Of University College Dublin - theCHORAL SCHOLARS - UCD Choral Scholars
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the
CHORAL SCHOLARS
of University College Dublin
Gifted
YOUNG SINGERS
The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin
Who The Choral Scholars is an internationally-acclaimed chamber
choir of gifted student singers led by founding Artistic Director,
Dr Desmond Earley, based at University College Dublin School
WE ARE of Music. Scholars come from various academic disciplines and
commit to an intensive programme of choral study.
Since its formation in 1999, the choir has maintained strong links
with its family of over two hundred alumni who often return to
perform with the ensemble on the national and international
concert stage.
What This unique scholarship programme broadens the experience of
students at University College Dublin, connecting them to audiences
across the world through live and recorded performances.
WE DO With a classical focus and an inspiration found in the music and
literature of Ireland, the ensemble’s repertoire ranges from
contemporary choral music to the re-imagining of Irish traditional song.
Choral Scholar members serve as ambassadors for University College
Dublin, representing the best of Ireland and its distinct culture.
How
Through a selective audition process, eighteen scholars are chosen
annually. Throughout each semester they receive intense vocal
coaching, language instruction, and performance-practice studies.
WE WORK The choir regularly commissions new works from internationally-
renowned composers. They also participate in specialist workshops
with musicians of the highest calibre.
What differentiates the Choral Scholars from other choirs is a strong
national identity, a commitment to artistic excellence, an ambitious
vision, a joyful camaraderie, and a dynamic, youthful sound.
INVISIBLE IN 2016 THE CHORAL SCHOLARS RELEASED INVISIBLE STARS,
THE CHOIR’S DEBUT ALBUM ON A MAJOR RECORD LABEL,
STARS SHOWCASING THE CHORAL MUSIC OF IRELAND AND SCOTLAND.
1.5 Million 10,000 8,000
INDIVIDUAL
TRACK
STREAMS PHYSICAL AND
DIGITAL ALBUM DOWNLOADS
ON SPOTIFY & APPLE MUSIC SALES
A L B U M R E AC H I N G B E S T- S E L L I N G 2016
80 COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE C H O RA L A L B U M
ON SIGNUM CLASSICS IN 2017
INTERNATIONAL GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION
PRESS • Gramophone Magazine, UK
•
•
•
All Classical Portland, USA
American Public Media, USA
NPR, USA
COLLEGE CHORAL SERIES
published with Seolta Music Ltd (IRL) 7,000
• RTÉ Radio, IRL COPIES OF DESMOND EARLEY’S SCORES
DISTRIBUTED TO CHOIRS WORLDWIDE
SOCIAL MEDIA SENSATION THOUSANDS OF
8Million
FOLLOWERS, FANS
FEATURED VIDEO PARTNER AND SUBSCRIBERS
OF
2
COMBINED VIDEO VIEWS FACEBOOK
22,000 SUBSCRIBERS TWITTER
ON YOUTUBE million followers INSTAGRAM
The debut album on Signum Classics from the Choral Scholars of University College Dublin. Director: Desmond Earley
CULTURAL PROFILE
AMBASSADORS APPEARANCES
Performances in Ireland, Chorus for:
Belgium, the Netherlands, • Ennio Morricone
Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, • Hanz Zimmer
United Kingdom, • Demi Lovato
United States of America. • Young Wonder
ARTISTIC INTERNATIONAL
COLLABORATIONS COMMISSIONS
• RTÉ Concert Orchestra • Ivo Antognini (CH)
• European Union • Eoghan Desmond (IRL)
Chamber Orchestra • Desmond Earley (IRL)
• Ireland’s traditional • Colin Mawby (UK)
music champions • Michael McGlynn (IRL)
• Natasa Paulberg (AUS/IRL)
• Timothy Stephens (USA)
• Bill Whelan (IRL)
EXCELLENCE
The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin
MESSAGE FROM OUR FOUNDING
My mission, as Director, is to create an unparalleled
opportunity for the students of University College
Dublin. Choral Scholars has re-invented the collegiate
choral experience.
Choral Scholars is a different kind of choir with a
different impact on the world.
Choral Scholars illustrates how an ensemble can
achieve international success through a commitment to
outstanding performance standards.
This ensemble provides a special platform for young
singers to work together and experience the benefits of
communication, expression and emotional intelligence
through music. Our work represents the living actuality
of artistic endeavour.
We perform and record imaginative repertoire, enabling
each student to experience choral music through an Irish
lens, in an environment of fellowship. Our practice is
grounded in scholarly research and artistic excellence.
Choral Scholars has already produced a generation of
some of Ireland’s greatest artists, thinkers and leaders.
By altering the course of these young lives, we are
influencing the future.Desmond Earley
Hailed by The Irish Times as has also collaborated with some of
‘enterprising and wide-ranging’, the world's great musicians including
Desmond Earley, Founder and Artistic Sir James Galway, Roy Goodman,
Director of the Choral Scholars Christopher Hogwood, Monica Huggett,
of University College Dublin, has and Konrad Junghaenel.
established a reputation as one of
Ireland's foremost choral directors and As a celebrated composer and
early-keyboard specialists. arranger, Desmond has published
works with Music Sales (UK), Hal
Desmond is a lecturer in Performance Leonard Corporation (USA), Alliance
Studies at University College Dublin Music (USA) and with Seolta Music
(UCD) and serves as rotating Artistic (IRL) where he serves as editor of the
Director of the UCD Ad Astra Academy. international ‘College Choral Series’.
