Summer holidays proved very busy for some Sullivan musicians.
Kate Adair, Georgia Begley, Jennie Pitt, Charlie Gregg, Michael Montgomery and Alex Hardacre successfully auditioned for the Ulster Youth training Choir and spent a week’s residential in Campbell College under the musical direction of Dominic Peckham. The culmination of a week of music making, rehearsals and singing lessons was a concert entitled Rhythm Nation at Craigavon Civic Centre where the choir presented a programme of music spanning from sixteenth century syncopation to the sounds of new contemporary composers.
Anna Gregg, Suzy McDougall, Karis Fitch and Ross McKenna and Jamie Hardacre represented the school at the Ulster Youth Choir who held a residential summer course before their main concert in St. Anne’s Cathedral. The programme consisted of music written about the themes of conflict, resolution and peace. For some members this was followed by a once-in-a lifetime experience of joining the BBC Youth Prom Choir for a performance of Britten’s War Requiem in August at the Royal Albert Hall.
Anna Blake, Samuel Feinberg, Claire Moore (violins), Sophie Pyper (french horn), Amy Hartin (piano) and Cathryn Lynch (percussion) successfully auditioned for the Ulster Youth Orchestra in their 21st year and during an intense residential course prepared their Ulster Hall concert programme which included Smetana Dance of the Comedians, Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in Bb minor and selections from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Suite.
In the Opera House during July Sullivan Upper musical and dramatic talent was well represented in the Opera House Production of Guys and Dolls.