MEGAN MOONEY - ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Megan Jane Mooney has been working as the Artistic Director of The Flax Trust since September 2015. She has studied with teachers such as Dr Angela Feeney and Jenny Bourke at Queen’s University Belfast and is currently studying with the world-renowned Dr Veronica Dunne at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Megan was awarded a BMus (Hons) from Queen’s University Belfast in 2014 and a DipMus (Hons) in Performance and Teaching from the Royal Irish Academy of Music in 2015. Megan has given critically

acclaimed performances in both the musical theatre and operatic worlds, playing roles such as Maria from Bernstein’s West Side Story and The Sorceress in Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas. Megan has given performances in Belfast’s Grand Opera House, The Waterfront Hall, The Riverside Theatre, Theatre at the Mill, the Market Place Theatre and was chosen out of 600 to perform as “Tracy” in a showcase of Hairspray at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London.

Aside from theatrical performance, Megan is also an avid recital artist, having given performances at The International Lions Convention in the Waterfront Hall, The 2015 Young Artist Recital in Queen’s University for being top of her class and a performance at the Thomas Moore 250th Anniversary Concert. Other performances include the top vocalist award at the CCEA concert in 2010 for her GCSE music, a performance alongside Peter Corry at the Making a Difference Awards at the Grand Opera House and a recording for the short film A Wonderful Story which won A Boston Academy Award.

Megan is a multiple prize winner in all the major Northern Irish singing competitions and is a bursary recipient of the Flax Trust.

As the Artistic Director, her role has allowed her to experience the different aspects of putting on concerts to running a sold out Christmas Gala Competition in Belfast City Hall, a competition that will take place again this year.

In the last year, Megan has performed in an array of different concerts, some of her highlights are performing with Barry Douglas and Camarata Ireland, performing in New York and touring with the Celtic Tenors. She was honoured to have been asked to sing the American National Anthem for the American Consul Generals Independence day celebrations.

Megan Has been looking forward to this concert at St. Vincent de Paul Church, Ligoniel.

Musicians from the

CITY OF BELFAST

YOUTH ORCHESTRA Soloist: Helenna Howie

featuringSeamus Brady & Matthew Campbell

CONCERT VENUE:

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CHURCH, LIGONIEL

TUESDAY 11th APRIL at 7:30PM

Sacred Song Concert

Award Winning ChoirsSt.Vincent de Paul Primary School,

Mercy Primary School and The Flax Vocal Ensemble

in aid of St. Joseph’s Centre for the Deaf & Kingham Church for the Deaf

Megan Mooney

HELENNA HOWIE - MEZZO-SOPRANO

Mezzo-soprano Helenna Howie is a music graduate of Bangor University, North Wales. In her final year she specialised in vocal performance and was invited to perform Manuel de Falla’s Seven Popular Spanish Songs at an intimate concert for the Mexican Ambassador during his visit to Wales in June 2014.

While in Wales Helenna performed the role of ‘Bridesmaid’ with Swansea City Opera in their rendition

of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, as well as the romantic female lead in Cavalli’s L’Egisto with Bangor University Opera Society. She has since gone on to work with Northern Ireland Opera in their production of Don Giovanni.

Helenna is a member of the North Wales Opera Studio, performing in numerous engagements across North Wales including the 70th Anniversary of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in 2016.

As well as existing roles, Helenna has experience performing new material, most notably the role of ‘May’ in the premiere of Neil Martin’s Long Story Short: The Belfast Opera in June 2016. The project was nominated for awards at both the Classic FM Music Education Awards in London and The Irish Times Theatre Awards. In contrast, she has performed in the worlds most ancient play Euripides’ The Suppliant Women, a production by Actors Touring Company London staged in the Grand Opera House in response to the current refugee crisis.

As a soloist Helenna has performed in a variety of concerts, most recently at a Charity Concert at the Harbour Commissioners in aid of Cancer Focus NI. She is continuing her studies with Giselle Allen, developing her vocal technique and musicianship.

Expanding her involvement within the arts Helenna has been working with the Flax Trust from the start of this year. Working alongside the Artistic Director, she has co-managed the organisation of the concert series and has enjoyed facilitating outreach work amongst North Belfast Schools through FISCA. She is greatly excited by the upcoming projects in the newly established Flax Trust Arts programme and is delighted to be performing tonight.

