Colmcille Ladies Choir

Photo Captions:

Choir Image 1: The Colmcille Ladies Choir pictured at the Vatican in the private chapel of His Holiness Pope John Paul II in 1982.

Choir Image 2: The Colmcille Ladies Choir pictured with the late Albert Reynolds, former Irish Prime Minister, former President of the United States Bill Clinton and the late John Hume, former Westminster Member of Parliament for Foyle and former Northern Ireland Member of the European parliament.

Colmcille Ladies Choir

The Colmcille Ladies Choir was founded by the late Bishop of Derry, Dr Edward Daly in 1971 to provide the women of the city with a social outlet during the Northern Ireland conflict.

Over half-a-century later, the choir continues to grow in strength and its membership ranges in age from 20 to 80. The Musical Director of the choir is Sheila Carlin, and the accompanist (pianist and organist) is Declan Carlin.

Since its inception, the Colmcille Ladies Choir has performed at many prestigious events and at private functions and competed across Europe and the USA. The choir has performed for U.S. Presidents and senators, Irish Taoisigh and Presidents, British Prime Minister’s, and Members of the European Parliament. They have travelled to New York, Florida and California, Paris, Dublin, London, Rome, Florence, Lake Garda, Barcelona, Malaga, Vienna, Strasbourg, and Salzburg.

The choir has also appeared on Irish television on many occasions for the national broadcaster RTE and on Ulster Television and the BBC in Northern Ireland. In 2019, to mark the 50^th anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement in Northern Ireland, the choir featured on television coverage of the commemorations across the world.

Chair of the Colmcille Ladies Choir Ursula Clifford said: “The most outstanding memory of all these events was our trip to Rome on St Patrick’s Day in 1982 where we sang for His Holiness Pope John Paul II in a private audience at the Vatican. We also sang on St Patrick’s Day for former President Bill Clinton at a special Speaker of the House lunch and later at an Ireland Fund dinner.”

Young Adelaide Voices is the performing youth choir of the award-winning South Australian choir school of the same name, under the Artistic Directorship of Christie Anderson.  We live in Tarndanya/Adelaide, on the traditional Country of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains.

YAV is a community-based, not-for-profit organisation providing a comprehensive choral education, teaching excellence in singing, performing and musicianship within a friendly and positive environment. YAV choristers continue to grow in confidence and musical skills; they develop friendships, teamwork, and a sense of belonging, rewarding them with strong connections and a love of music and singing that resonates throughout their lives.

YAV is an internationally renowned organisation, having represented Australia in nine overseas tours to Canada, Europe, UK, America, China, Hong Kong, and Japan. In 2016 YAV toured Europe, participating in youth music festivals in Salzburg, Bratislava, and Verona. It was in Bratislava that they won three gold medals and Christie Anderson won the award for Best Conductor of the Festival.  In 2012 they won all three youth choir Gold Medals at the Golden Gate Choir Festival in San Francisco.

In 2015 Youth began hosting the WATU Youth Choir Festival for young singers 12-19 years and in 2018 became a designated UNESCO City of Music Cultural Organisation. The creation of WATU resulted from YAV’s wonderful experiences participating in national and international festivals, and understanding the importance of new friendships and exchanging ideas. Over the three festivals undertaken thus far, YAV has commissioned composers Stephen Leek, Carl Crossin OAM, Lisa Young, and Paul Jarman to write new works for combined youth choir forces.  In Australia they have performed at the Gondwana World Choral Festival on Gadigal Country/Sydney and the Festival of Voices in Nipaluna/Hobart.

YAV has a Composer in Residence program, working closely with composers in workshop and performance.  The choristers have welcomed the wisdom, knowledge and generosity of spirit that has accompanied learning and working with new composers. They are proud to be part of this legacy of Australian youth choir repertoire which contributes to the greater musical language of Australian composition.  They have commissioned over 20 works to date.

YAV has performed in orchestral classics, films scores, theatre, opera, music theatre, and film — plus some iconic rock and roll.  We have collaborated with the Adelaide International Festival of the Arts, Adelaide Fringe, OzAsia Festival, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Slingsby Theatre Company for Young People, the Art Gallery of South Australia, the State Opera of South Australia, Australian Ballet and the Rolling Stones.  They recorded the international release of the YAV and ASO commissioned work What Do You Do With An Idea? composed by Paul Rissmann, which is available to schools and educational institutions around the world.

Having missed our international tour in April 2020, we are thrilled to be on the road again, presenting our music to the world!

Conductor Colmcille Ladies Choir

Sheila Carlin was born in Derry Northern Ireland and began studying piano at an early age. As a church choir member she developed a love of a Capella repertoire of Palestrina and Victoria and became interested in the technique of organ playing. This led to organ studies and eventually to the post of assistant organist in the church. She continued her musical studies at college in Belfast where as well as taking part in several university and civic choirs she undertook courses in Gregorian chant and choral conducting as part of her music degree.

As Head of the Music department in a large grammar school she was responsible for orchestral training, string ensembles, folk groups and junior and senior choirs, this last being invited to take part in a combined choir of 400 pupils which toured Ireland under auspices of the United nations in 1995.

She has been Musical Director of the Colmcille Choir for 35yrs and enjoys training and conducting the choir in their varied repertoire which includes folk, liturgical and concert pieces as well as more competitive music.

Organist Colmcille Ladies Choir

Declan Carlin is from Derry in Northern Ireland and began learning piano and organ at an early age. At university he studied history but music was always his first love

He has been accompanist to the Colmcille Choir for over 30yrs covering a large repertoire of musical genres including sacred and secular music. He also enjoys playing jazz music and has travelled widely playing at numerous international festivals

Over the years he has been organist at many churches in the North West of Ireland and is currently resident organist and choir director at St Columba’s Church Long Tower Derry

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