So I placed an order today for 30 hoodies including the committee’s ones too. If there is anyone else that needs a hoody or wants one can they please get in touch with me by Wednesday this week and I can get them added to the order! The final cost which includes a little bit of discount is €23. I know it’s 3 euro more than we intialy though but its still cheaper as i managed to get a few bob taken off due to the big “R” and the fact we’re students and are broke half the time. Now i’ll be collecting some of the money this Wednesday at choir and will also the Wednesday we’re back from Mid-Term, the 24th of March. As soon as the hoodies are in and provided you’ve paid you’ll get one of our new hoodies and will be able to wear it around college or cuel up in it as i must admit they look very comfy!

Anyways have a good week and see you all on wednesday!

Tom x
P.R.O

Well done on rag week rehearsal, I really enjoyed it, thanks guys!

So this is what the next few weeks looks like…

March

Wed 10th — rehearsal
Wed 17th — Paddys day, no choir
Wed 24th — Rehearsal
Wed 31st — Rehearsal

April

Wed 7th — no rehearsal, easter hols
Wed 14th — Gig kilcock (meet 5.30pm)
Wed 21st — Gig Cherry Orchard (meet 5pm)
Wed 28th — Rehearsal

May

Wed 5th — Rehearsal/ end year gig
Fri 7th — Sunday 9th — Trip away!

Trip Away
So this trip away will be super dee dooper (www.gospelrising.com). The committee are meeting on Wed to discuss how we can lower the costs of the trip, but at the moment the cost for the trip away will be €85 per person. This covers everything from workshops to accommodation to shows to gigs to the whole lot. It does not include food (apart from breakfast) or travel, but car pools will sort the transport and food shouldnt be too bad. We can have a fund raiser and lower costs that way, we will come back to you about this on wednesday. Perhaps busking would be the answer! If we get a decent amount in this should lower costs by €10-€15 per person — will let u know asap about this. We are also going to apply for a special events fund from the union, will keep ye updated. Am just letting you know the maximum cost, but it shouldn’t work out this much. We will need numbers for this as soon as is possible as the organisers need numbers. I can also tell ye off the record that Jack L is coming to the festival to do a workshop with the people there, this will be a great way to end the wknd on the sunday! We will be staying in a hostel in Ennis and the sooner we get a booking in the cheaper it will be, so again I need numbers people. We will talk to you about this on Wed anyway, but have a think about it before then so that we can have an idea of who is coming on wednesday night.

Ok thats about it for now. Oh, sorry to be selfish but here is a little plug of my own.. have started a myspace page… it’s www.myspace.com/eimearfox
Would love you guys to support me on this if possible! Thanks guys.

See ye on Wed.…

Eimear

I know there wont be many people around tonight, but whoever is available come to rehearsals and we will do some work on solo singing and harmonizing and stuff like that… and maybe have a few drinks and a singsong…

Eimear x

OK well Monday 8th march O’Neills pub we have Grace’s 21st aka foxy lady and an amazing charity event for Shine Ireland which is the autism charity.

You would be crazy to miss it. It will be amazing and I want to see as many of you as possible or there will be evil glares and as much slagging as possible

There will be a live band from 9 ’til 10.30 and then we will have a DJ and a beautiful raffle with loads of prizes!!

All Grace asks is that you donate to this amazing charity and come and have fun and a blast on Monday so PLEASE all come.

Tom x (P.R.O) & Paula x (Il Presidente) & GRACE FOX (Foxy Lady)

Your new PRO (Public Relations Officer) here, Tom Connor for those who haven’t met me yet.

Ok guys well about 22 of you signed my sheets on Wednesday but I know not everyone could make it so if you could email me at with your name prefered size and contact info (either mobile or email address) if you want a hoody. I’ve been in contact with the usual crowd about our lovely hoodies but in times of recession I am going to have a look around to see what deals I can get and also to make sure we all get good hoodies. I know Eims said roughly €20 on Wednesday and I’ll do my best to keep it at that

Also guys and gals if you have any male friends who sing, be it in the shower, whilst playing sport or simply are like me and never stop singing please drag them to choir and they can team up with us lovely lads and lasses in the tenors and basses.

I think that’s it and if you’ve any queries for me use the gospel email and address it to me or use my NUIM email above!!

Tom x

Well done last week. I have to say our mash up was rather splendid! I have been singing Stand by Be/Every Breath You Take non-stop ever since! So we have 2 new great songs to do tonight — From a Distance (ok so it’s cheesy but it’s great!) and You’ve Got a Friend. We will also be learning a short version of Don’t Worry Be Happy! So it shall be great.

Auditions are also on between 6.15–7pm, these are for solo parts in upcoming shows, not for being in the choir dont worry! Just come along and try out singing on your own — its good for the soul!

So here is a recap on dates for the future:

Sunday 28th Feb

Singing at TLC nursing home, Maynooth. Leaving car park at rye hall at 3.30pm.Cant wait for this one guys!

Wed 14th April

Concert, Kilcock, fundraiser

Wed 21st April

Concert, Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot, part of the ‘Music Changes Lives’ programme

Wed 4th / Thurs 5th May

End of year gig, Maynooth (venue to be decided)

There are other inquiries in at the minute, details to be confirmed when we have them.

Tonight we will also be having a mini AGM and welcoming some new members onto the committee. Those of you who are interested need to make a little speech about why u want to do it and then we will take a vote (on paper, don’t worry, no-one will know!). There will be a committee meeting after rehearsal where we will make some decisions about our trip away, order hoodies and make some other general plans. An update will follow via email tomorrow or Friday!

Ok guys that’s all for now, see you tonight!

Eimear xx

So well done last week, I can’t believe how quickly we got those new songs learned… well impressed guys! Super job. For those who didn’t make it last week, we did I Wish I Knew How and I Knew You Were Waiting. These sounded great and we will be running over them again this week.

Here are some dates for your diaries…

Added to this are some other dates that have not been confirmed, I will let you know as soon as I have them. We also need to go busking to pay for the choreography session, details of this to follow also. The only other thing to be organised is the trip away and we are working on this at present.

In other news, I would like to let you all know that Nicola has decided to step down as Vice President of the choir due to other commitments. I would like to take this opportunities to thank Nicola for all the work she has put into the choir, both as a member as well as on the committee. You will be greatly missed Nicola and you have been a huge part of the choir over the past few years, I wish you all the best! The door is always open and we’ll always be there on Wednesdays — call in any time!

Ok guys, see you all tomorrow night,

Eimear

Just a quick reminder… choir is back tomorrow!

Now is your chance to join if you have been meaning to add some music into your life! No auditions necessary, just come along and sing yourself happy!

Call me if you have any questions or need directions…

See you tomorrow!

Eimear

Happy new year to ye all! I hope ye had a great Christmas and new year. I just want to wish all of you who are doing exams the best of luck in them. I am thinking of ye all! In no time they will be over and choir will be back, yay! So the date for your diaries is as follows:

Wednesday the 3rd of February, 7pm Rye Hall!

If you signed up for choir but never got around to coming, now is the time! And if you know anyone who would like to join, tell them to come along.

Ok guys,. see ye soon, cant wait — I MISS YE!

Love Eimear

I hope you’re all feeling very Christmassy this evening!

Firstly, huge thanks to all of you for your participation over the last two weeks. You’ve all been absolutely amazing!

~ For those of you who missed any of it, here goes!

Wednesday (way back on the 2nd) we had a bit of an intense rehearsal! I was totally surprised at how much you all improved and really came together as a choir that night. You’ve all done so much great work in just ten weeks, well done to you all.

Thursday we had a great gig in Kilcock, our first one this year! It was really good fun, and you were all great on stage, you looked the part and sang amazingly. No fear of stages or mics here!

Wednesday was our big night out in Maynooth and time to sing with the girls’ choir Nicola and I had been working with. Thanks to everyone for being so nice to the girls. They had an amazing time and I think more than one of the girls has set their sights on a certain Spaniard!

Thursday night we took a trip to Celbridge to sing a few ditties with the Celbridge/Straffan choir. I’m not gonna lie.. there was hand-holding.

