Pupils unite in song at Peace Proms concert

A group of choristers from St Nicholas’ Primary have taken part in a prestigious musical event with TV singing star Andrea Begley.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Mar 2014, 16:03 BST
Members of St Nicholas Primary School choir who performed at the Waterfront Peace Prom in the Waterfront Hall with the Cross Border Ochestra of Ireland. INCT 11-046-PSBMembers of St Nicholas Primary School choir who performed at the Waterfront Peace Prom in the Waterfront Hall with the Cross Border Ochestra of Ireland. INCT 11-046-PSB
Members of St Nicholas Primary School choir who performed at the Waterfront Peace Prom in the Waterfront Hall with the Cross Border Ochestra of Ireland. INCT 11-046-PSB

The choir took to the stage in Belfast’s Waterfront Hall at the annual Peace Proms concert last month.

The cross-community event is organised by the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland and aims to bring together children from different traditions and backgrounds.

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The orchestra was established in 1995 as a peace initiative and is now composed of 120 young people from all across Ireland, north and south.

It is led by some of Ireland’s top professional musicians including conductor Gearoid Grant, violinist Patricia Treacy, tenor Emmanuel Lawler, and Uilleann piper, Patrick Martin.

The performance on Sunday February 16 saw the St Nicholas’ group, comprising 25 pupils from primaries five to seven, join hundreds of other young students from around the province.

Also taking part in the initiative were fellow east Antrim schools Mullaghdubh, Kilcoan and Glengormley Integrated along with pupils from Ballyclare Secondary School.

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“We were contacted about this time last year and asked if we wanted to take part in the Peace Proms; we were the only school from the Carrickfergus area to be involved,” said St Nicholas’ principal Cathy Hunter.

“For a small school choir that’s just getting started up it was a brilliant opportunity; we don’t have a dedicated music teacher here and the choir have never done anything like that before.

“They were really excited to be performing with a live orchestra and we had their parents in the audience so they really enjoyed it. It was a great way for the primary seven pupils to finish up their time here as well.”

This year’s Peace Proms programme celebrated a range of music and dance from the Irish and Ulster Scots traditions.

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The pupils also took part in a performance with Co Tyrone songstress Andrea Begley, last year’s winner of ITV talent show The Voice.

The event, which was broadcast by UTV, was attended by Culture Minister Caral Ni Chuilin.

Meanwhile, pupils at St Nicholas’ are currently taking part in rehearsals for a production of The Sound of Music.

The concert will take place on April 9 and 10.

Related topics:Andrea BegleyIrelandBelfast