MATTHEW CAMPBELL - TENOR

Matthew is a final year music student at Queens University Belfast and plans to continue next year to complete his Masters degree. Matthew works as a Musical Director and freelance musician for a number of companies and performers including West-End star Peter Corry. Matthew has had the pleasure of performing in a number of prestigious venues across the country including a special event in Westminster Palace just a few weeks ago. Having just conducted

a successful run of Evita and assisting the choir to 1st place at the annal FISCA competition, Matthew is delighted to be performing tonight and assisting Fr. Devlin and the wonderful staff and pupils of St. Vincent de Paul Primary School.

SEAMUS BRADY - BASS-BARITONE

Seamus is a 19 year-old baritone from Newry, Co. Down. He originally began studying voice with soprano Fiona Flynn, and is currently studying with Sylvia O’Regan in the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin. Seamus has been a part of a number of sacred music performances, as a member of his previous school choir and of Gaudeamus Chamber Choir, and he is very much looking forward to performing both solo and as part of an ensemble in this sacred concert.

MERCY PRIMARY

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL PRIMARY

The Flax Vocal Ensemble

Look at the World - J. Rutter

Soloist Luke Howath

Megan Mooney, Helenna Howie & Musicians from the City of

Belfast Youth Orchestra

Panis Angelicus - C. Franck

Helenna Howie

But Who May Abide - Handel

Matthew Campbell

In The Quiet - L. Lawton

Megan Mooney,

Nella Fantasia - E. Morricone

The Crucifixion - S. Barber

St. Vincent de Paul Primary & Megan Mooney

Ephesian Prayer- Anon

St. Vincent de Paul Primary & Mercy Primary

Shine, Jesus Shine - G. Kendrick

Helenna Howie

Fac ut portem - Pergolesi

Megan Mooney, Helenna Howie & Seamus Brady

Soave sia il vento - Mozart

Megan Mooney

Ave Maria - Schubert

Mercy Primary

How Beautiful - Trad. Arr

Megan Mooney, Helenna Howie, Matthew Campbell, Seamus

Brady & Musicians from the City of Belfast Youth Orchestra

Ave Verum - Mozart

The Flax Vocal Ensemble

Oh Happy Day - Sister Act

Megan Mooney, The Flax Vocal Ensemble &

Musicians from the City of Belfast Youth Orchestra

Laudate Dominium - Mozart

BIOS

ENSEMBLE FROM THE CITY OF BELFAST YOUTH ORCHESTRA

CONDUCTOR: PAUL MCBRIDE MANAGER: ROBERT BRISCOE

The City of Belfast Youth Orchestra (known as CBYO) is the most senior of the many ensembles in the City of Belfast School of Music, which is administered by the Education Authority’s Belfast Region. Currently in its 62nd season, the CBYO is the oldest Youth Orchestra in Ireland. Every Saturday morning, the young people come together to rehearse under the direction of conductor Paul McBride at the City of Belfast School of Music’s base on Fortwilliam Park, North Belfast.

Tonight eight members of our String section have formed a Chamber Ensemble to accompany some of the vocal items:

Violin: Orla McGarrity, Jamie Howe, Sean Catney, James McKibbenViola: Olivia Copeland, Emma BellCello: Ellen Quinn, Jason Poots

For over 60 years, the CBYO has been part of the cultural life of Belfast. Distinguished CBYO alumni include international flautist Sir James Galway and concert pianist Barry Douglas. Each year the orchestra presents a season of concerts throughout the City, bringing live performances right into the heart of communities. Every two years, the CBYO embarks on an international concert tour with our young people acting as excellent ambassadors, promoting a positive image of Belfast and Northern Ireland abroad. This July the orchestra will embark upon a Concert Tour to Spain and Portugal including a performance at the prestigious Lisbon International Music Festival. This trip comes on the back of successful performances in Boston, New York and the Royal Albert Hall in London to celebrate the CBYO’s 60th anniversary in 2015 which were kindly supported by the Flax Trust.

The invitations to perform in the USA and London and Europe are testimony to the formidable reputation the CBYO has gained, establishing itself as one of the foremost youth orchestras in the United Kingdom. The members of CBYO are delighted to be performing in the beautiful surroundings of St. Vincent de Paul church this evening and would like to thank the Flax Trust for the invitation. For more information on the orchestra please visit www.cbyo.co.uk