Friday night a few of us took ourselves along to Pugin Hall to sing at the Mature Students’ Christmas ball. We were (happily!) joined by a few of the Celbridge/Straffan choir members and some enthusiastic dance moves from party guests!

Congratulations to all of our soloists too — very impressive performances girls and boys! You’ve all come along alot since your first auditions and you should all be very proud.

Thanks so much to everyone who made it to both the mature students’ party and the Celbridge gig, we really appreciate all of your enthusiasm for, and dedication to this little thing called Gospel.

In other news! Floz dearest has finished with the recordings from Wednesday in Maynooth and they’re available online along with some videos which some generous people have uploaded to our… (wait for it)…

**Facebook page!!**

So join. It’s where all the cool kids are…

This week! we’ll be having our bye-bye ’09 Christmas party! (speaking of which, I’ve got a wad of cash to spend on refreshments for you people.. sparkling water ok?) So bring along your voices and whatever instruments you play and we might even have a surprise or two in store… (oh it’s gonna be good!)

I reckon that’s about all that’s on this chick’s mind, so happy Christmassing everybody and I’ll see you all this Gospelday!

Paula, xx

So Friday night is a little bit later than we expected, my apologies. We will be performing from 9 — 9.30pm, so we will meet at 8.45 outside the main doors into Pugin. If anyone doesn’t know where that is just call me, but basically if you are walking onto the south campus from over the foot bridge, go past the library and just keep walking straight until you see me!

Thanks for everything this week, ye have been absolutely fantastic. Would love to go for a drink after this gig if anyone is up for it, but it depends on my how my son is as he is sick at the moment, we’ve had 2 sleepless nights so far so see how tonight goes! If we don’t get to go out after gig, we’ll make up for it next wed night, I cant wait!

Ok guys,

See some of ye tomorrow and the rest of ye on Wed!

Luvies! xxx

Just quick reminder about tomorrows schedule: Meet at Maynooth Church (one at lights there at Manor Mills) at 5.30pm for sound check. Break from 6.30–7.30. Doors open 7.30, gig starts at 8 (my apologies for getting this wrong before now, I didn’t realise!). Wear all black, with coloured scarves if you have them. Tickets at door under gospel choir will be €10 — I have 40 booked for ye so far, if anyone else wants to book more please let me know. Thanks to everyone who got back to me bout gigs this week, your support has been amazing, I love ye guys!

Chat tomorrow,

Cheers,
Eimear

So well done on Wed night, it was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!! It really was such a brilliant gig, I cannot thank ye enough. The feedback has been amazing and the school are so happy. The boys now think choirs are really cool and they had the time of their lives. So well done to each and every one of you!

So on to the next set of gigs! Next week is really busy and I know there are essays due and lots of stuff on, but I would appreciate if you could do as much as possible for the three nights, after that we have no more gigs until next year and you will miss gospel over Christmas so you might as well get lots of it in! Every year we have one of these ‘gospel weeks’ where its all go go go, and ye always pull through for me so I am hoping it will be the same this year. Every single person matters and contributes to the choir so please try and make as much as you can.

Wed 9th

Sound Check 5.30pm St. Mary’s Church, Maynooth (the main church at lights beside manor mills). Doors open for show at 7pm, show starts at 7.30. Tickets for choir members €10 (they €20 for everyone else) and you can let me know if you want some and I will order them for you, they will be at the door under your name.

Thurs 10th

Celbridge gig — leave Rye Hall Car Park at 7pm. For anyone who is traveling themselves, its in the main church in Celbridge at 7.30pm. These guys support us all the time and we need to support them! We will sing along with them during their gig and we will do 3 songs in the middle of their set. Please let me know if you can make this.

Friday 11th

Mature Students Christmas Party: This is on campus at 8pm in Pugin Hall, meet 7.30pm outside main door into the building (main building on south campus, building where the fancy church is). This is only for a half hour and is really good fun. Some of the members of the Celbridge Choir are helping us out with numbers for this so it will be a nice chance to meet with them and work together. (Perhaps even a drink or two afterwards!). Again, let me know your availability.

Ok guys thats it, can you please please please email me back and tell me what you can do, I need an idea of numbers so that I can confirm with Celbridge and the Mature students how many people we have. I need everyone to email me either way, thanks. I really REALLY appreciate it,

Thanks guys, and well done again on Thurs, it really was a super gig!!

Eimear x

Firstly well done last night, it was a brilliant rehearsal and we got so much done, I was mucho impressio!! All the soloists are doing me proud and I cant wait to hear ye in action tonight, I know ye will be great!

So meet tonight for lifts in Rye hall carpark at 5.15pm sharp!!! Kilcock is only a few minutes away but we need to get going asap. There will be lifts home too. Anyone who can’t get there for 5.15, meet us in the main church in Kilcock before 7pm. As I said yesterday, wear all black and bring a coloured scarf if you have one.

My number is 0861757636 — please call if you have any problems ok? See you all tonight, whoop whoop!

Love Eimear

Apologies I am only sending this now, I have been floored busy all week. So this is the story for next week:

Wed 2rd

Rehearsal 7pm Rye Hall, final rehearsal — v. important!!!

Thurs 3th

Sound check 5.30pm St. Coca’s Church, Kilcock. gig 7.30pm. Lifts available from Maynooth @ 5.15, will organise this on Wed at rehearsals.

Wed 9th

Sound check 5.30pm St Mary’s Church, Maynooth, gig 7.30pm.

Thurs 10th

Gig Celbridge, leave Maynooth 7pm

Wed 16th

Rehearsal and party!

Please find attached details of who is singing what on the 4th and the 9th. We wear all black for gigs, so get organised! Any questions just shout and I will see ye all on Wed.

I’d like to take this opportunity to say thanks to everyone for all their work they have put in, I really appreciate it and ye have really learned a lot very quickly, I am so impressed. Cant wait to have a night out with ye all and to plan our trip away!

Thanks guys!

Love Eims x

Just quick mail to remind you all that we have rehearsals as normal tomorrow night, 7pm Rye. Only 2 rehearsals left before the big show so please try to be there, thanks guys. I will also hopefully have a surprise guest for you all! I will say no more.

See ye tomorrow,

Eims x

Just wana let ye know that tonights rehearsal is important as we only have this week and next week before gigs start. Lots to get done! I will be letting ye know who is singing what at the gigs later on,

See ye at 7 guys!

Eimear x

Hope you all had a good break and got lots of eh.. reading.. done.

Just a little email this time to remind you that auditions are this Wednesday from 6 to 7 in our usual rehearsal space and then we’ll have choir practice as usual. Again, auditions are just for solos and you can sing anything that you like and even just a verse and a chorus will do. Try to come early and sign up so you can relax before hand.

Well done to everyone who came to our gospel sing song before the break, it was amazing, and so great to hear so many of you sing for us.

This week we’ll be going back over the songs that Mick taught us last week and tightening up some of our other songs because our first gigs are coming up soon!

That’s all from me.

Paula

First off, a giant well done to everyone who did solos last week, we all know it’s a bit scary but it gets easier week by week.

Speaking of the not-so-scary, auditions are to be held before rehearsals the week after the break, Wednesday the 4th. Once again, auditions are only for the solo parts, not for a place in the choir (we’re all insclusive, you see) and if you’ve had several solos with the choir in the past then there’s no need to audition again. We just need to hear a verse and a chorus but you can sing a whole song if you like. You can choose any of the gospel songs or anything else that makes you happy.

Don’t worry! there’s no need to stress, it’s only in front of Eimear and some combination of myself, Nicola, Simon (and we’re really nice!) and maybe someone from outside the choir. It is important to audition even if you’re nervous and unsure because it’s a great learning experience and can give you lots of extra confidence.
There’ll be a sign up sheet outside our room when you get there and one of us will call your names in that order. If you’re not able to make it on the 4th, we can make another arrangement if you let us know.

*deep breath*

This week Mick will be coming along to teach us a gospel classic and a brand new song! Then we’ll be having that long anticipated party and a sing song! So if you’ve got some instruments lying around, bring them along and we’ll make some noise.

We’ve got several confirmed dates for gigs in December and they are the 3rd, 10th and 16th so put ‘em in your diaries!

See you Wednesday!

Paula x

Welcome to everyone — welcome back to those of you who have returned again this year and a big welcome to all of our new members!

