George Fleeton, Producer & Arts Correspondent – Lead Adjudicator

George Fleeton is an Arts Correspondant for Down News. He regularly covers the Wexford Festival Opera, the Puccini Festival Tuscany and the Venice Film Festival. Mr Fleeton is a past director of the annual Opera Fringe Festival and regularly produces and presents weekly Classical Music programmes. Educated in Dublin and Paris and as a solo chorister and boy Soprano he sang a vast range of Sacred music and Art Songs at Feiseanna and several Gilbert & Sullivan roles onstage. As well as teaching languages in further Education, George continues to teach Literature, Opera and Theatre studies in Higher Education and for many years he held a lengthy management career in Ulster Television.

Mary O’Connor - Adjudicator

Mary O’Connor was head of music in Little Flower Girls School for over 30 years. During this time, under her leadership, the school choir performed in many broadcasts on TV and radio and won numerous awards, including the UTV Choir of the Year Belfast region. Mary directed the school musical productions and examined for the examination board, CCEA. After studying singing with Muriel Childe and William Boyd she won many awards at festivals throughout Northern Ireland. As a member of the Belfast Gaelic Choir, she performed in the Welsh Eisteddfod and toured the USA with the Ormiston Choir. A highlight of Mary’s singing career was performing in Madame Butterfly alongside Pavarotti in his European Debut at Belfast Grand Opera House.

Davy Matchett – Adjudicator

Davy Matchett is a Director of Third Bar Artist Development, a company he set up with Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol. The aim of the company is to mentor young songwriters and bands in order to develop the musical journey of recording artists from Northern Ireland. David was one of the founding Directors of the Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast, a dedicated music centre based in a 14,500 sq ft space over three floors in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. The charity, which was founded to provide a safe environment for young people to engage with music aims to open doors to music potential. Davy has also been a partner in an event promotions company called Strange Victory that has brought numerous international touring bands to Belfast.

Marcella Walsh – Artistic Director

Critically acclaimed Soprano Marcella Walsh has been hailed as having a ‘Captivating presence onstage.’ Marcella graduated from Queen’s University as ‘Student of the Year 2008’. She completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching Singing & Vocal Pedagogy followed by a Masters in Operatic Performance, gaining a first in opera from The Royal Irish Academy of Music, under the tutelage of legendary soprano Dr. Veronica Dunne. Marcella is currently contracted with Scottish Opera. Miss Walsh received coaching and instruction at English National Opera, The Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Queen Elisabeth’s Music Chapel, Belgium, Boston Conservatoire and at De Nederlandse Opera in Amsterdam and has participated in masterclasses with great operatic performers including Dame

Kiri Te Kanawa, Sir Thomas Allen, Ann Murray and Dennis O’Neill. A former associate young artist with Northern Ireland Opera and Opera Theatre Company, Marcella has performed numerous solo operatic roles with national orchestras and opera companies including Opera Fringe, Lyric Opera, Wexford Festival Opera and Montalto Musica. Marcella has been invited to perform throughout the world including Italy, Germany, Belgium, France, China, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Marcella is currently in rehearsal to perform the cover role of Karolka in Jenufa, a co-production with the Danish National Opera in the Czech language with performances throughout Spring 2015.

The Flax Trust

Christmas Gala Competition

Thursday 4th December 2014

7.00pm

Flax Trust Academy of Musical Excellence

Flax Trust wishes to thank:

The Lord Mayor Nichola MallonThe Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Máire HendronBelfast City Council

Flax Trust, 333 Crumlin Road, Belfast BT14 7EA • www.flaxtrust.com

Adjudicators

Master of Ceremonies: Noel Thompson BBC

Programme7.00pm Dr Peter Smyth: Flax Trust Welcome & Introduction of Deputy Lord Mayor Maire Hendron

Choir 1 Carr’s Glen Primary & Our Lady’s Primary

Candlelight Silent Night, Gruber Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, Coots

Choir 2 Holy Cross Boy’s Primary & Cliftonville Integrated Primary

Starry Night, Webb Troika, Sebba

Choir 3 Currie Primary & Holy Family Primary

Senwa/Chiro Chatcho, Traditional African What Does Christmas Mean To You? Leisty

Choir 4 Holy Cross Girl’s Primary & Wheatfield Primary

Kalinka, Pitfield Winter Wonderland, Bernard

Choir 5 Black Mountain Primary & St Therese of Lisieux Primary

Benedictus, Anonymous This Little Light Of Mine, Loes

Choir 6 Jordanstown Centre for the Deaf & Visually Impaired & Saint Vincent de Paul Primary

Shine, Take That World in Union, Holst

Choir 7 Mercy College & Boys’ Model School

Star Carol, Rutter Some Nights, Fun

Choir 8 Dominican College & Belfast High

The Lord Is My Shepherd, Goodall The 12 Days of Christmas, Silver

Choir 9 Hazelwood Integrated & St Malachy’s College

Ephesian Prayer, Marchionda O.P. Don’t Stop Believing, Perry/Shon/Cain

8.30pm INTERVAL & Adjudicator’s Deliberation. Refreshments provided by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

9:00pm Awards Ceremony:

PrizesThe George Mitchell Cup for Most Captivating Performance

Presented by Lady Empey: Bursary Award of £3000 presented by Sr. Mary Turley.

The Tom Foley Cup for Most Promising Junior Choir

Presented by Gregory Burton: US Consul General Bursary Award of £1000 presented by Sr. Mary Turley.

The George Quigley Cup for Most Accomplished Senior Choir

Presented by Lady Quigley Bursary Award of £1000 presented by Sr. Mary Turley.

FinaleIn The Bleak Mid-Winter - Marcella Walsh, Soprano

O Holy Night - Belfast High & Dominican College, Fortwilliam

Silent Night

Verse 1 - Marcella Walsh, Soprano

Verse 2 - All pupils

Silent night, holy nightShepherds quake at the sightGlories stream from heaven afarHeavenly hosts sing Alleluia!Christ, the Saviour is bornChrist, the Saviour is born.

Verse 3 – ALL (Including Audience)

Silent night, holy nightSon of God, love’s pure lightRadiant beams from Thy holy faceWith the dawn of redeeming graceJesus, Lord, at Thy birthJesus, Lord, at Thy birth.