A COUNTY Down choir is to mark its 75th anniversary with a performance at the former Carrickfergus Gasworks.
Donaghadee Male Voice Choir will appear at the site - now home to the Flame gasworks museum - on Monday (January 28).
The choice of what may seem an unlikely venue for choral music reflects the history of the choir.
Flame development officer Sh
aron Mushtaq explained: “They were actually formed in Donaghadee gasworks. The reason the choir started was since working in the gasworks was such a dirty job, the men didn't leave the site at lunchtime and passed the time by singing.
“As Carrick has the only gasworks left in Ireland, I invited them along to sing.”
The choir was formed in 1932 by members of a vocal octet which had performed in Shore Street Presbyterian Church, Donaghadee, since the 1920s. Rehearsals at the gasworks soon drew 30 members, prompting a move to the local Methodist manse due to lack of space.
Its first performance in Carrickfergus took place in 1934, when it took second prize in its category at the local Music Festival. During the 1980s, it was awarded four first prizes.
Since 1968, when it was rescued from near-extinction, the choir has won awards at music festivals across the UK and appeared in Bulgaria, the United States, Malta, Canada and Greece. In September, members will step on stage at New York’s 2,800-capacity Carnegie Hall.
The anniversary year is also conductor and musical director Robert Wilson’s 40th in the role.
A total of 50 choir members are expected to take part in the performance, which starts at 7.30pm. For tickets, contact 9085 1006 after 6.00pm.
The full article contains 284 words and appears in Carrick Times newspaper.