So rehearsals started back last Wednesday. Thank you to everyone who came along, it was great fun and a huge turnout and the pace of learning was really high, so well done to everyone! I know there was a lot of you who couldn’t make it then but don’t worry, come along this week and we will go back over what we did last week. We will be working at quite a fast pace as we have a number of gigs already booked for this semester, but more about that on Wednesday night when I see you all.

So last week we learned three songs — Put a Little Love in Your Heart, This Little Light and Hallelujah. We will be going back over these on Wednesday and learning some new ones as well. We will also be following rehearsals with some wine to celebrate getting back into the swing of things and hopefully we can head down the village for a few drinks afterwards!! Singing is thirsty work you know

So that’s all for now, for those of you who couldn’t make last week you will meet the team of gospellers on wednesday and be introduced to the committee. Rehearsals start at 7pm in Rye Hall Lecture Theatre and if you dont know where that is you can give me (Eimear) a call on 0861757636, Paula a call on 0861713867 or Nicola a call on 085–7692226 for directions.

Looking forward to seeing you all again on Wed,

Eimear

Ps: Apologies if you were in the choir last year and signed up again this year — you may get this mail a number of times until the system is updated properly, apologies for the inconvenience. Also if you are on this mailing list and wish to be deleted please reply and I will delete you, Thanks!

Just a quick reminder that choir returns tomorrow night, 7pm, Rye Hall Lecture Theatre. I hope you can all make it and tell all of your friends! If you signed up before and never got around to coming, this is the year for you — come back to us!!

Can’t wait to get stuck in tomorrow and see you all again, it will be fabulous!

See you tomorrow,

Eimear xx

I miss ye all! I hope everyone’s exams are going well and that no one is stressing too much! So we have a gig this weekend, I cant wait! We shall definitely have a few drinks afterwards and a bit of a party. It is on in the North Kildare Rugby Club, which is 5 minutes from the college. We will meet in the rye hall car park at 8 to head there and sing our little socks off. It shall be wonderful and lots of fun. Wear all black as usual. We also have our very own Aoife performing a few of her own original tracks at the event, as well as Glory (the dancer) from the Celbridge choir dancing with 6 of his mates (wahoo!!). It will be deadly.

Please please please please please be there, I need as many people as possible, ok guys?! Please pass this on to your friends too cause I don’t have everyone’s email. Text me on 086–1757636 if there are any problems, text me anyway so I have everyone’s number!!

Yay, see ye soon for our very last show!!!

Love Eimear xx

Well well well… what can I say about the helix gig apart from that it absolutely rocked! The feedback has been amazing, there will be future bookings from it and it really was one of the best nights, there was something very special about it. I really appreciate all the time effort and work that every one put in!

So our Gospel journey is nearly over, and I cant believe it!! I really really cant. What a year it has been! I will recap on all of it in a later email in a few weeks but in the meantime here is the stuff we have left to do… mark them in your diary ok!

Wed night: Mini-rehearsal and AGM at 7pm in Rye Hall, soloists to be picked for Thurs etc. If you are interested in going for a position on the committee you will be asked to make a speech about why you want to do it and then a vote will be taken. In accordance with the University guidelines, current committee members can reapply for the same positions, but everyone needs to make a speech. It wont take too long and it is usually a pleasant enough affair. Rehearsal followed by a trip over to the Venue where we will be having a few drinks and a singsong of our own… we have booked the venue (thanks Grace!) and the idea is that we do a little showcase of the talent we have in the choir! It is a bit short notice but hey, we’re professionals! So anyone who is interested in performing at this let me know. I would love as many of us as possible to sing a song or do a party piece… please also invite friends and partners and husbands and anyone ya want to come along. It will be a really nice night guys…

Thurs night: The Celbridge choir are having a concert called “Inspiration”. They need extra singers, soloists and general people to support them. I really want to keep building this relationship between the choirs, its a really great thing… so lets try go to it guys, as many of us as possible! We will be leaving for Celbridge from Rye Hall car park at 7pm.

Sat 30th May: Concert in the North Kildare Rugby Club. Leaving Rye Hall at 7.30pm, concert for an hour and PARTY afterwards, oh yeah!! I need as many people as possible for this guys… don’t let me down!!

So thats all we need to know for now… see ye all on Wed night guys… let me know if you have any questions about anything…

Love Eims xx

PS: Here are some photos Floz took at the Helix gig.

I hope you all enjoyed your Easter break! So choir is back tonight@7. We will be running over final set list for the Helix and Irene Thompson (the event organiser) will be coming in to teach us part of a song that we are going to sing with Westend star Peter Corey. We will also be running over the finale pieces (A Nation Once Again and Ireland’s Call).

We need to get started on time so see you all at 7pm!!

Thanks guys!

Eimear x

Happy Easter to you all! Well done last Wednesday, it was great fun! This gig in the Helix is very exciting, there is a bit of work to do before hand for the entrance song Circle of Life… please make a note of the following.

Rehearsal Dates are as follows, this is really important please make as much as you can!

• Sat 18th — Band Call with Garda Band, in Pheonix Park Garda Headquarters. Meet Rye Hall carpark at 12, rehearsal @ 1pm. Drivers Needed
• Wednesday 22nd — 7pm Rye Hall, rehearsal as normal
• Sun 26th — Band Call with Garda Band, in Pheonix Park Garda Headquarters. Meet Rye Hall carpark at 12, rehearsal @ 1pm — Drivers Needed
• Tuesday 28th — Bus will leave for Helix at 5pm from Rye Hall car park.

Let me know the following:

• If you cant make any of those rehearsals
• If you are available to drive on any of the dates
• If you have any questions!

Thanks guys,

Eimear

What can I say about last week except well done, seriously what a gig! It really was so so good! Thank you all for your performance, super stuff!

So we have only a few more rehearsals and then we have the Helix gig, whoop whoop. I will tell ye all about it at choir tomorrow night. In other news, Im hoping some people can do me a favour and help me out with an emergency gig on Thursday night… It’s for Simon’s mam, it’s a charity event in Celbridge and we’d have to go over bout half 8 or 9, have a few drinks and sing a few songs (I know, it sounds awful doesn’t it…!). We would be really helping Simon out, so come on guys, let’s do it! Let me know if you are available, lifts will be sorted. It is greatly appreciated, I really hope we can get a crew together to do it. Will sort out arrangements and details tomorrow night at choir… try your best!

So will see you all at choir tomorrow night at 7pm… yay!

Eimear x

How is everyone? I hope ye are all well. Thank you to all of ye who came to rehearsals last week, I really appreciate it! We got loads done.

So the gig is on Wednesday, I am so excited!!! We will meet in Rye Hall Car Park at 5pm and the bus will take us to Kilcock. If you can’t make it for the bus at 5 please let me know what time you will be in Kilcock church at. If you need a later lift or if you have friends traveling to the gig, there are trains available from Maynooth that get into kilcock at 4 different times between half 5 and half 7, here’s a link for the times.

It really is important that you let me know if you cant get the bus as I won’t know how many people I am waiting for unless you do this. If you are planning on getting the bus but something delays you on the day please text or call me on 086–1757636 to let me know so that I can wait for you.

If you have friends or family coming to the gig their tickets are only 10 EUR, however I need to have their names (e.g. if I have 5 people coming I’d write Eimear Crehan x5) so their tickets can be collected at the door at that price. Please let me know if you want to book tickets. Otherwise people can come along on the night and pay full price.

