OMAGH CHOIR SINGS TITLE TRACK ON BENEFIT ALBUM
Omagh choir sings title track on benefit album
BY: JOHN McCUSKER
A cross community choir drawn from seven schools in the Omagh area has joined forces with some of the biggest names in Irish showbiz to raise funds for the town's bomb victims.
Omagh Community Youth Choir has teamed up with the likes of U2, Boyzone, Sinead O'Connor and The Corrs on a special compilation album due for release on Monday week.
The 28-member choir has already recorded the title track for 'Across the Bridge of Hope' - which has been hotly tipped as a possible Christmas No 1.
Also featured on the unique recording is Dromore-born singer/songwriter Juliet Turner who has recorded the track 'Broken Things,' while Strabane's Paul Brady has offered his hugely popular 'The Island.'
The community choir will also perform during this Friday night's Late Late Show on RTE, which focuses on the aftermath of the August bombing.
The choir is comprised of GCSE and A-Level students from all post primary schools in the Omagh area, including the Christian Brothers Grammar School, the Academy, Loreto Convent, St Patrick's and St Brigid's High Schools, Omagh High and Drumragh College.
Driving force behind the venture was Omagh man Darryl Simpson, a music graduate from Queen's University. He is currently a member of the Dublin Chamber Choir, whose performance opens at the city's Gaiety Theatre on Friday night.
Following the August 15th bombing, Mr Simpson visualised the amalgamation of voices from the stricken town's colleges as a way of bring young people together - a 'bridge of hope,' so to speak.
A committee was put together comprising Strathroy curate Fr Kevin Mullan and Edwin Wiltshire, director of the Ulster Project. Also included were Mike Reynolds, former bandleader of St Eugene's Brass and Reed Band, Geraldine Madden, head of music at the town's CBS school and committee secretary, Drew Hamilton.
Mr Simpson then contacted the music departments at the various schools and they in turn nominated their best students to take part in the project.
Early last month, the newly-formed choir met for the first time in the CBS, under the leadership of Mr Simpson and Ms Madden.
Following just a few weeks practice, choristers were given the opportunity to record the title track for the 'Across the Bridge of Hope' album.
The song itself- which is based on a touching poem written by bomb victim Sean McLaughlin (12) from Buncrana -was written by chart-topper B A Robertson.
The gravel-voiced Scottish singer met with members of the choir during rehearsals in Omagh shortly before the number was recorded at Homestead Studios in Randalstown on 1st November -just four weeks after the choir's formation Musical backing was provided by members of the Ulster Youth Orchestra, with string arrangements by its musical director, Philip Cartwright.
Included in the choir line-up are Christian Brothers pupils Ronan Gallagher, Barry McAleer, Liam Donnelly, Gareth Rafferty, Conor Keyes and Conn Haughey, while Colm Kirwan and Christopher McCullagh - pupils of St Patrick's High School - are also in the ranks.
Grainne O'Neill, Fiona Taggart and Shauna Pancott from St Brigid's High School and Omagh High School students Louise Baxter, Coleen McCann and Pamela Kenwell are also included.
Representing Omagh Academy are Kathleen Turner, Lindsey Alexander, Charlene Bleakley, Ciara Hill, Sarah Young and Louise Rainey.
While Loreto Convent students taking part in the venture are Christina Davies, Eleanor O'Neill, Roisin McCann and Alana McElroy.
Heather Alien and Clare McLaughlin will be on song for the town's Drumragh College.
100,000 copies of the album are being pressed initially - but early indications are that that figure could swell in the run-up to Christmas.
Speaking this week, choir secretary Drew Hamilton said " he was amazed at the support offered to the project by various artistes and songwriters.
"The choir had only been together for a short time when they were handed the song and given just over a week to get to know it.
"Great credit must be given to the pupils involved and everyone is hoping the venture will be widely supported.
It is wonderful to see something good coming out of such a tragedy" he added.
Release date for the album is 30th November, but for the moment all minds are firmly focused on this Friday night's Late Late Show appearance.
Following that the choir will take part in the switching on of the Christmas Lights in Omagh before preforming in a concert in Bangor Leisure Centre in early December.
A choir from Warrington which is playing Belfast's Waterfront Hall early next month will join the Omagh choir for an evening of music at the local Leisure Centre on 6th December.
