Diocesan News03 Apr 08

Musical Workshops for Fermanagh - Macartan 1500+ Project

As part of the Macartan 1500+ Project, two Music Master Classes will be led by Ian Keatley, former Organ Scholar at Westminster Abbey, on Saturday, 12 April 2008 in Darling Street Methodist Church, Enniskillen. The Singing Workshop will take place from 2.00-3.30 p.m. This will be followed by an Organist Workshop from 3.30-5.00 p.m. Both events are open to the public, and admission to the workshops is free.

In addition to being a former Organ Scholar at Westminster Abbey, Ian Keatley is a graduate of the Royal College of Music where he was awarded the Haigh prize for organ playing. While studying at the Royal College of Music, Ian spent two years as Assistant Director of Music at Croydon Parish Church and a further two years as Organ Scholar at Southwark Cathedral. Before moving to London he spent a year at Downside Abbey School and Wells Cathedral as a Choral Scholar while studying the organ and singing. As Organ Scholar at Westminster Abbey he has played for a number of Royal and State occasions including the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II and the memorial services for the former Prime Minister, Lord Callaghan and Comedian, Ronnie Barker. Ian performs regularly in Westminster Abbey’s organ recital series, and has performed at Westminster Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral, Wells Cathedral, Liverpool Cathedral, St Alban’s Cathedral, St John’s and Clare Colleges in Cambridge and Magdalen and the Queen’s Colleges in Oxford. He is currently Organist and Director of Music at St John’s Beaumont School, Old Windsor.

Ian will be giving an organ recital as part of a musical performance in association with the Fermanagh Choral Society. This live musical performance will take place on Sunday 13 April at 8.00 p.m. in St Michael’s Roman Catholic Church Enniskillen. The Choral Society will perform the Nelson Mass by Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), accompanied by The Western Sinfonia, with the keyboard accompaniment being provided by Irene Kernohan. All will be under the able direction of Mr Don Swain. The performance will also include four soloists from The National Chamber Choir. This event is also open to the public and admission is free.

The events have been organised by the Diocese of Clogher’s Macartan 1500+ Project, which is financed by the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation and managed by the Fermanagh Local Strategy Partnership (FLSP).