For the gig everyone must wear all black, including shoes. If you don’t have black shoes bring a pair of black socks to wear over other shoes (it works a treat!). Girls, if you choose to wear a skirt, please wear black tights with it, no skin-coloured tights. Please bring with you a coloured scarf to wear, any type of scarf at all. Make sure you wear make-up girls, otherwise you will look really pale under the lights!! Boys, wear make up if you want! x

Here is the set list:

1. This little light – Grace
2. Something inside – Floz
3. Your love is my love – Lara
4. Swing Low – Ruth
5. I almost let go – Paula
6. Ave maria – Bernadine
7. Amazing grace – Denise
8. Down to the river – Maria and Ian
9. Lovely day – Mark

[School Choir, 15 min]

10. Go to sleep little baby – Ailish & Co
11. Let it be – Brid
12. One love – Laura
13. Hallelujah – Colin
14. Nobody Does it Better – Alan
15. Higher and Higher – Simon
16. I will follow him – Sinead
17. Lean on me – Eimear
18. Put a little love – Melissa
19. Shackles – Karen Kelly

[Call choirs back up]

20. Oh happy day – Kids and Nicola

 
Ok, that’s about it, if you have any questions let me know! T’is very exciting! See you Wednesday,

xxxxxxx Eimear

This will be a soulful experience, full of beautiful singers, good energy and powerful song. You will leave full of joy, uplifted and with a spring in your step! It is the perfect way to welcome in Spring and we guarantee we will have you clapping and singing along to our mixture of traditional gospel, remade classics and modern songs with our own stamp!

We really appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you there. Tickets cost €15 or €10 for students/O.A.Ps and they can be reserved by emailing this address or by calling 0861765211,

Kind Regards,

Eimear

Happy Paddy’s day, I hope you are all having fun! Quick reminder that we have rehearsals tomorrow night, even though it is study week. This is really important as we have a show the following Wednesday, so please please please try to make it!

The following week, the bus will leave for the gig (on Wed the 25th) at 5pm. Please let me know if you are coming on the bus or if you are meeting me there. Kilcock is 5 minutes from Maynooth, if you were to go out the entrance of the north campus and turn right (instead of turning left to go into Maynooth village) that road brings you straight into Kilcock. The name of the church is St. Coca’s.

Please email me or call me on 086–1757636 if there is any problems. Look forward to seeing you all tomorrow night,

Take care,

Eimear

Well done at rehearsals last Wednesday, it was really nice to do some harmony work and hear some new voices trying the solos, thank you to everyone who gave it a shot, I know it was very difficult for some of you and hats off to you!

We only have 2 rehearsals left before our concert on the 25th. Now with regards to tickets, I can get discounted rates for your family and friends. It is €10 per ticket, but if we make a group booking of 50 people then we will get a discount… So can you let me know ASAP how many tickets you would like? Try and get your friends to support this one, its for a good cause and it will be a good night.

It is on in St Coca’s Church in Kilcock. There will be transport arranged for us on the night and we will be leaving from Rye Hall Car Park at 6.30pm on Wednesday the 25th March. I will be having a party after the concert in my house, its across the road from the church!

I will be letting you know this week about solo’s. I am also looking for a small group to do some extra work, one or two songs, after main choir rehearsal on Wednesday night. Let me know if you are interested.

Ok guys, see ye Wednesday!

Love Eims x

Just quick reminder that rehearsals go ahead as normal this week with rag week, we will try to finish up early enough so that we can all go out for a pint together!

Looking forward to it,

Eimear x

Well done last week, we got loads done! This week we will be doin’ a traditional gospel song called He Gave Me Water, re-learning Put a little love in your heart and running over Hallelujah. I will be telling you who got what in auditions next week. I am away with my class to Belfast for the week so Mick will be taking rehearsal. Enjoy it, he’s great! (But don’t tell him that, his head is too big already… hee hee). I will see ye next week, and can’t wait to hear what ye learn with Mick,

Take care,

Eimear

Well done last week, rehearsals were great fun. I was lovely to see everyone again after the break and to meet some new faces — welcome to those of you who are new, I hope you feel at home very quickly and that you really enjoy your choir experience!!

We will be holding auditions this week from 6-7pm before choir. These auditions are for people who would like to sin a solo part in a song in one of our shows. Let me know if you are interested!

We learned a new song last week, I will follow him and we will be continuing with a Sister Act theme tonight and learning another song from the film… We also ran over Swing Low Sweet Chariot last week, which was nice.

So I shall see you all tonight guys!

Love, Eimear

I hope exams went well for everyone and that everyone is enjoying the new year… I miss you all!

So rehearsals start back on Wednesday the 4th of February at 7pm in Rye Hall… (that’s tomorrow week). I can’t wait to see everyone again, it’s been a long break! Bring back gospel! We have lots of plans for this semester so can’t wait to get cracking!

Looking forward to it…!

Eimear & co.

What can I say about last Thursday night except well done! It was an incredible night of fun and energy and happy vibes and I think there was 4000 EUR or more raised for the girls school! The feedback has been super and everyone had a blast of a night, it was just so much fun! Well done to each and every one of you, I am so proud of you all! I really am! Thank you all for being so wonderful!

So we will meet on Tuesday night at the aula maxima at 6.30pm. Please call or text me on 086–1757636 if you don’t know where that is! If you know anyone who would like to come along, there are tickets available at the door on the night, its €6 in. For those of you who aren’t sure what’s happening, its a variety concert and as well as us performing there is the Dance Soc., Chamber Choir, Jazz Quartet, Barbershop Quartet, Guitar Orchestra, and Trad. Soc. It should be a good show.

On Wednesday night we will have our last rehearsal for the year… (I know, I know, its tough but its only for a few weeks, don’t worry…!). The school who we did the gig for last Thursday are going to provide us with some wine and we are gonna have a few drinks and a singsong and head down the town for a few more drinks in Caulfields! It shall be fun!!

So that’s all for now, I will see you all on Tuesday at 6.30pm at the Aula Maxima,

Thanks a million,

Eimear

Well done last Wednesday, it was a marathon rehearsal!!

This week we will be running over the set list from start to finish and perfecting our moves! Rehearsals are at 6.30pm — please be on time!! I am really looking forward to the gig, it will be great fun!

The plan for Thursday:

• Meet at church at 2pm — rehearse with school choir and soundcheck, finish 3:30pm
• Meet back at church at 6pm to finalise everything and run through anything that needs work

I will have tickets for ye on Wednesday night if you want some.

Lyrics and Solo’s:
Please make sure you know the lyrics of the songs for Thursday ok! This is the set list:

Part one

• Circle of Life
• This Little Light [Melissa]
• Something inside so strong [Adam]
• You’re love is my love [Nicola]
• Total Praise [Floz, Colin, Paula, Nicola]
• Ave Maria [Sinead]
• I almost let go [Eimear]
• Lean on me [Karen/Sarah]
• Amazing Grace [Denise]

Interval

• Chamber choir

Part two

• Silent Night [James, Floz, Colin, Simon, Alan, Ailish, Nicola, Paula]
• Put a little love [Maria and Laura]
• Let it be [Not Decided]
• Mary dont you weep [Ailish]
• Hallelujah [Colin]
• Lovely Day [Alan]
• Shackles [Sarah C]
• Oh Happy Day [Grace]

If you have any questions let me know, as always you can reach me via email or on 0861757636.

Thanks guys see you Wednesday!

Eimear

We were going to rehearse with the school choir that are performing with us on next Wednesday the 4th. It suits us, and them, better to rehearse with them this Wednesday night. They will be at choir for 6.50pm, so if you guys could get there for 6.30pm I would really appreciate it. That way will be warmed up and ready to run through stuff with them, otherwise we are cutting it fine to get through everything we need to get through. I hope this is ok…

There are only 3 weeks of choir left before Christmas so I really appreciate you guys putting in the effort. I would like it if everyone can be as enthusiastic as possible with these young people, we are an example to them and they really look up to us. For most of them this is the biggest opportunity they have ever had and they are just so excited to meet all of ye guys, so lots of energy and enthusiasm is the way forward!

See you at 6.30pm (if you can’t make it till 7 that is ok, just get there when you can)!

Thanks,
Eimear

PS: We’ve finally got all the lyrics up over in the lyrics section, sorry for the delay.

Only two rehearsals to go until the show, whoo hoo! Couple of points to note.…

Rehearsals:
Next week rehearsal is at the normal time of 7. We have to review everything we have donje, let the soloists try stuff out and put beginnings and endings on all songs and look at the running order. Rehearsal is extremely important! Let me know if you cant make it.

Gig Dates:

Thursday 4th Dec

Be in St Mary’s Church (Maynooth) for 4.30pm to sound check. Gig at 7.30pm

Tuesday the 9th Dec

Concert in Aula Maxima (South Campus). Sound check earlier in day [exact time to be decided], gig at 7.30pm

Sunday the 14th Dec

Gig in Meath. Leaving college at 2pm, only 25 people needed, let me know availability a.s.a.p.!

