Theme: Pilgrims for Christ
The Irish Church Music Association Summer School begins tomorrow Thursday 2 July in Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Co Kildare and will run until Sunday 5 July. The Summer school provides musicians from around the country and beyond with an opportunity to sing and pray together, learning the best music of past and present. This year’s theme is Pilgrims for Christ.
The Summer school will nourish attendees at all stages of their journey through school and parish as active participants in liturgy. The music repertoire for this year has been selected from a number of modern Irish Church music composers in addition to traditional pieces to enhance Eucharist, celebration of Sacraments and Liturgy of the Hours for school, parish and cathedral liturgical celebrations.
This year’s guest director is Andrew Reid who was an organ scholar at Saint Matthew’s, Northampton, at Saint Catherine’s and Robinson Colleges, Cambridge and at Westminster Cathedral, before becoming Assistant Master of Music at Westminster Abbey where he was Sub Organist and played at many national services. In 2004 he became Director of Music at Peterborough Cathedral and also ran activities in the surrounding community such as ‘Sing Up’ workshops for schools. His career as an organist has included recordings of works by Widor, Kodaly, MacMillan and others and he has given recitals in the UK, USA and Europe. He became Director of the Royal School of Church Music in 2012.
Workshops at this year’s Summer School will cover music for advent and christmas, music for lent and reconciliation, music for the Easter season and music for the sacraments:
Father Paul Kenny will lead the workshop ‘A Light has Shone – Music for Advent and Christmas’. Father Kenny is a priest of the Archdiocese of Dublin and has been a member of the ICMA for many years. He has led workshops and also directed the summer school. In 2012 he was the director of music for the 50th International Eucharistic Congress and has been involved in the promotion and development of a large number of music collections over the years. This workshop will explore repertoires for the season and reflect on the different character of each Sunday of Advent. It will also look at how parishes can face the challenge of providing a musical welcome for people who might only attend Mass at Christmas.
Ian Callanan will lead the workshop ‘Hold Fast to Christ – Music for Lent and Reconciliation’. Ian has been involved with liturgical music for many years and has been composing music for over 20 years. Published by GIA Publications, he is an accomplished composer, arranger, score editor and workshop leader. He holds an honours masters degree in Religion and Culture from Mater Dei, Dublin and an honours degree in Music from NUI Maynooth. He has been a very popular workshop presenter over the years at the summer school and is also the director of the “Emmanuel” programme, for the Archdiocese of Dublin and “Seinn” for Limerick and Killaloe Dioceses, which involve over 3,000 secondary students, learning new liturgical music, culminating in a celebration concert. This workshop will explore the mysteries of this most solemn season, during which the Church journeys with Christ through the desert and to the Cross of Calvary through the celebration of the sacred liturgy, through the lens of sung texts and chants.
Marian Gaynor will lead the workshop ‘From Darkness to Light – Music for the Easter Season’. Marian has been a very popular workshop presenter over the years at the summer school. She is the Director of Music in Carlow Cathedral. Her professional development has encompassed the study of voice and choral conducting with the CME Institute (USA); ABCD, London; CNC, Ireland, and the Estill Voice System, UK. Marian specialises as a Music Educator for young children, designing and facilitating music education programs for primary schools, community events and festivals, while also facilitating Department of Education in-service teaching training courses for primary teachers. The Easter Triduum and season hold a special place of power in the Church’s year. They are a time for deepening faith and welcoming new and returning Christians. This workshop will carefully explore the richness the rites give us for musical involvement.
Ciaran Coll will lead the workshop ‘Singing Through the Sacraments’. Ciaran is originally from Donegal and is a secondary school teacher in Dublin at Saint Mary’s Holy Faith School. He conducts a youth choir in Our Lady of Victories church in Dublin. He led the New Generation Youth Choir at last year’s summer. Ciaran is also a composer of liturgical music. This workshop will explore the sacramental nature of liturgy and life. It will include musical and ritual examples for each of the sacraments.
For more information on the Summer School and to download the brochure and booking form please see the website of the Irish Church Music Association http://www.irishchurchmusicassociation.com/.
For media contact: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Brenda Drumm 00353 (0) 87 310 4444
