In-keeping with many of the great cathedrals in Europe, the establishment of the Girls’ Choir of St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin, in 2009 was an important development in the musical life of the Pro-Cathedral. This was in response to a groundswell of interest from the wider musical community associated with the Palestrina Choir, in particular the desire to afford similar musical education and experiences to girls. Spearheaded by a dedicated group comprising Angela McCann, Mary Ward, Germaine Carlos and Blanaid Murphy, the concept was fully endorsed by the then Administrator of the Pro-Cathedral, Canon John Flaherty.
The choir was inaugurated at the Vigil Mass of Pentecost on 30 May 2009. It was a most joyful and special occasion and the Pro-Cathedral was full to capacity. Volunteer fundraising and personal sponsorship, in particular from Robert Burke and Michael O’Brien, and the support of the current Administrator, Fr Kieran McDermott, has ensured the choir’s continuity over its first decade and into the future. The Girls’ Choir has developed into a fine Cathedral choir, one which has its own identity and which is able to enrich and enhance the liturgical and musical life at the Pro-Cathedral. In addition to its significant contribution to this liturgical life, the choir has enjoyed several trips and tours, to the United Kingdom (Ely, Cambridge & Southwark Cathedrals), Neerpelt in Belgium, Paris, Prague, Vienna & Limburg in Germany. (Blánaid Murphy)
Blánaid Murphy, Director
Blánaid Murphy, director Picture Blánaid Murphy is regarded as one of Ireland’s leading conductors. She has been Director of The Palestrina Choir since 2002. She was Organ Scholar at Selwyn College Cambridge University, where she read music. She furthered her studies at the Musikhochschule in Stuttgart, obtaining a Masters degree. Her performances have taken her across Europe and the United States and she has conducted virtually all of the large-scale choral repertoire.
Ms. Murphy has a distinguished reputation as an interpreter of the choral works of J.S. Bach, having conducted many of his major choral works, including annual performances of the Passions. She also holds the honour of being the most frequent conductor in Dublin’s legendary 10-year Bach cantatas series, which ran from 2001-2010.
Ms. Murphy is in constant demand as a choral director, conductor, adjudicator, consultant and educator. In addition, she is a lecturer in choral conducting on Masters and Doctoral performance programmes at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin. To date she has been choral director of RTÉ Children’s Choir Cór na nÓg and at the Conservatory of Music and Drama (DIT). She is currently director of The Palestrina Choir, since 2002, St Mary’s Pro- Cathedral Girls’ Choir, since its inception in 2009, Dublin Bach Singers, Carlow Choral Society, the Royal Irish Academy of Music Chorale and Continuum Youth Choir.
Blánaid’s impressive discography numbers over a dozen CDs, highlights of which include Masses of Belgian composer Flor Peeters, CÓR, a collection of Irish choral music on the Arisis label, several CDs of Christmas music, and the ever-popular The Bells of The Angelus CD with The Palestrina Choir. Blánaid was also chorus master on the record-breaking Faith of our Fathers CD.
The choir was inaugurated at the Vigil Mass of Pentecost on 30 May 2009. It was a most joyful and special occasion and the Pro-Cathedral was full to capacity. Volunteer fundraising and personal sponsorship, in particular from Robert Burke and Michael O’Brien, and the support of the current Administrator, Fr Kieran McDermott, has ensured the choir’s continuity over its first decade and into the future. The Girls’ Choir has developed into a fine Cathedral choir, one which has its own identity and which is able to enrich and enhance the liturgical and musical life at the Pro-Cathedral. In addition to its significant contribution to this liturgical life, the choir has enjoyed several trips and tours, to the United Kingdom (Ely, Cambridge & Southwark Cathedrals), Neerpelt in Belgium, Paris, Prague, Vienna & Limburg in Germany. (Blánaid Murphy)
Blánaid Murphy, Director
Blánaid Murphy, director Picture Blánaid Murphy is regarded as one of Ireland’s leading conductors. She has been Director of The Palestrina Choir since 2002. She was Organ Scholar at Selwyn College Cambridge University, where she read music. She furthered her studies at the Musikhochschule in Stuttgart, obtaining a Masters degree. Her performances have taken her across Europe and the United States and she has conducted virtually all of the large-scale choral repertoire.
Ms. Murphy has a distinguished reputation as an interpreter of the choral works of J.S. Bach, having conducted many of his major choral works, including annual performances of the Passions. She also holds the honour of being the most frequent conductor in Dublin’s legendary 10-year Bach cantatas series, which ran from 2001-2010.
Ms. Murphy is in constant demand as a choral director, conductor, adjudicator, consultant and educator. In addition, she is a lecturer in choral conducting on Masters and Doctoral performance programmes at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin. To date she has been choral director of RTÉ Children’s Choir Cór na nÓg and at the Conservatory of Music and Drama (DIT). She is currently director of The Palestrina Choir, since 2002, St Mary’s Pro- Cathedral Girls’ Choir, since its inception in 2009, Dublin Bach Singers, Carlow Choral Society, the Royal Irish Academy of Music Chorale and Continuum Youth Choir.
Blánaid’s impressive discography numbers over a dozen CDs, highlights of which include Masses of Belgian composer Flor Peeters, CÓR, a collection of Irish choral music on the Arisis label, several CDs of Christmas music, and the ever-popular The Bells of The Angelus CD with The Palestrina Choir. Blánaid was also chorus master on the record-breaking Faith of our Fathers CD.