Tickets:
There are 50 tickets available at the price of €10. These are available from the choir and most of them have already been requested. I could only get 50 discounted tickets. There are 100 more tickets available at price of €20 — these are available from the bookshop in Maynooth, please tell people to get them there. Let me know if you are confused!

Hoodies:
If you have ordered a hoody, please collect it. If you want a hoody please let me know a.s.a.p.!

That’s all for the minute, any questions you know where to find me! See you all on Wednesday!

Eimear

Well done last week. We had a good warm up before finishing off Lean on Me, and learning 3 new songs (well done guys!) — Everytime I hear ya, Something Inside so Strong, and Oh Mary Don’t You Weep. I am still singing that last one everyday… it’s so addictive!

Ok so here’s some info.…

This Week:
This week we will be reviewing everything we have learned so far before learning Amazing Grace (gospel jazz version), Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley Version) and maybe one more if we have time. I will be letting you know about solo’s next week ok guys! The talent is great this year and it will be very difficult to pick soloists as there are a lot of people who are brilliant!

Gigs:
Ok guys so here are the dates for the gigs…

• Friday the 28th Nov, 1-2pm Manor Mills Shopping Centre
• Thursday the 4th Dec — Sound Check 4.30–5.00pm, Concert 7.30–10.00pm, St Mary’s Church, Maynooth
• Tuesday the 9th Dec — Sound Check 6.00pm, Concert 7pm-9.30pm, Aula Maxima, Maynooth

Rehearsals:
It is really important that you attend all rehearsals for the rest of the semester. It is also too late to join the choir now, so if you havn’t gotten around to coming along, please come along at the start of semester two in January.

Extra Songs:
I need a group of about 20 people to learn some extra songs that I don’t have time to teach within choir time. If you can do this please let me know asap. The extra rehearsal will be between 9 and 9.30 this Wednesday. Being able to read music will be an advantage but is not necessary.

Lyrics:
All lyrics can be found in the lyrics section. Please take the time to learn the lyrics for the songs we have done so far, especially where we have full verses to do (for example in Lovely Day). It is up to you all to learn the words before our big concert on the 4th!!

Clothes:
Just so you know guys, for our gigs we dress in black, boys in black slacks or jeans and black shirts, girls in black trousers or skirts (with black tights) and tops. We also wear coloured scarves — now I have about 60 of these, but there are more than 60 of ye so if you have a scarf please bring it to the gig. The scarf can be any colour, but only one colour (i.e. not stripy or multicoloured etc.).

That’s about it for now! Let me know if you have any questions, otherwise see you on Wednesday! Times are getting busy, its so exciting!!!

Eimear

How are we?! I hope everyone is doing well and settling into college by this stage! So a couple of things…

Last Week:
Well done at rehearsals last Wednesday, it was great! We warmed up by recapping on the alphabet and getting moving by singing Gospel Beat, which is one of my personal favourites! We followed that with a brand new song, Lovely Day and after the break we settled down and learned the beautiful Let it Be, working on breathing and listening, it was lovely! The sound from the group was great and I cant wait to finish off the song this week!

This Week:
This week we will be finishing Let it Be, learning a brand new song (I’m not giving it away just yet!) and learning This Little Light of Mine.

Auditions:
We have auditions this week! They will begin at 6pm, in Rye Hall. Basically how it works is you arrive between 6 and quarter past and put your name down to audition. There are a good few names on the list so I would encourage you to get there early and get your name down as we can only do auditions until 7pm. If you cant make auditions Wednesday come and speak to me and we will arrange something for another day. For the audition you can sing a verse and chorus of anything you like, it doesn’t have to be a gospel song. If you are feeling nervous or worried, try to relax, and as the saying goes, Feel the fear and do it anyway! It is a good experience to have!

Hoodies:
Please bring the money for the hoodies this week if possible. They cost €20 and the choir will subsidise the rest of the cost. We are waiting on a delivery date, it will probably be next week though.

Concert of Interest:
There is a concert on this Tuesday in Leixlip Church, it is the Graceland Gospel Choir and they are performing at 8.30pm. I am going to this with another choir I am involved with, the Celbridge Gospel Choir, and I have space for lifts if anyone would like to come! The choir are well known and I have heard great things about them! Let me know if you would like to come, give me a text on 0861757636. The tickets are €10.

So that’s all for now guys! Drop me a line here or text me on 0861757636 if you have any queries about anything! Good luck to everyone who is auditioning on Wednesday, and don’t worry, I was there once and I know what it feels like to be auditioning so I shall be very nice to you all!

Take Care, see you Wednesday!

Eimear

Well done at last weeks rehearsal! We went back over Oh Happy Day and Bambelela before learning a new song Shackles/Praise you, along with some fantastic dance moves!! The wine went down well and we were treated to a little singsong with beautiful renditions of Summertime, At Last, Blue Valley Songbird, I love you baby, One Love, a beat box version of This Little Light of Mine and Come What May, I hope I’m not forgetting anyone there! Some people came out to O’Neills which was great fun! I hope to see loads more of ye out this week — we might head over to the SU where the GLB are holding a “Hen Night”, which is meant to be great crack, or we might head to Brady’s where the trad soc will be holding a session, could be great fun! We will have a vote on Wednesday night!

This week we will be learning a nice ballad by the Beatles and a nice traditional upbeat gospel song, as well as going over what we have already learned. We will also be working on warm ups and vocal group work. I am meeting with some people today to organise a date for our first big gig outside of the college which will be a fundraising Christmas concert in the parish church. This will be in December, however I need to arrange set lists etc. and decide on what is happening so I will be holding auditions for soloists a little early this year — they will be on Wednesday 22nd (i.e. wed week) at 6pm in Rye Hall. I will talk more about this on Wednesday night but have a think about it and see if you would like to audition and you can start letting me know. There will be around 10 solos up for grabs. I will also be working with small groups for particular songs and if you are interested in singing in a group of 4, or of 8 you can let me know. The auditions are not scary, don’t worry! You can sing a verse and chorus of anything you like, and it is in front of me, the vice president and an external person who isn’t involved in the choir. We are very nice, don’t worry!

So that is about it for now me thinks!

Eimear

Welcome to the Maynooth Gospel Choir and congratulations on joining such a superdeeduper society! For those of you who are new members here is some information about the choir…

• We rehearse every Wednesday night at 7pm in Rye Hall Lecture Theatre (building behind John Hume that has loads of building work going on) and rehearsals go on until around half 8 or 9, depending on how much we have on!
• We do around 7 gigs during the college term — we already have 4 confirmed bookings for this year!
• Last years gigs included singing with the Harlem Gospel Choir, for Today FM and charity events such as a 70s night fund raiser and a huge multi-denominational concert in Maynooth!
• We have won best event in the college awards for two years running!
• We are just all round super and we encourage hugs at all times!

We had our first rehearsal last Wednesday night and we had loads of new members joining us! Well done to everyone, it was a great rehearsal and the sound was amazing! I know there were quite a few people who told me that they couldn’t make rehearsals last week and that is totally fine, you are more than welcome to come along next Wednesday. Last week, after our warm up we learned two songs, “Bambelela” and “Oh Happy Day”. We will be going back over these next week and learning two new songs.

We will also be having wine during rehearsals (it helps with the vocals, I swear) and then we will be heading out on our first social night as a group, whoo hoo! There is a band called Jungle Train that are very connected with the choir and they are performing in O’Neills after rehearsals. I also run another small choir and we are performing at the event also, so it shall be a great night and your support is really appreciated! It will be a good way to get to know new people in the choir and I would really love it if as many as you as possible could come out for the night!

Attention all members from last year!
If there is anyone who was in the choir last year who is interested in a place on the committee can you please let me know. The positions available are Vice President and Secretary.

Please let me know if you are interested so that I can arrange an AGM and get the voting done — the positions need to be filled ASAP.

So thats about it for now guys, any questions you know where to get me — here or on 086–1757636. See you all on Wednesday night, Yay!!

