Latest News
Congratulations!
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Sheelagh Greer BEM
The members of Ballyclare Male Choir are thrilled to congratulate our recently appointed Conductor (and former Accompanist) Sheelagh Greer on her recognition by His Majesty the King (in his 2024 birthday honours list) with the award of a British Empire Medal for her services to music. This is richly deserved and long overdue. Sheelagh has dedicated her life to ‘music for all’ and constantly shares her passion and enthusiasm with all those who are fortunate to work with her. This recognition follows her previous awards for ‘Mighty Woman in Music’ in 2019 and also in 2022 when Sheelagh was recognised by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council with a ‘Centenary Citizen's Award’ for her services to music in the community. Congratulations Sheelagh! |
Charles Wood Festival - Summer 2024
We are delighted to start our season earlier than usual this year having been invited to take part in the Choir Community Day as part of the Charles Wood Festival on Saturday 17th August 2024 in Armagh. This is an exciting engagement for our choir and we are honoured to be part of this prestigious event.
Charity Presentation at AGM
Our Chairman, Dick Grey, was delighted to be able to present this cheque to Colin Bell from the 'Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust' at the start of our AGM on Wednesday 22nd May 2024.
The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust aims to alleviate the financial hardship of bereaved families repatriating the body (bodies) of loved one(s) who have died abroad in sudden or tragic circumstances back to Ireland.
KBRT was founded out of a family tragedy when, in June 2013, Kevin Bell died suddenly in New York. Following an outpouring of support from Kevin’s friends, family and colleagues, a significant amount of funds were raised to repatriate his remains back to Ireland. As a permanent legacy to Kevin, the Bell family decided to use the funds to establish a charity to help other families who find themselves in a similar situation. Help comes in the form of financial support as well as advice and guidance on getting the remains of loved ones home as soon as possible. During the last 11 years, 1850 families have been supported by the trust.
The amount raised and presented is the result of our weekly contribution to the Chairman’s Charity throughout our choir season.
The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust aims to alleviate the financial hardship of bereaved families repatriating the body (bodies) of loved one(s) who have died abroad in sudden or tragic circumstances back to Ireland.
KBRT was founded out of a family tragedy when, in June 2013, Kevin Bell died suddenly in New York. Following an outpouring of support from Kevin’s friends, family and colleagues, a significant amount of funds were raised to repatriate his remains back to Ireland. As a permanent legacy to Kevin, the Bell family decided to use the funds to establish a charity to help other families who find themselves in a similar situation. Help comes in the form of financial support as well as advice and guidance on getting the remains of loved ones home as soon as possible. During the last 11 years, 1850 families have been supported by the trust.
The amount raised and presented is the result of our weekly contribution to the Chairman’s Charity throughout our choir season.
Appointment of Conductor
Following a unanimous decision by the full membership of Ballyclare Male Choir, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Sheelagh Greer as our Conductor.
Sheelagh has been our Accompanist and Deputy Conductor for over eleven years and we are looking forward to the wealth of experience, enthusiasm and energy she will bring to this position. She holds many awards for her contribution to music in the province and we are fortunate that in her busy career, she has committed herself to the choir for the foreseeable future.
She has had a lifetime association with this choir as her Daddy, Hubert Greer, was a member for over forty years, having recently retired. Sheelagh attended and followed choir events with interest from a very young age.
We congratulate her on accepting this position and know that she will drive forward the quality of sound and bring new challenges musically. A new chapter in this great choir's long history is about to begin and we couldn't be more excited about that!
Sheelagh has been our Accompanist and Deputy Conductor for over eleven years and we are looking forward to the wealth of experience, enthusiasm and energy she will bring to this position. She holds many awards for her contribution to music in the province and we are fortunate that in her busy career, she has committed herself to the choir for the foreseeable future.
She has had a lifetime association with this choir as her Daddy, Hubert Greer, was a member for over forty years, having recently retired. Sheelagh attended and followed choir events with interest from a very young age.
