12th - 21st November 2010

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Soaring Voices-Feis Chaiseal Mumhan-Singing Competitions 2010
John Spillane- An unmissable concert with Ireland’s most celebrated singer/songwriter and special guest Laura Rice
DUO CHAGALL-an evening of classical music
The Irish Sopranos and Local Choirs

Soaring Voices- Singing Competitions 2010

Cashel Arts Fest is delighted to present its fifth annual Feis Chaiseal Mumhan-Solo Singing and Church Choirs’ Competitions.

The Billy Darcy Memorial Bursary: The solo singing competition is open to all singers aged 8-21 with the only requirement being two contrasting part songs with or without piano accompaniment. The duration of each performance will be no longer than 5 minutes. Please note that original CDs are NOT permitted in the competition.

The Sr. Rosarii Memorial Cup: The choral competition rules are that each choir will perform two pieces of church music, which must not be more than 10 minutes in duration. A piano will be available with the services of an accompanist but music must be submitted by November 2nd should you wish to avail of this.

Please contact Cashel Heritage Centre for an application form or
click here to download the form

Date	Saturday, 13th November 2010
Time	Registration for Solo Singing at 9.30 am. Competitions start at 10.00am Registration for Church Choirs at 2.00 pm. Competitions start at 2.30pm
Venue	Brú Ború
Cost	€5 entry fee per solo singer
	€20 entry fee per choir
	Spectators free

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John Spillane- An unmissable concert with Ireland’s most celebrated singer/songwriter and special guest Laura Rice

JOHN SPILLANE is a musician, songwriter, performer, recording artist, storyteller, poet, dreamer - a canvass filled with color and brilliance. His music transports the listener; his live performance captivates the audience. In a world filled with strife and upheaval, a time-out with John Spillane is enough to ease the load a bit on anyone lucky enough to bask in his light. The man and his music are pure magic. What makes John special is that he is an artist who knows how to deliver all that he has to offer to anyone of any age, male or female, no matter the musical preference. Place him in the genre of folk, acoustic, traditional, world or pop - that’s fine with John. He’s a man who is very comfortable in his skin. Whether performing solo with guitar, with gentle accompaniment or with full band before 10, 10,000 or 100,000, John entertains, charms, and mesmerizes.

John is a native of Cork, the County he lovingly describes as “the centre of the universe”, and it has been a huge creative influence on him. Vocally, he is quite unique with an almost sean nós-like element in his singing and he is said to have a voice “full of honesty, commitment and sensitivity”.

Two-time Meteor award winner, John is one of the most accomplished songwriters in Ireland today. Among those who have covered his songs are Christy Moore, Karan Casey, Pauline Scanlon, Cathy Ryan, Sharon Shannon, Sean Keane, George Murphy, to name a few. He performs to audiences large and small everywhere. From his heart-warming visit to Senegal to film a “musical visit” for an Irish television series (where he met and played music with, among others, the legendary Baaba Maal), to his 2008 Australian tour where he sang the Irish National Anthem before 45,000 people attending the Australia v. Ireland Ozzie Rules Football, to singing for the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese (by invitation), and so on ad infinitum … John’s performances shimmer with the magic realism that permeates many of his songs as he effortlessly flits between beautiful poetry tinged with melancholy to roguish, irreverent Cork humour. If you are looking for a night of good ‘craic’, a John Spillane show should not be missed

“….funny, quirky, massively entertaining. John is a story teller, a shanachie.” Dan Regan, Founder, Kansas City Irish Festival

“He has carved a niche writing melodic, compelling, simple songs. Spillane is at his best when his delivery is unforced and lyrical.” Oliver P. Sweeney, The Ticket, Irish Times (”My Dark Rosaleen & The Island of Dreams

Date	Saturday, 13th November 2010
Time	9.00pm
Venue	Brú Ború
Cost	€15

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DUO CHAGALL- an evening of classical music

One of Ireland’s foremost classical music partnership, DUO CHAGALL came into being in 1990 when two music students met at the Guildhall School of Music, London. Dublin-born violinist Gillian Williams and French cellist Arun Rao have since then brought this most demanding combination to audiences throughout Ireland. Their shared passion for sound and constant striving for musical integrity, allied to an impeccable command of famously challenging music, have earned DUO CHAGALL public and critical acclaim. Along with twentieth-century works by Ravel, Kodaly, Martinu, Honegger and Gliere, DUO CHAGALL have programmed the rarely performed Duets for violin and viola by Mozart. They have also contributed to the Duo repertoire with their 2000 and 2001 World-Premieres of works by Irish composers Raymond Deane and Rhona Clarke.

DUO CHAGALL has recently recorded works by Ravel, Milhaud and the celebrated Passacaille adapted by Johan Halvorsen from Haendel’s Harpsichord Suite. The Duo was invited to host a Concert Series in Pezenas (South of France) in July 2009; a second Series in 2010 will include a recital for solo strings and organ. In addition to their activities as solo and chamber music performers, Ms Williams and Mr Rao are committed to music education in Dublin and have been members of staff at the DIT Conservatoire since 1994.

The Irish Sopranos and Local Choirs

The Irish Sopranos wow audiences with their sensational voices wherever they go. Wendy Dwyer, Kay Lynch and Deirdre Masterson are the créme de la créme of Irish classical vocal talent.

All three have had extensive classical training and each possesses a very distinctive, very individual voice. The voices together comprise lyric, lyric coloratura and dramatic soprano, producing a wonderful harmonic texture and lending themselves perfectly to the ravishing harmonies for which The Irish Sopranos are fast gaining a name.

Before coming together to form the group, Wendy, Kay and Deirdre have built hugely impressive individual performance portfolios. Between them they have vast experience on a wide variety of entertainment platforms from lead-singer with Riverdance to soloists on the International Operatic Stage.

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