In 2017-2018 he was Visiting Scholar at
Lewis & Clark College, Oregon (USA) His acclaimed work Body of the Moon
and Guest Conductor/Scholar at Bowdoin (2017) based on a setting of texts by
College, Maine (USA). Galileo Galilei, was commissioned by
All Classical Portland Radio (USA) for
As a consort instrumentalist and the total solar eclipse across the United
director, Desmond works with many of States of America. He has created special
the world's finest orchestras including arrangements for renowned ensembles
the Portland Baroque Orchestra, Irish including the RTÉ Concert Orchestra,
Chamber Orchestra, Irish Baroque the Portland Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, (Maine, USA), Tenebrae (UK), and the
European Union Chamber Orchestra and Irish Baroque Orchestra.
English Chamber Orchestra. Desmond
The Choral Scholars of University College DublinCelebrating 20 1999 - 2019
JOIN US AT ONE OF OUR CONCERTS THIS SEASON:
UBLIN: CHORAL CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS (TICKETS)
✵ D8pm, 18-20 December 2018, Newman University Church
EW YORK: CHORAL SCHOLARS AT CARNEGIE HALL (TICKETS)
✵ N7.30pm, Friday 15 March 2019, Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall
✵ DUBLIN: CHORAL SCHOLARS 20TH ANNIVERSARY GALA CONCERT (TICKETS)
7.30pm, Thursday 25 April 2019, National Concert Hall
OTHER EXCITING PLANS FOR THE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY
YEAR OF THE CHOIR IN 2018/2019:
✵ The release of a highly-anticipated second album on Signum Classics
✵ The recording of a third album for Signum Classics
✵ The production and release of new music videos for our growing digital audience on YouTube
✵ Launch of Choral Scholars Endowment-Fund Campaign
✵ New commissions and world premieresThe Choral Scholars of University College Dublin
WHAT
THE Experts say:
The Choral Scholars is one of the best choirs
I’ve worked with on my live tour.
Hans Zimmer, Film Composer & Performer
The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin
is one of the finest college choirs I have ever
heard on my travels: such fabulous intonation,
blend and musicality.
Nigel Short, Artistic Director, Tenebrae Choir
A fantastic choir!
Bill Whelan, Composer and Arranger, Riverdance
The Choral Scholars of University College DublinCritics say:
WHAT
THE
Blending ‘folk’ voices with choral
precision and tight harmony isn’t
easy, but Desmond Earley has a
passionate stake in both and doesn’t
put a foot wrong here. Too many
highlights to list, but Ivo Antognini’s
‘War’ and ‘Peace’ stand out, as do a
lovely arrangement for tenor
of ‘Black is the Colour’ and Earley’s
own ‘He wishes for the cloths of
Heaven’ (after Yeats) […]
★★★★ Choir & Organ Magazine review of
Invisible StarsWHAT THE Fans say: My 6-year-old daughter Katherine and I made an ancestral journey from Kentucky to Ireland for a week during Christmas. Somehow we stumbled upon the Choral Scholars Invisible Stars album and she has been hooked ever since. We now listen to it every night! Thank you so much for producing this album. You now have given a 6-year-old from Kentucky even more to aspire to. Betsy Wade, Louisville, Kentucky, USA The music has been such a gift. Thank you and congratulations on the production of a truly world class choir that is bringing joy, comfort and strength to many people around the world. It is helping us process, express and journey through life's joys and challenges. Matt Chapman, Auckland, New Zealand
WHAT
THE Scholars say:
Twenty years later, when I think of University College Dublin, the Choral
Scholars is what comes to mind every time… the Choral Scholars family was
not only the most important at the time, it is also the one that has vividly
stayed with me over the years.
Stephen Fennelly (class of 1999)
Being a scholar was one of the most formative elements of my college experience.
It was a chance to use a different part of the brain, discover works of art and
expressions of culture that would have never come my way through other student
avenues, and feel a great sense of achievement for working hard with a close group
of people achieving great things!
Linda O’Halloran (class of 2007)
My four years with the Choral Scholars was the most memorable period of my
life during which I gained invaluable transferable skills and life-long friends.
I continued my studies at Duke University School of Law and I can proudly say
that the inter-disciplinary model, work ethic, and pursuit of excellence that the
Choral Scholars cultivates is unrivalled. My experience with the Choral Scholars
played a critical role in securing my position as a lawyer with a prestigious
corporate law firm in New York City.
Óisín O’Callaghan (class of 2015)
The Choral Scholars of University College DublinThe Choral Scholars of University College Dublin
The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin
young artists
this passion for
excellence
part of this
exciting journey
The Choral Scholars of University Gráinne O Hogan,
College Dublin relies on a network Ensemble Manager at
of supporters, advisers and artistic choralscholars@ucd.ie
partners to deliver an ambitious
or +353871152240
programme of musical activity each
year. Your support can transform
the experience of each scholar. If you
can be part of this mission to provide
outstanding opportunities to students
and bring Irish choral music to new
audiences, please contact:the
CHORAL SCHOLARS
of University College Dublin
@choralscholars @UCDChoral UCDChoralScholars www.ucdchoralscholars.ieYou can also read
