Choir to take bite out of the Big Apple

The nineteen girls will be accompanied by the two music teachers, and will spend five days in the famous American city in January.

On Friday, the choir and their teachers were invited to a special reception in the Mayor’s Parlour, where they gave a performance for staff.

Teacher and conductor, Mr McCreary told The Times: “This all came about by accident. The girls reached the final of the BBC Radio Ulster School Choir of the Year last year, we were then invited to participate in the Carnegie Hall premiere performance of Karl Jenkins’ Songs of Sanctuary. It’s a great opportunity for the girls.”

Sophie Glass, an upper sixth pupil, actually took a tour of the world famous venue on a trip of New York last year. “I never thought that I would be back at Carnegie Hall to actually perform myself on stage, it’s an amazing trip and one that we are all looking forward to,” she said.

Another pupil, Abigail McNeill told how the choir have been rehearsing ‘non stop’ for the US performance, and their forthcoming gala night at Ulster University.

“It’s such an iconic place, and one of New York’s most famous venues,” she the teenager.

Mayor, Michelle Knight McQuillan, a former Coleraine High School pupil herself, was left with goose bumps after listening to the choir’s performance at Cloonavin on Friday. Describing the local teens as ‘extremely talented’, cllr Knight McQuillan said: “I have no doubt that you will be ambassadors for Coleraine and indeed Northern Ireland during your trip to New York,” she said.

Tickets are still available for the fund raising Gala Variety Concert will take place this Friday, October 30 in the Diamond at UUC. The evening will be hosted by Sarah Travers and will feature Kaz Hawkins, The Linley Hamilton Trio, Clive and Adrian Culbertson with Rod McVey, and The Rhythm Rascals,.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.eventbrite.co.uk or from the school.