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History of Celtic Connection Choir Inc.
Celtic Connection Choir began in 1999 with seventeen members who all shared a common interest in Celtic music and a love of singing. These founding members included David Bell, Ray Clark, Sheelagh Clark, Joan Reid, Cathie O'Brien, Maureen O'Reilly-Jones, Anita Reed and Anne de Carteret. Under the founding Musical Director, Maureen O'Reilly-Jones, the group began with authentic Celtic folk songs in unison. The number of choristers has now increased to over forty, the repertoire enhanced and songs are now sung mostly in four-part harmony. The Choir has been practising at the Irish Club, 175 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane, but occasionally holds rehearsals at other venues. Prospective new members should check with our Secretary on 07 3397 8626 in the event that the Choir is rehearsing elsewhere on that Tuesday evening. Celtic Connection usually holds at least two major concert events during the year in addition to smaller concerts at various locations in South East Queensland and interstate. Invitations to sing for other Celtic organisations such as the Australian Celtic Council (Queensland Branch), the St David's Welsh Society, the Manx Society, the Cornish Association and the Malt Whisky Club have been honoured. Performances have extended to the British Consul Office, Queensland Day at Parliament House, the Queensland Cancer Fund Christmas functions, and the Princess Alexandra Hospital Research Foundation Annual Awards for Research function held at The Customs House. More recently, Celtic Connection performed at a joint concert with other Brisbane choirs at the Brisbane City Hall to celebrate Queensland's 150 years as an independent state within the Commonwealth of Australia. In 2006 the Choir travelled to Maclean in Northern New South Wales, a town renowned for its Scottish heritage. This was the first concert given by the Choir at an interstate venue and was very well received by the residents of Maclean and nearby localities. The Choir was invited back in August 2008 and Maclean again displayed their welcoming hospitality. Celtic Connection has been invited to perform at the annual Celtic Festival at Glen Innes in 2010 which will be the Year of the Manx. Sadly, at the end of 2009, we lost our Musical Director of three years, Ms Kym Scott, B.Mus., A.Mus. A. Kym, an accomplished conductor and accompanist, continues to conduct her other Brisbane choirs including the Southern Cross Voices based at Springwood, and Chordiality Inc. which rehearses at Chelmer (see the Contacts Page of this website for links). The Choir's new Musical Director, from the beginning of 2010, is David O'Keeffe, B.Mus., B.Ed., GradDipMus. KMEIA, ANATS, MTAQ (Prof). We welcome David to our Choir and hope our association will be enjoyable and mutually beneficial. Celtic Connection promotes and preserves our Celtic Culture of songs, music, dance and poetry in its concerts, with its own extensive choral repertoire, assisted by invited vocalists, dancers, pipers and fiddlers as guest artists. Choristers have included representatives from the Celtic Nations of Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall, the Isle of Man and Brittany and our choral repertoire reflects the Pan-Celtic character of Celtic Connection. Celtic Connection Choir was incorporated on 9th September 2008.
Choir Members 2009
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