Eimear
(Musical Director)

Thanks for checking out the Maynooth Gospel Choir! The college choir, i.e. the NUI Maynooth Gospel Choir is on a break for the summer (don’t worry, it won’t be long until we are back — our first rehearsal this semester will be on 1 October). New recruits can join at Clubs & Socs day on 1 October, watch out for us!

The Maynooth Gospel Choir Group that cater for weddings and corporate events however is available all year round and can be contacted here.

PS: First rehearsal Wed. 1 October, 7pm, Rye Hall Lecture theatre!

How are ye all keeping? I miss choir so much, its ridiculous. I find myself ordering people around and asking randomers to sing various things of a Wednesday evening! I hope everyones exams went well and no one is too worried about the results!

Anyways, I know its short notice but I am wondering if anyone is around this Sunday, the 23rd June… We are presenting the money we raised to the senior citizens, at 3pm in the GAA Club, Moyglare Road, Maynooth. I thought that it was the 23rd of July and realised yesterday its this sunday. I will be presenting a cheque to them and the liffey champion will be taking a photo etc. If you are about and would like to come that would be great, we could all go for a drink after, sing a few songs and catch up!!

Let me know if you fancy it,

Eimear

How are we all? Thanks to everyone for the gig in Naas, it was lots of fun! We got to hold pythons, sing, meet celebrities, dance and have a few drinks!! Maria made me this wonderful present, its a beautiful doll that is hand made, its just gorgeous, thanks again maria! Some interesting photos can be seen there!!

So this saturday… It should be fun!! There is a bus leaving rye hall car park at 8.30pm. We are singing from 9–10 and then we are chilling out. We will probably be asked to sing later in the night again, but if you want to go at 10 there is no problem and a lift will be provided. The venue is literally 3 or 4 minutes from maynooth. There are other things going on during the night, a sing song, a guitar player and Claire will be playing and singing a few songs. As well as that, my friend Martin who is a poet will be performing some of his stuff, he is incredible and well worth hearing! It should be great crack! I will be having a party back in my house afterwards which shall be lots of fun, hopefully!

So I shall meet ye at rye hall car park at 8.30pm…any questions just shout and please let me know if you are coming. Daddy Kul and my mam say thank you to everyone, they are so excited about the gig and really appreciate us doing it, I am delighted we can do it and I really appreciate ye all coming, thanks guys!

Send me email or text (0861757636) to confirm if you coming…

Thanks guys!

Eimear

PS: Forgot to say, if you would like to bring your girlfriend/boyfriend/other half/ friend/cousin/sister/etc on Saturday night, there is no prob x

So the bus for the celebrity fashion show gig leaves rye hall car park at 5.45pm this friday evening. I am not 100% sure what time we will be coming back home but it wont be too late. There are a few people driving so if you want to come home straight after we sing that might be an option to get a lift, just let me know so I can organise it. Wear smart black, no sleeveless tops if possible girls and shirts and slacks for the boys. I didnt get all the scarves back after the last gig so if you have one of the choir ones, please bring it along, or if you have a similar material scarf yourself, please bring it!! We are low on them. I am not 100% sure on what we are singing yet, definitely Hallelujah and Shackles, maybe this little light, put a little love, oh happy day. We shall see, gotta wait to hear back from Sharon. Oh by the way, for any of ye that watch hollyoaks (this goes straight over my head), there is two of the guys from it, two of the main actors, modelling at the gig and we’l get to hang out with them at some point! It should be fun!

If you have any friends who would like to go to the whole night and see the show etc tickets are €15. There are various buses going from Dublin, Maynooth etc to the event, I think they all leave at 8pm from various locations. This bus are free buses organised by the people running the event for members of the public who want to go to the fashion show etc. If you have any friends who would like to go to the gig they can book a place on this bus by calling 0857253885.

I cant wait guys its going to be great fun! If there are any of the guys in the choir who had said they cant go but theres any way any of you can, please let me know as we are really short on guys!

So onto the gig on sat the 31st…we will have a bus leaving the rye hall car park at 8.30pm. It is going to be a great night guys and I really appreciate the support of the choir for this. I need as many people as possible for this..(not least because we are having a party in my house afterwards!) It will be great fun — everyone will be finished exams and the stress will be gone, it will be a great laugh!! So make sure you keep it free okay, need as many as possible to make it work, I really appreciate and ‘Daddy Kul’ says thankyou!!

Any questions you know where to find me!!

Eimear x

Hope you’re exam preparations are going well! Best of luck with all that business…

Anyway, here’s some stuff to brighten up your long nights:

• Recording from the Night of Hope. I’m rather fond of the recording, as it’s in pretty good quality, and we did an awesome job that night anyway Now, there are two versions: Small (95 MB) for your MP3 player, and Large (246 MB) for burning CDs from. (The latter has just in higher audio quality.) The files are zip-files (i.e. a compressed folders) that you need to unzip (decompress) with whatever tool you have at hand. Then, you’ll find a folder with the mp3 files of all the songs.
• Photos from the Night of Hope. I’m sure there are many more photos out there, but here is what I’m aware of: [1], [2]
• Newspaper article about the Night of Hope from the Liffey Champion (3 May 2008)
• Video of amazing Nuala singing “Song of Hope”, accompanied by Claire
• Photos from the night out after the Music Soc event

Alright, that’s it. Sorry it took so long to get all this out to you, but here it finally is.

So good luck with whatever you’re up to, miss you all already,

Floz

So I need numbers for the gig on the 23rd! This gig is one of the biggest we have done yet and will be full of models and [Irish] celebrities! We all get our hair and makeup done for free and there will be tv and press there. It is on in Time in Naas and we will have VIP access back stage and access to the live bands and djs after we sing. I will send ye an itinerary of the night as soon as I get the finalised draft. What I do know is that there is a fashion show with Irelands best models and a few English ones, an auction of 4 female and 4 male models (no Simon, you cant be auctioned off!), performances from members of this years you’re a star including our Sharon Condon, as well as a few others such as Micky Joe Heart. These are followed by a band and a dj.

The bus will be leaving the college at around 5.30pm going to Naas and will be coming back around closing time. It will be a great experience and a super way to round off the year. I need numbers asap as I have to tell the hair and makeup people how many people we have. There is also a discount offered to us for staying in the hotel, I am waiting to find out what that cost is. If there is enough interest in staying the night there the choir might be able to subsidise this and we could make it an all nighter. Even if some people want to stay, there will be a bus coming back to college that night, at around closing time. If you are under pressure with exams or have one the next day, you can make your own way up to the venue as long as you are there for 7, and you can leave as soon as we are done, which will be by 9.30.

Please email me back ASAP and let me know your availability, I need to have a number for them as soon as I can,

Miss ye All!

Eimear

What can I say, last night was just incredible. I really cant thank each and every one of ye for your time, energy and commitment. The night was amazing — to think that we did that for all those people is just incredible! The feedback is superb, everyone absolutely loved it, seriously. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Wednesday night, meet at aula maxima at 7pm (south campus). If you dont know where it is just gimme a text and I’ll give you directions. Wear all black and if any of ye didn’t give back the scarves please bring them. We will be going out afterwards for our end of year night out, yay! We will be having food in the Roost at 10pm and lots of drinks followed possibly by dancing upstairs… hmm should be fun!!

Shout if ye have any questions.…

Love Eimear

I can’t believe how quickly time is going by, it’s crazy! Here we are and its almost the end of the gospel trains journey, it’s almost unbelievable! But enough of that for now, let’s enjoy what’s left guys!! The good news is that there are 320 tickets sold for the concert so far! This is brilliant news and makes the event so much more exciting to know there should be a full house!

So well done last week first of all, it was a long rehearsal and we got through a lot of stuff, so good work! Everyone is putting in such a huge effort, it is brilliant and I am so happy to be part of it, I hope ye guys are too!!! This week we will reviewing everything and running straight through the set list for sunday. I cannot stress how important it is that everyone attends!!! This is our last chance to get everything right for both Thursday and Sunday, not to mention the following Wednesday!! The Maynooth Family Mass Choir will also be there from 7:00–7:15 to run through the song they are singing with us (Down to the River), so please try to be on time! The itinerary for Sunday night can be found here. Have a look and let me know your thoughts or shout if you have any questions. This is not set in stone yet but it is a rough idea of how the night will run. Please familiarize yourself with words of songs guys!!

