The Maynooth University Chamber Choir, under the direction of Michael Dawson (BMus 2011), made history this weekend when it became the first Irish choir to lift the coveted Pavarotti Trophy as “Choir of the World” at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. Watch the choir performance here.
Having impressed the judges to win in the 'Youth Choir' category on Thursday, the choir then progressed to Saturday’s Choir of the World competition, open to the winner of each category. With a sparkling performance, the Maynooth University Chamber Choir came first in a field of choirs from Singapore, the USA, Wales and England.
Speaking of the award, Professor Philip Nolan, President of Maynooth University, said: “While the term ‘world-class’ gets used often, the Maynooth University Chamber Choir is one entity that is truly deserving of that description, and this win clearly demonstrates that. The entire University community is extremely proud of the Chamber Choir for this impressive achievement and for its role in spreading Maynooth’s reputation for excellence around the globe.”
The Llangollen Eisteddfod is one of the world's largest cultural festivals, with over five thousand singers, dancers and instrumentalists from more than 50 countries performing to audiences of more than 5,000 over the six days of the festival. The Choir of the World competition is among the world's most prestigious choral competitions, and has been won by internationally renowned choirs from around the globe. In 1955, Luciano Pavarotti and his father competed as part of a winning male voice choir. In 2005, the 50th anniversary of his participation in the festival, Pavarotti acknowledged its role in his career by adding his name to the Choir of the World competition.
The Maynooth University Chamber Choir has been directed by Michael Dawson since 2012. After a highly successful tour of the United States in 2013 the choir won two Gold Diplomas in the international Canta en Primavera choral festival in Malaga in 2014. The choir will release its first recording in autumn 2015.
Trófaí Pavarotti do “Chór an Domhain” buaite ag Cór Aireagail Ollscoil Mhá Nuad
Rinne Cór Aireagail Ollscoil Mhá Nuad, agus iad faoi stiúir ag Michael Dawson, gaisce ag an deireadh seachtaine, mar gurb iad an chéad chór Éireannach, agus an stiúrthóir is óige riamh acu, chun an trófaí gradamach sin, Trófaí Pavarotti do “Chór an Domhain”, a bhuachan ag an bhFéile Idirnáisiúnta Cheoil Llangollen Eisteddfod.
Tar éis dóibh dul i bhfeidhm ar na breithiúna agus an bua a fháil sa chatagóir http://international-eisteddfod.co.uk/competition-a2-youth-choirs/“Cór na nÓg” Déardaoin, chuaigh an cór chun cinn go dtí an comórtas do Chór an Domhain Dé Sathairn, comórtas a raibh na buaiteoirí go léir ó gach catagóir san iomaíocht ann. Chruthaigh Cór Aireagail Ollscoil Mhá Nuad go hiontach ar fad, agus fuair siad an ceann is fearr ar chóir ó Shingeapór, ó Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá, ón mBreatain Bheag agus ó Shasana chun an chéad áit a bhaint amach.
Agus é ag labhairt faoin ngradam, dúirt an tOllamh Pilib Ó Nualláin, Uachtarán Ollscoil Mhá Nuad, “Is minic a úsáidtear an nath ‘den chéad scoth’, ach tá an cur síos sin tuillte go maith ag Cór Aireagail Ollscoil Mhá Nuad, agus is léir sin ón mbua seo. Tá pobal uile na hOllscoile an-bhródúil as an gCór Aireagail as an éacht iontach seo agus as cabhrú linn cáil Ollscoil Mhá Nuad as ardchaighdeán feabhais a scaipeadh ar fud an domhain.”
Is é Llangollen Eisteddfod ceann de na féilte cultúrtha is mó ar domhan; glacann breis is cúig mhíle amhránaí, damhsóir agus ceoltóir ó níos mó ná caoga tír páirt san fhéile sé lá, agus meallann sí lucht féachana de bhreis is cúig mhíle duine. Tá an comórtas do Chór an Domhain i measc na gcórchomórtas is mó le rá ar domhan, agus tá cóir a bhfuil cáil idirnáisiúnta orthu, ó gach cearn den domhan, tar éis an gradam a bhuachan. Sa bhliain 1955, ghlac Luciano Pavarotti agus a athair páirt san fhéile agus bhain an cór fear ina raibh siad ag canadh an bua amach. In 2005, caoga bliain tar éis dó páirt a ghlacadh san fhéile, thug Pavarotti aitheantas do thionchar na féile ar a ghairm nuair a thug sé cead a ainm féin a lua le teideal an chomórtais.
Tá Michael Dawson ina stiúrthóir ar Chór Aireagail Ollscoil Mhá Nuad ó bhí 2012 ann. Tar éis dóibh dul ar camchuairt an-rathúil sna Stáit Aontaithe in 2013, bhuaigh an cór dhá Dhioplóma Óir san fhéile aireagail idirnáisiúnta Canta en Primavera in Malaga in 2014. Cuirfidh an cór an chéad taifeadadh leo amach i bhfómhar na bliana seo, 2015.