Congratulations to all competitors who participated in the U16 Vocal competions, as part of the Newpark Musical Festival on Sunday 13th May. What a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning amidst beautiful singing, and a high standard of performances that took place. The students involved worked very hard to prepare for this competition on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday lunchtimes. It was my pleasure to accompany the students. (Click on thumbnail to open an enlarged version of image.)
Leanna Morgan who is a 2nd Year student won 3rd place out of 27 participants. Katie McCrea Richardson, a Transition Year student, received a Very Highly Commended Certificate. All singers were given a comment sheet with advice for future singing.
Katie then participated in the U16 classical competition. Here she walked away with 1st Prize, out of 17 participants. She will sing on Saturday 19th May, at the Prizewinners concert. Congratulations Katie. What a big accomplishment to achieve in Transition Year!
I hope students caught the competitive bug, and next year Newpark Festival better watch out. I really enjoyed working with all the talented individuals over the past few months. It was especially lovely to work with a sister of a past pupil who also participated in the festival.
Thank you for the all the support especially from parents, staff and pupils of Stratford College who joined us on the day.
Don't forget to look up the podcasts on the bottom left hand side of the school websites homepage, and on the Music Blog. Participants will greatly appreciate your support and encouragement. Remember these students range from13 years of age to 15 years. I am struck by their confidence and musical ability. I personally could not pick a winner out of this group. Could you?
Ms. Conlon
I got first place out of 17 students competing in the Classical singing competition, singing "Sure on this Shining Night" by Samuel Barber. I was absolutely thrilled to win and very surprised. The judge is the head of vocals in the Royal Irish Academy and I've been invited to sing in a concert on Saturday, 19th May.
This year I decided to celebrate the wonderfully imaginative and articulate work of our students by providing them with a forum to present them to the whole school. Each year group presented their best work. Unfortunately, their critical essays, which have been outstanding, have been excluded as their content wouldn't be suitable from an entertainment point of view. Watch the video highlights and listen to the podcasts to enjoy it all again.
Ms. Reynolds
Listen to the podcast of a 6th Year student playing Beethoven's 1st Movement of the Sonata in G Major, Opus 64.
Battle of the Bands was organised by Katie Richardson McCrea, Diarmaid Kelly, Abi Grainger, Michael Lawlor, Alice Banville and Daniel Kelly. Ten bands played on the night with "Zero" coming in first place and winning a place at Dublin's Soul Festival in May. Alex Lai (6th Year) and Jake Regan (5th Year) are both students at Stratford.
One band also included students from the school - performing alongside Mr. Russell. There was also a special return of 2011 past pupils - Luke McGuinness, Gary Byrne, Tadgh Charles, Jack Flannery and Eoin Kearns playing in "Hello Tasty". (Click on thumbnails to open an enlarged version of image.)
Bhí Cath na mBannaí ar siúl sa scoil ar an gceithre lá déag de Mhárta agus bhí se ar fheabhas. Bhí a lán bannaí ag seinm ach an banna ab fhearr liom ná Segrassa, mar nuair a bhí siad ag seinm bhí mo chroí I mo bhéal.
Bhí an halla dubh le daoine agus bhí a lán rí –rá agus ruaille buaille ann. Bhí an t-atmaisféar leitreach. Bhí daoine ag canadh in ard a gcinn is a nguth. Fuair mé radharc maith ar an ardán agus bhí mé in aice le mo chairde.
Ag leath am bhí gach duine ag ithe milseán ón Siopa Tuc. Fuair mé paicéad criospaí agus buidéal cóic. Bhí an oíche go hiontach agus chuaigh mé abhaile go déanach. Bhí mé tuirseach traochta agus caite amach. Chodail mé go sámh an oíche sin. (Bruigh ar thumbnail chun an grianghraf a mhéadú.)
Bhí ceolchoirm ar siúl inár scoil inné I gcomhair Seachtain na Gaeilge ar an tríú lá déag de Mhárta. Thosaigh sé ar a dó a chlog.
Ar dtús bhí Robert agus Jake ag canadh agus ag seinm an giotáir. Bhí siad ar fheabhas. Ansin chan an Cór amhrán álainn. Tar éis sin rinne mé damhsa gaelach, an Pre-Open Reel agus an Intermediate Single na hainmneacha a bhí orthu. Sheinn Eleanor "Danny Boy" ar an veidhlín. Thaitin sé go mór liom. Rinne mé damhsa eile ansin, Hornpipe le bróga treble. Ina dhiaidh sin chan mo rang go léir, an dara bliain, ceithre amhráin as Gaeilge. Chan Ms Mulligan amhrán, "Buachaill ó Éire", linn ansin. Chan Alec amhrán gaelach freisin agus sheinn sé an giotár. Bhí sé an deas.
Chuaigh Muintir Lysaght ar an stáitse ansin agus sheinn siad cúpla port traidisiúnta. Bhí Marc an buachaill is óige ar fheabhas ar fad ar na píoba uilleann. Sheinn Turlough an chláirseach agus bhí se go hálainn.
Ansin chuaigh m’athair féin, an t-Uasal Nelkin ar an stáitse agus chan sé, "Mo Chuisle", amhrán an deas. Ina dhiaidh sin rinne Diarmaid ‘rap’ as Gaeilge agus bhí se an ghreannmhar agus an mhaith. Bhí an halla dubh le daoine. Tháinig an bhunscoil agus bhí an t-atmaisféar an bhríomhar. Bhí a lan rí-rá agus ruaille buaille ann. Bhí Ms. Conlon ag seinm an piano. Bhí Ms. Gordon ar muin na muice. Bhí an la ar fheabhas agus is aoibhinn liom Seachtain na Gaeilge. (Bruigh ar thumbnails chun an grianghraf a mhéadú.)