Next week is very busy with the rehearsal and two gigs, please make sure you attend everything — this will be the last of gospel until after the summer so everyone can get their fix this week with loads of it! I appreciate all the dedication so thanks guys. So the plan for next week is as follows:

Wednesday: 7:00–9:00pm rehearsal
Thursday: Meet @ Glenroyal, 6:30pm sharp — wear all black
Sunday: Sound check 3:00–5:00pm in Church. Meet back at church at 7:00pm for concert

Even though Sunday is our proper end of year gig, Thursday night is still of huge importance and the fashion show will have 400 people in attendance and it is vital that we have as many people as possible singing so don’t let me down guys!!

That’s about it. Anyone who hasn’t ordered tickets yet, please do so ASAP as they are selling very fast. And those of you who have ordered tickets I will give them to you wednesday, if you could pay for them then that would be super.

Shout with any questions or queries, and please let me know if you are going to miss rehearsal, or either gig, ASAP — that applies to everyone, ok?!

It’s all so exciting!!!

Eimear xxx

Well done on Wednesday night, it was fun and Sharon Condon was lovely! She was very impressed with us and has asked us to work with her on the 23rd of May. More about that in a minute..

First things first. The set list for the gig on the 27th is as follows:

• Oh Happy Day
• Your Love is My Love
• Higher and Higher
• Song for Hope
• Amazing Grace
• Be Not Afraid (aka “Raindrops”)
• I almost let go
• This Little Light
• Shackles
• Swing Low
• Something Inside So Strong
• Hallelujah
• Let it Be
• Bridge over troubled water
• As
• One Love
• Total Praise
• Heaven
• We are Marching

All of these lyrics are available over at the Lyrics page. Please make the effort to learn the words guys! We only have two rehearsals left before the show so we really need to know the words asap.

The next two rehearsals are extremely important and I expect everyone to attend — please let me know if you cant make it!

With regard to the show on the 27th, I will have tickets on sale at rehearsals next Wednesday. Please buy as many as you can — this is the last chance this year that your family and friends will have to see you perform so make sure they all come! The concert will only work if every member brings support to it — we need the numbers to make it a good night. On top of it being a good cause and a chance to see us, it is also going to be a lovely concert that everyone will enjoy — people will leave feeling uplifted and happy and full of hope, so make sure you get loads of support going!
There are 400 tickets available as of today, so shout in the orders! Let me know how many you want. If you can’t pay for them all next week that is no problem you can collect them on Wednesday and pay for them any time before the gig. They are €10/ €5 children and O.A.P.s. As I said, what’s important is that we know how many tickets are going to be sold and how many people are going to be there, so make sure you get the word out. We can put up loads of posters etc. but word of mouth is the best form of advertising so keep promoting the gig — we’ll finally get a chance to show everyone all the hard work we have been doing!!!
We are putting together a booklet that will be distributed on the night — this will have information about the choir, about who’s helped do what, about each of the churches and the rest is made up of ads from the locality. If you have a family business or are on close terms with a business that you think would take an ad please ask them and let me know! Ads are €90 for half page or €150 for a full page. This is a really important part of the fund raising so please try and think of companies that could take part — it is really important!! Let me know!

So Sharon Condon asked us to perform at a charity concert on the 23rd of May. This is in Time in Naas and will be amazing. Full of Irish Celebrities and a really good chance to get our selves out there! It is also going to be filmed by the Network 2 Program Expose so it will be super! There will be a bus organised on the day to leave the college in the evening and come back after the show. I realise that this is in the middle of exam time and it wont suit everyone, I am just hoping there will be enough of us to do it! Please let me know if you are available asap so that I can let Sharon know.

That’s about it for now. Ye guys need to let me know the following:

1. How many tickets would you like
2. Do you know any businesses who would take an ad in the booklet
3. Are you available on the 23rd of May?

Please don’t forget to learn lyrics guys. And I will see ye on Wednesday, where we will be recapping a load of songs we havn’t practiced in ages, polishing off some others, learning a new one — Total Praise and looking at Song for Hope again.

Thanks for your time,

See ye wednesday,
Eimear

PS: Email me back with info a.s.a.p.!! Thanks guys!!!
PPS: I just read back over this email and saw part with “There’s only two rehearsals left” and I feel all sad inside! After our gig we only have one night of choir left, in 3 weeks, choir will be no more. I may cry a little bit

Whats the crack. First of all, well done to everyone who auditioned, the standard was really high and I was delighted with everyone! I will tell ye all next week what the story is with solos.

Last week saw us running over One Love and As, before learning a totally new song I Almost Let Go. It was fabulous guys, ye blew me away with the sound, well done! Am totally loving it and can’t wait to perfect it this week!

As well as running back over that we will be doing two new songs — My Love is Your Love and Higher and Higher. (Thanks mick!). Auditions will be on again on Wednesday (for whoever couldn’t make it last week). Please let me know if you would like to audition so that I have an idea of numbers. They will prob start at 6:30 pm.

So thats about it for now guys…

Don’t forget to let me know if you wana audition so I have an idea of numbers! See ye on Wednesday,

Eimear

Hope everyone is having a great Easter and enjoying the break! I miss choir, cant wait to get back next Wednesday! So news.…

End of Year gig:
End of year gig is confirmed for Sunday the 27th of April at 8pm in Maynooth Church. There will be more info about tickets etc next week, but put it in your diaries, its gona be a good one!!!

Gig On Monday (31st March):
Next Monday at 1pm I need people for a gig! We are supporting Gay Pride Week in the college and singing for the GLB in the Speakeasy, or Juicy Lucies as its known. We will do a half hour set. Can you let me know asap if you are available? It is a great cause, a great way to start back into college after the week, and a chance to get ourselves heard in the college! I will need people for solo’s too, we will be doing the old set so you guys know the drill. Please email back and let me know if you can make it, I need about 20 people. We wear our normal clothes, Its only a half hour and it will be a laugh.. We will meet at 12.55 or so at Juicy Lucies. Please email back with regard to availability!!

Auditions:
… Auditions for end of year gig are on Wednesday night from 6pm sharp — 7pm. Please let me know if you would like to audition so that I have an idea of numbers. Anyone can audition!!2 Even if you dont think you are up to a solo part yet, you should audition anyway for the experience and it will help you in the long run in terms of experience and confidence. Trust me on this one! I also know that there is a lot of talent in the choir that I havn’t heard yet so please give me the chance to hear your voice! It doesn’t matter if you have sang solo ten times, have done it once before, have never auditioned, or have never sang solo even in the shower, just go for it! There are no guaranteed places for solo’s at the end of year gig, anyone who is interested has to audition so nothing is presumed. So let me know!

So that’s bout it guys,

Email me back and let me know about auditions and the gig on monday. Monday gig is important, so try your best everyone!!

Can’t wait to see ye all and get back to it again on Monday/Wednesday…
Eimear

What a gig!!!!!!!! Seriously, super work! It was amazing, the crowd absolutely loved it! I had a blast and I hope ye guys did too. Hats off to everyone, it really was fantastic and all the hard work paid off. The feedback has been great and the management company that works with Elvis and Tina have asked if we can work with them again, so watch this space! As soon as I find out when the program is being aired on TV3 I will let ye know. Can I say a quick thanks to all the committee who worked really hard and also to Floz for getting the Banner sorted in time for the gig, it looks great in the photos. Speaking of photo’s, there is a link at the end of this email for some of them that Floz took — they are fantastic and Floz, you are fantastic! Thanks a million. The photographer from the Spoke was also there taking photos and they should be in the next edition of the Spoke so keep your eyes peeled.

Next week we will CHILL OUT! We are going to do a gospel version of Amazing Grace that my wonderful sister Claire arranged last year (she is a lot of the brains behind the operation!) which is fabulous. We will also do a nice traditional gospel song and there will be wine, oh yes, there will be wine. It is rag week so its a nice way to have a few (free) drinks before you head out for the night and it wil be lovely to chill without the pressure!! I am looking forward to it.

