hope", which is due out on November 30.
They are members of the Omagh Community Youth Choir, and the track was recorded at Homestead Studios, Randalstown, on November 1, after a little more than one week of rehearsal time.
The song, which is based on the peace poem of the same name by little Sean McLaughlin, from Buncrana, who died in the bomb, was composed by B.A. Robertson, a familiar figure on the music scene in years gone by.
The formation of the choir was the brainchild of Omagh's Daryl Simpson, a music graduate from Queen's University, who came up with the idea shortly after the bombing.
Mr. Simpson is a member of the choir steering committee, which was formed at the end of August.
Other members are: Chairman, Fr. Kevin Mullan; secretary, Drew Hamilton; treasurer, Mike Reynolds; assistant treasurer, Eddie Wiltshire, and Geraldine Madden, head of music at the Christian Brothers Grammar School in Omagh, accompanist. Both Fr. Mullan and Mr. Wiltshire are also directors of the Ulster Project.
Mr. Hamilton said that after the committee was formed, Mr, Simpson approached each of the schools' music departments, headhunting the best singers, and the youngsters held their first choir practice on October 2.
"The choir recorded the song just over a week after they were first handed the music. In that short space of time they not only got the music, but learned it and recorded it with the backing of the Ulster Youth Orchestra," Mr. Hamilton said.
The secretary said that plans would be put in place to ensure that the newly formed choir had longevity, and would continue its cross-community aim to bring young people from the town together in years to come.
The. fledgling choir has been thrown in at the deep end in terms of public appearances.
Not only are they to appear on the RTE television programme, the Late, Late Show, tomorrow night, Friday, they are also booked to go to Bangor on December 2 to sing at a concert for the elderly and will appear in conjunction with the Warrington Choir on December 6 at Omagh Leisure Centre.
Another diary date is Thursday, November 26, when they will be taking part in the switching-on of Omagh's festive lighting in the town centre, the official guest at which will be singing star, Daniel O'Donnell.
The founder members of the choir are as follows: Christian Brothers Grammar School, Ronan Gallagher, Barry McAleer, Liam Donnelly, Gareth Rafferty, Conor Keyes and Conn Haughey; St. Patrick's High School, Colm Kirwan and Christopher McCullagh; St. Brigid's High School, Grainne O'Neill, Fiona Taggart and Shauna Pancott; Omagh Academy, Kathleen Turner, Lindsey Alexander, Charlene Bleakley, Ciara Hill, Sarah Young and Louise Rainey; Loreto Grammar School, Christina Davies, Eleanor O'Neill, Roisin McCann and Alana McElroy; Drumragh College, Clare McLaughlin, Heather Allen and Laura McGuckin; and Omagh High Schol, Louise Baxter, Coleen McCann and Pamela Kenwell.
THE angelic voices of Omagh teenagers will be heard alongside the famous names of those who have come together to create a fund-raising album of music in the aftermath of the Omagh bomb on August 15.
Teenagers from fifth and sixth years in the seven secondary level schools in the town have recorded the title track of the album "Across the Bridge of Hope", which is due out on November 30.
They are members of the Omagh Community Youth Choir, and the track was recorded at Homestead Studios, Randalstown, on November 1, after a little more than one week of rehearsal time.
The song, which is based on the peace poem of the same name by little Sean McLaughlin, from Buncrana, who died in the bomb, was composed by B.A. Robertson, a familiar figure on the music scene in years gone by.
The formation of the choir was the brainchild of Omagh's Daryl Simpson, a music graduate from Queen's University, who came up with the idea shortly after the bombing.
Mr. Simpson is a member of the choir steering committee, which was formed at the end of August.
Other members are: Chairman, Fr. Kevin Mullan; secretary, Drew Hamilton; treasurer, Mike Reynolds; assistant treasurer, Eddie Wiltshire, and Geraldine Madden, head of music at the Christian Brothers Grammar School in Omagh, accompanist. Both Fr. Mullan and Mr. Wiltshire are also directors of the Ulster Project.
Mr. Hamilton said that after the committee was formed, Mr, Simpson approached each of the schools' music departments, headhunting the best singers, and the youngsters held their first choir practice on October 2.
"The choir recorded the song just over a week after they were first handed the music. In that short space of time they not only got the music, but learned it and recorded it with the backing of the Ulster Youth Orchestra," Mr. Hamilton said.
The secretary said that plans would be put in place to ensure that the newly formed choir had longevity, and would continue its cross-community aim to bring young people from the town together in years to come.
The. fledgling choir has been thrown in at the deep end in terms of public appearances.
Not only are they to appear on the RTE television programme, the Late, Late Show, tomorrow night, Friday, they are also booked to go to Bangor on December 2 to sing at a concert for the elderly and will appear in conjunction with the Warrington Choir on December 6 at Omagh Leisure Centre.
Another diary date is Thursday, November 26, when they will be taking part in the switching-on of Omagh's festive lighting in the town centre, the official guest at which will be singing star, Daniel O'Donnell.
The founder members of the choir are as follows: Christian Brothers Grammar School, Ronan Gallagher, Barry McAleer, Liam Donnelly, Gareth Rafferty, Conor Keyes and Conn Haughey; St. Patrick's High School, Colm Kirwan and Christopher McCullagh; St. Brigid's High School, Grainne O'Neill, Fiona Taggart and Shauna Pancott; Omagh Academy, Kathleen Turner, Lindsey Alexander, Charlene Bleakley, Ciara Hill, Sarah Young and Louise Rainey; Loreto Grammar School, Christina Davies, Eleanor O'Neill, Roisin McCann and Alana McElroy; Drumragh College, Clare McLaughlin, Heather Allen and Laura McGuckin; and Omagh High Schol, Louise Baxter, Coleen McCann and Pamela Kenwell.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0777
Published Date: 19-Nov-98
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