We congratulate her on accepting this position and know that she will drive forward the quality of sound and bring new challenges musically. A new chapter in this great choir's long history is about to begin and we couldn't be more excited about that!
2023/24 Season
Annual Concert
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The choir is delighted to once again be returning to Theatre at the Mill in Newtownabbey for the 2024 Annual Concert on Saturday 20 April.
Conductor Sheelagh Greer Accompanist: Mark McGrath Special guests: Ballyclare High School Chamber Choir and Soloists Dynamic Brass |
Ballyclare Male Choir feature on Sounds Sacred
With thanks to one of our Vice Presidents, Father Eugene O'Hagan, for his kind words on the BBC Radio Ulster, Sounds Sacred programme about the choir and for playing 'Mary Don't You Weep'.
Click here to hear the recording.
We continue to feature on Sounds Sacred, this time on Sunday 7th April when Eugene played 'As the Deer Pants for the Water'.
Listen to the recording, 10 minutes and 30 seconds into the programme, by clicking on this link
Click here to hear the recording.
We continue to feature on Sounds Sacred, this time on Sunday 7th April when Eugene played 'As the Deer Pants for the Water'.
Listen to the recording, 10 minutes and 30 seconds into the programme, by clicking on this link
Harvest Service - Ballynure Methodist Church
We are delighted to be starting our season this year with our first engagement at Ballynure Methodist Church celebrating the return of their uplifting evening Harvest Thanksgiving Service. Ballynure is a 'home' church for us where our Accompanist and Deputy Conductor, Sheelagh Greer is the organist.
This promises to be a great night of singing, praise and enjoyment.
Please make every effort to attend.
As the poster states: ' All are most welcome'.
This promises to be a great night of singing, praise and enjoyment.
Please make every effort to attend.
As the poster states: ' All are most welcome'.
Centenary Citizen Recognition
Congratulations to Sheelagh Greer (our Accompanist and Deputy Conductor) who has formally been recognised by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council as a 'Centenary Citizen' in recognition of her contribution to music in the local community and beyond.
Sheelagh works tirelessly with an infectious enthusiasm, utilising her passion for her work to engage and enthuse others, both individually and in choral groups. She is constantly seeking new and diverse ways to make learning enjoyable whilst at the same time expecting the highest of standards.
We are all very proud of Sheelagh for gaining this recognition for her incredible work.
The portrait shown is displayed in the Oriel Galley of Clotworthy House in Antrim Castle Gardens, where Sheelagh received the award from the Mayor on Wednesday 19th July 2023.
Sheelagh works tirelessly with an infectious enthusiasm, utilising her passion for her work to engage and enthuse others, both individually and in choral groups. She is constantly seeking new and diverse ways to make learning enjoyable whilst at the same time expecting the highest of standards.
We are all very proud of Sheelagh for gaining this recognition for her incredible work.
The portrait shown is displayed in the Oriel Galley of Clotworthy House in Antrim Castle Gardens, where Sheelagh received the award from the Mayor on Wednesday 19th July 2023.
Congratulations
Warmest congratulations to our friends in Blackpool Male Voice Choir who celebrate their centenary this incoming season. We have had the pleasure of performing with them at a concert in Blackpool in the past and look forward to the day when we can perform together again.
We hope they will keep up all the great work they are doing and that they will keep singing through the next 100 years!
See more about the choir on their website.
We hope they will keep up all the great work they are doing and that they will keep singing through the next 100 years!
See more about the choir on their website.
Cheque Presentation to Macmillan Cancer Support
Our Chairman, Dick Grey, was delighted to be able to present this cheque to Helen Kernaghan and Cllr Vera McWilliams who received it on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support at the start of our AGM on Wednesday 31st May 2023.
This amount is the result of our weekly contribution to the Chairman’s Charity throughout the season.
This amount is the result of our weekly contribution to the Chairman’s Charity throughout the season.