The end of term concerts at the WIT Music School are often a mixed assortment of talent and styles but this year in the College Street Chapel, this was an event of much beauty and achievement. Adults who return to college, especially for music, are often fulfilling a life-long ambition or finally satisfying a nagging voice of creativity put on hold for family etc. Some want to explore their voice; others in the process of rehearsal, discover a voice that surprises them.
I think that music is within us all, but we have to discover or re-discover it. With the expert guidance of accompanists Geraldine Bennett and Marion Ingoldsby, they blossomed before an appreciative audience.
Ursula Kenny opened proceedings with a Phantom song with soaring thrills and a lively Mozart aria from Figaro. Gretta Falvey surprised me with her light, but pleasing, voice for I Dreamt I Dwelt (I know her as an excellent artist).
A young Sarah McSweeney had confident mezzo tones for Giordani’s Caro Mio Ben and another wistful tune, Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again. Benedith Mbala, picked her way on piano for Amazing Grace and Margaret McEvoy soared with Panis Angelicus and a measured Summertime.
Carmel Gavin smiled her way through Santa Lucia and I Dreamed A Dream. Padraig Creedon duetted on piano with his tutor Julie Quinlan and she played the euphonium for Legend, a difficult piece for piano and euphonium that impressed me. Elspeth Hayes was in fine concert mood for two expressive pieces and Joanne McCabe displayed a strong expressive voice for a Schubert setting of a Faust song.
After the interval, the beautiful young voice of Chloe McGrath showed that the world is full of happiness with On My Own and the wonderful Unexpected Song by Lord Webber for his then partner, Sarah Brightman.
Anne McAuliffe journeyed Over The Rainbow in her search for Young Lovers. Jennifer Kavanagh touched my heart with the pity of O Mio Babbino Caro and the tender beauty of Don’t Cry For Me Argentina. Jennifer sings with the National Youth Choir. Jennifer Bolger was in happy mood for two sparkling piano pieces and Mairead Phelan entertained with the regret song Like A Golden Dream and a fully An Poc Ar Buile and the audience joined in on the chorus, as Gaeilge.
Anthony Woods showed a fine baritone style to bring the evening to a close with Music of the Night and a rousing, Oklahoma.
