Cór Ainglí:

The Cór Ainglí (Angelic Choir) played to packed houses in both Oakland and Santa Cruz in December, 2008. The choir, which was comprised of 24 singers, joined with Libby Mc Laren’s Winterberry Carollers of Oakland to present a program of Christmas carols with a uniquely Irish flavor. The evening was made up of three parts: one set from each of the choirs, then a set featuring both choirs together, with the two choir directors (Mary and Libby) soloing.

The first and last set were entirely in Gaelic while the middle set from the Winterberry Carollers was representative of other world Christmas music. The two choirs coming together at the end meant that forty voices were joined together in Irish Gaelic to sing carols ancient and modern.

Katie Loveless did a superb job of conducting both choirs so that Mary and Libby could be free to solo during the third section. Steve Coulter (on harp) and Theo Paige (on bodhrán and fiddle) provided sterling accompaniment for the Cór Ainglí and graced us with a few additional tunes to vary the evening. Jennifer Jolly did a wonderful job as pianist for the Winterberry Carollers and joined with the other musicians on the last set to accompany both choirs.

Other Cór Ainglí soloists included Janet Herman, Katie Loveless, Laura Reeve, Stephen Westfold, Stephen Bigger and Audrey Nickel. The material ranged from medieval carols to Gaelic translations of Victorian carols, culminating in an arrangement of Silent Night, beginning with the Douglas Hyde translation (Oíche Chiúin) sung by the Cór Ainglí, moving into an original arrangement of the English version sung by the Winterberry Carollers, and finishing with an invitation to the audience to join in this most beloved of Christmas carols.

The venues in both cities were well suited to Christmas choral music.  Oakland’s Chapel Of The Chimes provided a Christmas-type atmosphere with its festive decorations and Santa Cruz’s Holy Cross Church is famous for its glorious acoustics!

The 2009 Cór Ainglí concert at Holy Cross will take place on Friday, December 18. Other venues and details will be announced later.

CHORAL WORKSHOPS

In order to keep everyone “tuned up” through the year, Mary is offering a series of monthly Choral workshops beginning February, 2009.  These workshops are designed to develop vocal skills and expertise rather than focusing on Gaelic pronunciation and will help singers come into the rehearsal season with more confidence and ability.

The workshops are also open to potential choir members. This provides a wonderful opportunity for a “try-out” on both sides. If you are considering auditioning for the Cór Ainglí then please sign up for the workshops — it’s the perfect way to see if this choir is a good match for you!

Workshops take place at the Circles Church, 111 Errett Circle, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 on Sunday afternoons 1.30 - 4.30 on the following dates: Feb 22 / Mar 29 / April 26 / May 31 / June 28. Please register by emailing mary@marymclaughlin.com

Rehearsals for the 2009 Cór Ainglí Christmas concerts will begin on Sunday afternoons mid-September — details to be announced later.

http://www.marymclaughlin.com/