Moate Children’s Choir have won the ESB Feis Ceoil  Junior Choir Competition 2015 at the RDS in Dublin.

The 30 strong Choir from Moate, are walking on air after scooping 1^st prize in the Junior Choir’s category of the competition which took place on Wednesday 18^th March.

Under the choral direction of Ciaran Brady (Director of The Academy of Music, Tullamore) the young singers captivated a packed auditorium with their performances of “I Hear Spring Calling” and “The Birds Lament” accompanied on piano by Tatyana Vykhodsteva.

Beating off stiff competition from several well polished choral performances from all around the country, it was a nail-biting wait for the final results, and it was music to the ears of all involved when they were deemed the outright winners.

The judges applauded the choir in all aspects of their singing and singled them out for praise for being "a well disciplined group, with excellent vocal production, technical knowledge and a captivating performance".

As winners of their category the choir were invited to perform at the “Winners Concert” at 7pm in the RDS Concert Hall where they wowed audience of a packed luxurious auditorium. They were also recorded and interviewed by RTE Television for a special documentary to be aired in April. A life long memory for all involved.

The choir were also treated to a tour of UCD which was organised by Jayne Horan (Choir Assitant) where they got to see the workings of a Steinway piano in the UCD Music Department and took several tours of the college before being treated to a movie.

Sunday the 18th of May 2014 was a very exciting day for Moate Children's Choir. After weeks of rehearsals the choir finally performed a 1 hour live Broadcast of the RTE religious programme Sunday Worship on RTE1 television , radio and on line.  
The thirty strong member choir conducted by Ciarán Brady of Moate and accompanied by Pro-Cathedral Organ Scholar Adam Collins of Mullingar, travelled by coach to the Rte Television studios in Donnybrook where they performed a variety of pieces including those by Cesar Franck and the Romantic composer Gabriel Faure.  
Mons. Bernard Noonan delivered a most memorable service which reached thousands of people around the world via the power of the internet.
Those who tuned into the live televised and radio broadcast were treated to a message of hope and positivity.  
The program was introduced by a 5 minute showcase of the town of Moate. It focused on Moate children's choir itself, and on the positive community activities and initiatives in the town of Moate and the surrounding parishes of Castledaly and Mount Temple.  

After the Broadcast, the Choir and congregation (made up of families and friends of the Choir) were treated to a tour of the Fair City set by RTE Director Michael Sweeney and the RTE Broadcasting Coordinator Paul G Sheridan.  

Moate Children’s Choir was founded in 2007 by its Director Ciaran Brady and is a training ground for young singers in the Midland regions. The average age of the choir is 10 years old.

The choir work with sheet music, learn to sight read, and receive vocal training through an enjoyable environment whilst being immersed in fine choral music, which is specifically chosen for the development of young voices.
The choir won first place at Limerick Choral Festival 2012 and were successful at Arklow Music Festival in 2013. In 2011 the Children were gifted with a piece composed for the choir by Colin Mawby after working with him in Master Classes.

They have travelled throughout the country for guest performances including a performance at Galway Cathedral last May. Last December (after making a recording of a Benjamin Britten work ) they were short listed as Finalists in RTE Lyric FM’s “Choir for Christmas” and were subsequently broadcast on radio.   

 The Choir rehearse every Thursday in Moate Community Hall and new members are more than welcome to come along at any time and see if they enjoy it. All children are welcome and no audition is required. Contact Details: 086-0678250 or info@theacademyofmusic.ie

For more details and images visit www.theacademyofmusic.ie