And plans are already in place for the choir to travel to the US early next year.
BY: JOHN McCUSKER
A cross community choir drawn from seven schools in the Omagh area has joined forces with some of the biggest names in Irish showbiz to raise funds for the town's bomb victims.
Omagh Community Youth Choir has teamed up with the likes of U2, Boyzone, Sinead O'Connor and The Corrs on a special compilation album due for release on Monday week.
The 28-member choir has already recorded the title track for 'Across the Bridge of Hope' - which has been hotly tipped as a possible Christmas No 1.
Also featured on the unique recording is Dromore-born singer/songwriter Juliet Turner who has recorded the track 'Broken Things,' while Strabane's Paul Brady has offered his hugely popular 'The Island.'
The community choir will also perform during this Friday night's Late Late Show on RTE, which focuses on the aftermath of the August bombing.
The choir is comprised of GCSE and A-Level students from all post primary schools in the Omagh area, including the Christian Brothers Grammar School, the Academy, Loreto Convent, St Patrick's and St Brigid's High Schools, Omagh High and Drumragh College.
Driving force behind the venture was Omagh man Darryl Simpson, a music graduate from Queen's University. He is currently a member of the Dublin Chamber Choir, whose performance opens at the city's Gaiety Theatre on Friday night.
Following the August 15th bombing, Mr Simpson visualised the amalgamation of voices from the stricken town's colleges as a way of bring young people together - a 'bridge of hope,' so to speak.
A committee was put together comprising Strathroy curate Fr Kevin Mullan and Edwin Wiltshire, director of the Ulster Project. Also included were Mike Reynolds, former bandleader of St Eugene's Brass and Reed Band, Geraldine Madden, head of music at the town's CBS school and committee secretary, Drew Hamilton.
Mr Simpson then contacted the music departments at the various schools and they in turn nominated their best students to take part in the project.
Early last month, the newly-formed choir met for the first time in the CBS, under the leadership of Mr Simpson and Ms Madden.
Following just a few weeks practice, choristers were given the opportunity to record the title track for the 'Across the Bridge of Hope' album.
The song itself- which is based on a touching poem written by bomb victim Sean McLaughlin (12) from Buncrana -was written by chart-topper B A Robertson.
The gravel-voiced Scottish singer met with members of the choir during rehearsals in Omagh shortly before the number was recorded at Homestead Studios in Randalstown on 1st November -just four weeks after the choir's formation Musical backing was provided by members of the Ulster Youth Orchestra, with string arrangements by its musical director, Philip Cartwright.
Included in the choir line-up are Christian Brothers pupils Ronan Gallagher, Barry McAleer, Liam Donnelly, Gareth Rafferty, Conor Keyes and Conn Haughey, while Colm Kirwan and Christopher McCullagh - pupils of St Patrick's High School - are also in the ranks.
Grainne O'Neill, Fiona Taggart and Shauna Pancott from St Brigid's High School and Omagh High School students Louise Baxter, Coleen McCann and Pamela Kenwell are also included.
Representing Omagh Academy are Kathleen Turner, Lindsey Alexander, Charlene Bleakley, Ciara Hill, Sarah Young and Louise Rainey.
While Loreto Convent students taking part in the venture are Christina Davies, Eleanor O'Neill, Roisin McCann and Alana McElroy.
Heather Alien and Clare McLaughlin will be on song for the town's Drumragh College.
100,000 copies of the album are being pressed initially - but early indications are that that figure could swell in the run-up to Christmas.
Speaking this week, choir secretary Drew Hamilton said " he was amazed at the support offered to the project by various artistes and songwriters.
"The choir had only been together for a short time when they were handed the song and given just over a week to get to know it.
"Great credit must be given to the pupils involved and everyone is hoping the venture will be widely supported.
It is wonderful to see something good coming out of such a tragedy" he added.
Release date for the album is 30th November, but for the moment all minds are firmly focused on this Friday night's Late Late Show appearance.
Following that the choir will take part in the switching on of the Christmas Lights in Omagh before preforming in a concert in Bangor Leisure Centre in early December.
A choir from Warrington which is playing Belfast's Waterfront Hall early next month will join the Omagh choir for an evening of music at the local Leisure Centre on 6th December.
And plans are already in place for the choir to travel to the US early next year.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0673
Published Date: 19-Nov-98
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