One more thing guys. Time for my pep talk.…:

Over the past few years I’ve really noticed something with people in the choir. And that is in relation to solo’s. Its almost like watching someone grow and change — with every solo people get more and more confident, until eventually they are not only a singer but a performer. To go from group singing to solo performing is a long process and one that takes time and a lot of work. And it takes a serious amount of work to get over first time nerves and to believe that you can do it at all in the first place! There are many of ye that would be well able to sing solo but don’t think your good enough/ are too nervous/ cant find it in yourself etc…

So I am throwing an idea out there… now I am no expert but I do know a thing or two about performance and, more importantly, getting the best out of people. And the easiest way to do that is on a one to one. So I am going to open up the time from 6-7pm on a wednesday before choir for people who would like to work with me on a one to one to find their voice/ improve their voice/ work on their performance/ work on solo singing/ work on finding the courage to do it in the first place/ etc.

This is open to anyone in the choir! Not just people who have sang solo before. What will happen at these sessions is we will work on finding your own unique voice and finding what sort of song suits you and how you can work on your voice yourself. It will only be myself and yourself and it will be private and I wont talk about it to anyone else. It is just an opportunity to see what sort of voice you have inside you!!! Someone from the choir turned around to me on wednesday night and said they watched one of the soloists in awe and couldnt believe how effortless it seems for some people to get up and sing — but the thing about it is while it eventually looks effortless (thats the plan), it takes a lot of effort to get it looking that way! Almost everyone who sang solo the other night has worked with me on a one to one at some point to help to get their songs right. It takes work and effort and time, but believe me, anyone can sing — anyone!

Thats it, Im finished with my pep talk and no more sermons! Just let me know if you are interested in doing some work with me on a one to one, email me back here and I will make a timetable. I don’t promise to train your voice and have you in x factor, but I do think I can inspire people to sing solo.

Thats it for now,

Eimear
Photos from Wedneday night

Well done last week, what a mammoth rehearsal! Some people were there from 6pm on, it was really good going! We got Bridge over Troubled Water learned and then went over Burning Love, In the Ghetto and American Trilogy before Elvis got there. What a nice guy, and so professional (unlike some flirty members of the choir I must say… hee hee)! Poor lad was put on the spot like I dunno what, but he did well. If that was him singing with a sore throat and the flu I cant wait to hear him on Wednesday!

So the plan for this week is as follows:

Tuesday:
Meet at 5pm in normal rehearsal room to run over our set list and sort solos. We will be finished before 6, I promise!

Wednesday:
5.00pm — Meet at SU at 5pm for sound check, run through our set list and practice songs with Elvis.
6.30pm — All things going to plan, you will be free from 6.30–7.30 to get changed/ eat / etc. If you want to bring food with you that is fine or eat before rehearsals, or else you can eat locally. There will be room to leave bags etc backstage. You can also get changed there if you don’t want to leave the venue.
7.30pm — Meet back at venue — you can’t be late as we need to warm up etc.
8.00pm — Showtime!

Important things to note:

• If you cant make rehearsal tuesday night, please let me know. Drop an email here or a text to 0861757636
• If you are working late on wednesday and cant make sound check and rehearsal at 5pm that is ok, just let me know by text or email asap. If this is the case you can meet us at the venue at 7.30pm on Wednesday night. That said, as many people as possible must make the sound check.
• It is extremely important that everyone wears all black! Boys in slacks and shirts if possible, girls in either trousers or skirts (with black tights) and tops. I will give ye scarves.

Our song list will include some of the following:

• Down to the River (James, Daniel, Leona, Nicola McGowan)
• Put a Little Love in Your Heart (Ailish Crehan)
• Hallelujah (Colin)
• Something Inside so Strong (Floz)
• Oh Happy Day (Teresa)
• Shackles / Praise You (Nuala)
• Swing Low Sweet Chariot (Sarah Murphy)
• Let it Be (Denise)
• This little Light of Mine (Sarah C)
• God Bless the Child (Paula)
• We are Marching
• Heaven
• What’s it all About
• Bambelayla

Thats about it for now guys! See ye on tuesday at 5pm. Thanks for all the hard work ye have put in over the last two weeks, its been crazy but fun, just the way I like it! After this gig on wednesday we will relax a little, do a nice new song next week (and maybe have some wine as it will be rag week!!), and then we will go from there. So thanks for the dedication guys and see ya Tuesday! Any questions queries or anything like that just email to this address or text me on 0861757636.

Eimear

Well done at rehearsals the other night, it sure was busy! I had originally planned on easing our way into semester two with some nice relaxing songs and a nice chilled out feel to it, but the gig was too good to turn down so with only two rehearsals to prepare it was bound to be busy! Busy but fun! Big shout out to new members, you are more than welcome and I hope you feel part of the choir already!

Last wed saw us do Burning Love, In the Ghetto and American Trilogy. Hats off to the boys for their barber shop quartet, it sounds great! This wednesday coming will also be busy! Rehearsal begins at 6pm for people who signed up to sing Bridge over troubled Water. Normal rehearsal is at 7 til 8 and then Elvis will be entering the building at 8 to rehearse with us! Yay Yay Yay!! (If anyone missed last weeks rehearsal and is confused about whats going on, dont worry! If you would like to be part of a group that sings Bridge over Troubled Water with Elvis at the concert come to rehearsals early at 6, otherwise just come at the normal time of 7!)

I know people are coming from all sorts of places and getting buses or lifts and what not, but I would appreciate if everyone could get there for 7 sharp so that we can get started and warmed up etc as we have lots to cover before Elvis gets there! If anyone wants to check him out you can see him on www.itselvis.com. I am so excited about hearing this guy sing — its gona be great fun guys!

As I also explained last week I dont have time to do auditions for the gig so if you are interested in doing a solo at the gig please let me know asap and I will make some decisions. It will be the normal set we used before Christmas. Anyone who took tickets last week please bring the money for them this week. I will also have more tickets available this week if you would like to get some. Tickets are only €5 for choir members and it is all going to charity so buy tickets, buy your friends tickets and get the support going, its going to be great!!!!!

Thats about it for now.… Any questions just drop me a line or text me on 0861757636

Eimear x

Yay.. its nearly that time again.. Gospel is back on Wednesday, 7pm, River Apt Lecture Theater! I cannot wait, I miss ye guys so much!!!!

This is the perfect time for anyone who wanted to join last semester but didn’t get the time to join up with us. Come, sing and be happy, let all the exam stress float away and break up your week by singing an smilin’!! Everyone is more than welcome, it’s never too late to join or rejoin!

We are busy busy busy! Our first gig is on the 20th – 2 rehearsals away! There is an Elvis impersonator coming to the college. Apparantly he is amazing, he won Best Elvis in Las Vegas last year!

The gig is a fund raiser for the Marie Keating foundation so not only will it be great fun but we’ll also raise money! It’s on a wednesday night, so it is handy. We are doing a half hour set and then we are doing 4 or 5 songs with Elvis himself! He will be coming to our second rehearsal (i.e. Wed 13th) to go practice with us, so it should be great fun! The gig is on in the SU so it is very handy and there are over 300 tickets sold already!! You will see the posters around campus.

So that’s ’bout it guys, I can’t wait to see ye all on Wednesday… Yay Yay Yay!!!

Eimear x

    =>    www.maynoothgospel.com

We’ll migrate there in a few days. Done. This is cool — and much easier to remember, too.

Can’t wait to see you all back next week, until then take care,

Floz

I finally managed to shift through the mountain of pictures of the past 5 days and mix the recording from last Thursday.

Here are the photos from the past few days*.

The recording is also available for download**, just drop us an email and we’ll send you the link.

Have fun with it, enjoy the party on Wednesday, thank you Eimear for looking after the choir the wonderful way you do and see you all next year,

Merry Christmas and Happy new Year,

Floz

*) If you want to get prints of the pictures, please follow these instructions!
**) It’s a 70 MB “zip” file which you need to decompress first, then you’ll get the mp3s.

Anyway, we’ve posted the lyrics for all the songs we’re singing.

You’ll find them on the lyrics page (click “Lyrics” in the navigation menu at the top right).

The Gospel Choir meets

• every Wednesday during the college year
• in the River Apartment Lecture Theatre on the North Campus (the one in the building with the River Apts. offices…)
• at 7—9pm (which usually sees us pile down the pub… hey! it’s thirsty work!)